Clarification Sheet No-2 : on the BDs of OFC Backbone Projects on Central and N-E Routes of Afghanistan

Bid Document Reference Numbers:

G1.1/MCIT/1320/ICB- Expanding Optical Fiber Cable based Backbone Connectivity to Connect Central Provinces of Afghanistan

G1.2/MCIT/1321/ICB- Expanding Optical Fiber Cable based Backbone Connectivity to Connect North-Eastern Provinces of Afghanistan;

Clarifications No.: 2

Date: September 29, 2011

Subject: Clarifications in response to the queries of bidders

Question 1: Can AfghanTel confirm that the existing node Charikar will provide 2.5G and/or

 10G card for connecting with node Shinwari?

Answer: In the Bid Proposals of the Potential Bidders, all the Interfacing Items/Cards/Systems/NMS/NOC Equipment, as required for interfacing with the existing Ring Project of MCIT at Charikar, Kundoz and Kabul will need to be included.

[Note for Potential Bidders: These two OFC Projects are not Afghan Telecom Projects—these are MCIT’s Projects as funded by the World Bank; Thus, no mention of Afghan Telecom should be given while referring to these Projects].

Question 2: Does AfghanTel need two pieces of networks; one is STM-64 level and another

is STM-16 level? If not, please confirm the STM-64 or STM-16 levels between two nodes in the diagrams 6 & 7?

Answer: All Provincial Nodes will be STM-64 Nodes and all the District Nodes will be STM-16 Nodes.

Question 3: Please confirm that in diagrams 6 &7, two pieces of networks are using two pairs (4 cores) of optical fiber.

Answer: Yes-one pair will be used for STM-64, which will be for STM-64 Capacities, connecting Provincial Cities and another pair will be used to connect District Nodes, providing STM-16 Capacities. Both the Networks should be able to talk to each other and also to the existing Networks using ZTE and Huawei Systems.

Question 4: Is that meaning that these yellow triangle nodes which are as regenerators for STM-64 are STM-64 level equipment and not STM-16 level equipment?

Answer: Regeneration at Nodes will depend on the System capabilities and thus, wherever, regeneration of STM-64 Signals is required, Bidders will cater for STM-64 Regeneration cards. District Nodes are Drop-Insert Nodes, to provide communication facilities for District Townships. Thus, depending on the system capabilities of STM-64 Equipment, some of the District Nodes will also have Regeneration Cards/Equipment for STM-64.

Question 5: Can AfghanTel confirm that 9 nodes are STM-64 level equipment and configure these 9 nodes according to the requirement of table in Page 103 of Description of each STM-64 System? 9 nodes are Shekh Ali, Bayman, Yakawlang, Panjab, Lal Wa Sarjangal, Chaghcharan, Waras, Shahristan and Day Kundi.

Answer: As mentioned earlier, all the District Nodes are STM-16(Drop/Insert) Nodes. Only, Provincial Nodes will have STM-64 capabilities. Bamiyan, Daikunde, Chagcharan, Taluqan and Fayzabad are Provincial Nodes(STM-64).

Question 6: Can AfghanTel confirm that the 4 nodes (Shinwari, Siyagird, Shibar and Dawlat Yar) are STM-16 level equipment and configure these 4 nodes according to the requirement of table in Page 104 of Description of each STM-16 System?

Answer: Yes-all the District Nodes are STM-16 Nodes. However, if regeneration is required for STM-64 serving the Provincial Capital Cities, then STM-64 Regeneration Cards will be used at District Nodes, in addition to Nodes’ own STM-16 capabilities.

Question 7: Can AfghanTel confirm that the existing node Kundoz will provide 2.5G and/or 10G card for connecting with node Shinwari?

Answer: As mentioned earlier, in the Bid Proposals of the Potential Bidders, all the Interfacing Items/Cards/Systems/NMS/NOC Equipment, as required for interfacing with the existing Ring Project of MCIT at Charikar, Kundoz and Kabul will need to be included.

Question 8:Will AfghanTel need two pieces of networks, one is STM-64 level and another is STM-16 level? If not, please confirm the STM-64 or STM-16 levels between two nodes in the diagrams 5 & 6?

Answer: As mentioned earlier, all Provincial Nodes will be STM-64 Nodes and all the District Nodes will be STM-16 Nodes. One pair will be used for STM-64, which will be for STM-64 Capacities, connecting Provincial Cities and another pair will be used to connect District Nodes, providing STM-16 Capacities. Both the Networks should be able to talk to each other and also to the existing Networks using ZTE and Huawei Systems.

Question 9:For diagrams 5 & 6, two pieces of networks are using two pairs (4 cores) of optical fiber, please confirm.

Answer: Confirmed.

Question 10: Can AfghanTel confirm that 3 nodes of Taluqan, Kishm and Fayz Abad are

 STM-64 level equipment and Kishm is a STM-64 regenerator for link between Taluqan and Fayz Abad?

Answer: As indicated in the Bidding Document, Kishm is a District Node with STM-16 capabilities; However, it may house STM-64 Regeneration cards, if required for STM-64 Link between Taluqan and Fayzabad.

Question 11: Can AfghanTel confirm that 2 nodes of Khan Abad and Teshkan are STM-16

level equipment?

Answer: As mentioned earlier, all the District Nodes will have STM-16 capabilities. Please also note that Teshkan Node has been replaced by Sabzbahar Node as per Clarification #1 issued on 25^thSeptember, 2011.

Question 12: Can purchaser confirm that the operational acceptance means PAC or FAC?

