Technical Training Project – (Translation, Design and printing of e-Government Documents)

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Country:                                Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Assignment Title:                  Technical Training Project – (Translation, Design and printing of e-Government Documents)

Duration of Assignment:      Three months

Implementing Agency:          Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Duty Station:                         Kabul, Afghanistan

Contract Type:                      Lump Sum

Reference No:                        MCIT/2017/ EGRC/C- 004

Grant No:                             

1.      Background

Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) aims to provide high quality Communications, IT and Postal Services for the Afghan people at affordable prices. The ministry has been actively advocating for a positive change in the society by connecting the Afghan people to the knowledge resources, to enable them to improve the quality of their lives. The vision of the Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) is to transform Afghanistan into an Information Society.

EGRC project is funded by Government of Afghanistan and established within the premises of MCIT. This center became a source of technical expertise and skills, advice and guidance for development and deployment of E-Government in the ministries and provides timely, high- quality advice, training, consulting and audit services in the area of e- government to various ministries of GIRoA on August 21, 2015. The objective of EGRC Project is to introduce streamlined, modern and effective monitoring and evaluation and enhance the capacity of Government Employees.

Professionals & University graduates can be able to perform the e-Government activities and their related mater in the straight way for the future digital needs. Whether the trainee has acquired the proposed knowledge, skills and attitudes. Contribute to the awareness of the digital society, e-Government, social and economic development goals through efficient, effective, transparent and participation of public governance.

E-government resource center is working closely with Ministry of Higher Education to include e-government modules in academic curriculum and train the lecturers which will continue the lectures in classrooms. ToT technical training is designed by EGRC for 120 faculty members of public universities to be conducted in second quarter of 2017. These trainees will become the master trainers at their respective departments at the university and it’s mentionable that APCICT eleven modules will be used during this training.

2.      Scope of the assignment

The purpose of this project is to translate, design and print the e-government documents and APCICT modules for ToT training 120 trainees and e-government awareness.

The contracted firm responsibilities are as below, but not limited to:

1)      To complete the technical translation of eleven APCICT modules from English to Dari and Pashtu, re-design as original books

2)      To complete the technical translation of e-government documents prepared by EGRC from English to Dari and Pashtu, design and print as brochures and pamphlets for government entities and public

3)      All the translation should be proof read and finalized by the contracted firm before considering it completed and then submit to EGRC for approval

4)      The translation should be clear and understandable, and should not be done through any machine and IT tool, in such case the translation will be rejected

5)      Print the eleven modules for 125 persons (11*125=1375 copies of translated books)

6)      Table 1 as below details the translation task

Table 1.

3.      Invitation for Expression of Interest

Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT), GoIRA, now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services described under paragraph 3 above. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

4.      Qualification Requirements/Short listing Criteria

The short listing criteria are:

• The consultant shall demonstrate having sound financial situation and capacity by submitting financial audit report or verified tax declaration form with annual turnover of at least US$ 80,000.00 through their relevant and related Consultancy or translation Services.
• The consultant shall also provide proven experiences of having executed at least two contract of similar nature (technical IT translation from English to Dari and Pashtu) during the last five years, (each) with the value of minimum US$ 50,000.00. 
• Organizational Structure
• Manpower with qualifications, technical and professional competence necessary for successful implementation of the assignment (the individual expert’s bio data is not required)
• The consultants should provide a valid copy of the certification of incorporation/ business license in its EOI.

5.      Payment Structure and Deliverables

Payments will be made as per the following schedules:

1. 05 % of the Contract Value will be paid after submission of Final Report-1 (Physical Reporting Date in MCIT at Kabul), to be submitted by the firm within 1 month of Contract Effective Date. The Final Report – 1 must be submitted after successful completion of:

Technical translation of APCICT eleven modules from English to Pashtu and Dari, the translation should be considered completed after being proof read and finalized by the contracted firm.

1. 05 % of the Contract Value will be paid after submission of Final Report-2 (Physical Reporting Date in MCIT at Kabul), to be submitted by the firm within 2 months of Contract Effective Date. The Final Report – 2 must be submitted after successful completion of:

Technical translation of e-Government literature and documents from English to Pashtu and Dari, the translation should be considered completed after being proof read and finalized by the contracted firm.

1. 90 % of the Contract Value will be paid after submission of Final Report-3 (Physical Reporting Date in MCIT at Kabul), to be submitted by the firm within 3 months of Contract Effective Date. The Final Report – 2 must be submitted after successful completion of:

Re-Designing and printing of APCICT and e-government literature translated modules according to the directions given in scope of the assignment section.

Other deliverables: These include overall project weekly and monthly briefings to EGRC management and e-Government Directorate/MCIT.

All the reports as outlined above shall:

·         be written such that they stand alone, without the reader needing to refer to other documents;

·         shall include a dated cover letter with the distribution list and shall note key issues of interest in the report for management’s attention;

·         All the Reports (04 Copies-printed and signed + Soft Copies in CDs) should be submitted both in Dari and English Languages to e-Government Directorate, EGRC II Project Management, Capacity Building Dept., and MCIT Leadership

6.      Payment Terms and Approval of Final Report:

The reports will be approved by Capacity Building Dept., EGRC II Project Management, and E-government Directorate. The format and contents of the report will be finalized after discussion among firm and EGRC, MCIT.

The translation should be approved by EGRC team before submitting the final reports and the payment will be done after written approval of the translations and final reports from EGRC Team and e-Government Directorate.

Note: The submitted reports should be approved within 15 working days by the client.

7.      Duration of the Services

The duration of the Services is to extend from the date of effectiveness of the Contract for a period of approximately [three] months.

8.      Legal References

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Chapter 4 of Procurement Procedure: Process of Request for Proposal, Mizan 1394. In addition, please refer to the following information on conflict of interest related to this assignment as Rule112 of Procurement Procedure: All procurement employees, Evaluation Committee, Opening Committee, Award Authorities, Members of National Procurement Commission are required, Prior to start or approval of any type of Procurement Activities; in Case of Conflict of Interest, Should declare their state of Conflict of Interest. The consultants are also required to maintain high standard ethics throughout the procurement process.

The consultants can download the Public Procurement Law and Procedure from: www.npa.gov.af.

9.      Joint Venture, Consortium or Association

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. If consultants intend to associate with other firms, they are advised to clearly identify the lead partner and state the composition and nature of the association (JV/ sub-consultant) in their EOI.

In case the EOI is submitted in form of JV, each partner in the association shall meet the requirements defined in Paragraph 4 above, under the short listing criteria.

10.  Method of Selection

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the (QCBS) defined in Afghanistan Public Procurement Law and Procedures.

11.  Submission of EOI

Expression of Interest (EOIs) must be delivered through below emails or printed Copies in English and in any one Local Language (Dari/Pashtu), with one CD having MS-Word copy of the EOIs and the related Documents.

Printed Copies of the EOIs and all the Related Documents and one CD having MS-Word Copy of all the Documents should be submitted to the following Address by 20, May, 2017 (15:00 Kabul Local Time). Further information in respect to this REOI can be obtained at the address below by email or in person during office hours [08:00-04:00 Hours].

Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samim)

General Manager for External Procurements;

Procurement Department, Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt; Kabul, Afghanistan

Phone: Office: +93 20 210 37 41; Cell: +93 700 222 009;

Web site: www.mcit.gov.af

Any queries on the position may also be addressed to the above mentioned email address palwasha.hashimi@mcit.gov.af; idpalwasha@gmail.com; ahmadshah.kamil@mcit.gov.af; ahmad_sahil_2007@yahoo.com with CC to: (fpd@mcit.gov.af) -- latest one week before the deadline for submission of expression of interest.

All the E-Mails must be addressed to: fpd@mcit.gov.af; palwasha.hashimi@mcit.gov.af; idpalwasha@gmail.com; ahmadshah.kamil@mcit.gov.af; ahmad_sahil_2007@yahoo.com