Answer: Operational Acceptance means Provisional Acceptance based on Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC). FAC will be issued after the Warranty Period of one year, commencing after issuing of PAC.

Question 13: Does O & M include the work scope of maintaining the CAF products such as DGs, Batteries, Air Conditioners, CCTVs and Cameras etc?

Answer: Yes—all the Systems and Equipment as used in the Networks are included in the O & M scope.

Question 14: Does O&M include the work scope of maintaining the Vehicles?

Answer: Only during the Warranty period till FAC is issued. Even Drivers, Fuel, Maintenance and the Spares will be catered for by the Bidder till MCIT takes over all the Vehicles after Warranty Period.

Question 15:Who will pay the cost of spare parts in spare pools- bidder or purchaser?

Answer: During the warranty Period of one year after PAC is issued and for one more year of O & M thereafter, it is part of Bid Price; However, List of Spares with Costs of Spare Parts as required during 02 years of O & M will be indicated in Table as given in the Bidding Documents.

Question 16: Can purchaser confirm that the date of system acceptance means PAC or FAC?

Answer: System Acceptance means Provisional acceptance after the Installation and Commissioning and it also means Final Acceptance after the FAC is issued.

Question 17: Who will pay the cost of fuel of generators?

Answer: The Contractor for 02 years, after the PAC is issued by MCIT.

Question 18: Can purchaser confirm that the operational acceptance means PAC or FAC?

Answer: It means Provisional Operational Acceptance and also Final Operational Acceptance.

Question 19: How many sites are from KUNDUZ--Fayz abad?

Answer: 04+ Kundoz Interfaces+Fayzabad [Kundoz-Khanabad-Taluqan-Kishm-Sabzbahar-Fayzabad].

Question 20: Who will provide the Cars (4 wheel pick-ups)? Are these new or old?

Answer: The Contractor will provide all the Vehicles as given in the Estimated BOQ given in the Bidding Documents—all the Vehicles will be new vehicles. These Vehicles are in addition to the Vehicles required by the Contractor to execute the Project.

Question 21: How deep should the trenches be in hard rock and soft rock? How to install the HDPE pipe?

Answer: These details are given in the Bidding Documents and will also be discussed during the Pre-bid Meeting, scheduled at 2.00 PM on 3^rdOctober, 2011.

Question 22: Can ID Balls be used, instead of Route Indicators?

Answer: In the Bidding documents, Route Indicators have been given-Bidders to quote for them; However, option of using ID Balls can be given by Bidders.

Question 23: Can 40mm GI Pipe be used, instead of 2 inches GI pipe? 2 HDPE Pipes cross the 40mm GI Pipe directly.

Answer: Follow the exact designs as given in the Bidding Documents; however, options can be given in Bidder’s Proposals.

Question 24:Will Employer purchase new compressor and cable jet machine? If no, Will employer provide these machines to bidder to implement the contract?

Answer: All the Machines required for the installation and commissioning tasks will be that of the Contractor. MCIT will not buy any Machines to carry out any Project tasks.

Question 25:How deep will the concrete be? Will the concrete cover the HDPE pipe?

Answer: Follow the designs as given in the Bidding Documents. These designs will be discussed during the Pre-bid Meeting on 3^rdOctober, 2011.

Question 26:Can we use fiber glass, instead of the manhole and hand hole?

Answer: Yes- Use of Fibre Glass is also mentioned in the Bidding Documents. This option will also be discussed during the Pre-bid Meeting.

Question 27:Will employer purchase 10G SDH analyzer and Ethernet analyzer?
Can bidder use the testing machines (2.5G SDH analyser, OTDR Splicing machine etc.), which belong to  OFC ring project?

Answer: All the Test Equipment as required for these OFC Projects will be purchased by the Contractor and the costs on this account will be part of the Bid Price. Tools of the existing Ring Project will not be utilized.

Question 28: Who acquires and pays for ROW permission, licenses and the security?

Answer: MCIT will apply to the concerned Government Authorities. However, all the costs on these accounts will be paid by the Contractor.

Question 29: Why the Shelters or transmission rooms shall be on the opposite side of the road?

Answer: This is for Security reasons-will be explained during Pre-bid Meeting.

Question 30: It may be dangerous to use the route indicators in Afghanistan-MCIT to examine.

Answer: Bidders to give options in their Proposals; However, the Bids will be for the designs as given in the Bidding documents.

Question 31: What does the road mean? We need approximate length of the hardcore roadway.

Answer: Bidders have been asked to carry out 100 % Survey of the Routes and the Nodes. Road means the metalled Access Road up to the Node.

Question 32: Will one node/site be built on a land area of 30×20M?

Answer: Yes-Each District Node will occupy this much of area.

Question 33:For this project, can X Company jointly bid with Y Company, wherein, X Company can provide equipment and Y Company can carry out Installation etc.

Answer: Potential Bidders are advised to go through the Qualification Requirements as given in the Bidding Documents and then decide upon Joint Venture Partners or Consortiums.

Question 34:Exact Quantity for OFC in the Estimated BOQ of the Bidding Documents has not been given. [Is the  Total Quantity Required for OFC in both Tenders 72 Kms?].

Answer: Potential Bidders are advised to read the Bidding Documents very carefully and then prepare their Proposals. For all Estimated Quantities, refer to Schedule-1 Tables as given in Sections-IV of both the Bidding Documents. Optical Fibre Cable required for the Central Route is 800 Kms and for North-Eastern Route is 260 Kms.