Recruitment of Consultant for Spectrum Management — Gambia Fiscal Management Development Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Name of Project: The Gambia Fiscal Management Development Project (P166695)

Grant No.: IDA-V2740

Assignment Title: Recruitment of Consultant for Spectrum Management PURA

Reference No. GM-PPPPE-212607-CS-CQS

The Government of The Gambia has received a grant from the World Bank (IDA) to support the development of Broadband services in the Telecommunications/ICT sector in The Gambia. The IDA program caters for a number of consultancy studies to build the capacity of The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the national multi-sector regulator. One of these studies relates to the Technical Assistance on spectrum resources management.

Reporting to the consultant will report to the Director General of PURA, however, the Director of ICT Regulation (DICT) will be the interface between the consultant and the relevant stakeholders.

Objectives: The principal task of this (individual) consultancy is to carry out a comprehensive review, assessment and analysis of the current spectrum management and monitoring practices in The Gambia, with a view to developing new frameworks to meet the current demands in the short term but also plan for their long-term implications in a way that enables the effective and efficient management and monitoring of the national spectrum resources. It is imperative that the developed frameworks best meet the needs of the Gambia and its citizens and are in line with international best practices as well as ITU Standards, Regulations and Recommendations.

The objective of the Spectrum Management Technical Assistance is amongst others to facilitate improved access to broadband Internet, particularly mobile broadband, in underserved and unserved areas of The Gambia. Improved broadband Internet access will support business development across sectors, facilitate improved service delivery and improve access to information and communications for disadvantaged communities.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

FIRM QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

The consultant should have the following qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge:

• A Master’s degree in telecommunication or radiocommunication engineering;

• At least 10 years’ experience in Radio-based Communications;

• At least 10 years’ experience in regulations of frequency spectrum management particularly in developing countries in Africa;

• Familiar with the ITU Radio Regulations and Recommendations;

• Experience in designing and implementation of Spectrum Management and Monitoring Systems;

• Reference of similar works done for Public / Private Institutions with countries especially developing countries in Africa;

• Provide similar services to Governments, Operators and regulatory authorities.

• Strong writing, communication, facilitation skills and fluency in English will be preferred and an added advantage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July dated July 2016 and revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by close of business 8th March 2021.

Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)

94, Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 4230 Bakau

The Gambia

Telephone: (+220) 4399601 / 4399606

E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] , [email protected]; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],[email protected].

TERMS OF REFERENCE

• Introduction

The Government of The Gambia has received a grant from the World Bank (IDA) to support the development of Broadband services in the Telecommunications/ICT sector in The Gambia.

The IDA program caters for a number of consultancy studies to build the capacity of The Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the national multi-sector regulator. One of these studies relates to the Technical Assistance on spectrum resources management.

PURA is mandated by the Information and Communications Act 2009 (IC Act 2009) to manage the spectrum resources of the Gambia. This management includes frequency planning, coordinating assignments, regulating, spectrum engineering, frequency pricing, administering the use of radio frequencies in compliance with international regulations and recommendations, spectrum monitoring and enforcement.

The demand and use of radio frequency spectrum is constantly increasing with technological advancement and new services in the market to the advantage of the dynamic and lucrative ICT sector. To this end, a good frequency management will ensure that existing and future network operators in The Gambia and their customers enjoy non-discriminatory access to spectrum at cost-based pricing. The goal is to fully exploit the potential of the ACE submarine cable system by encouraging competition in the Gambian Telecommunications/ICT market through the expanded international gateway. Recently, there have been rapid developments in the telecommunications/ICT sector in The Gambia. In addition, the ACE submarine cable system and National Fiber Optic Network has generated additional investment and demand in broadband on network facilities and services, such as 3G, 4G, CDMA and Next Generation Networks. The demand for spectrum by current and prospective licensees to offer new and more cost-effective services has necessitated the need to review spectrum management in a view to efficiently optimise the current availability and usage of the spectrum in the Gambia.

It is in this regard, that PURA is seeking the services of a reputable consultant with proven track record to review, assess, analyse and come up with recommendations on the current spectrum management, planning, assignment and monitoring practice in the Gambia.

This will be done through a three months technical assistance in The Gambia with a view provide knowledge transfer and to develop a framework for the overall planning and holistic management and monitoring of the national spectrum resource in the most efficient and economical manner as required by the IC Act 2009.

• Legal Background

The existence of sector specific laws such as the Information and Communications Act 2009 (IC Act 2009) complement the PURA Act 2001 in addressing key regulatory issues. Part VII of the IC Act 2009 gives PURA the mandate to manage and monitor the assignment and usage of the national frequency spectrum and this consultancy is intended to further build the capacity and ability of PURA to perform these statutory duties. The IC Act will be going through a review and updating process in the next year.

• An overview of the Telecommunications / ICT Market in The Gambia

The Telecommunications / ICT sector in the Gambia consists of various stakeholders: a Fixed Network Operator, four Mobile Service Providers and several Internet Service Providers (ISP). Other users and services that require spectrum resources include Broadcasters, VSATs, Amateur Radios, Aeronautical, Maritime, Private Mobile Radio (PMR), Virtual Private Network (VPN), Government and Security Services amongst others.

• Objectives OF THE STUDY

The principal task of this (individual) consultancy is to carry out a comprehensive review, assessment and analysis of the current spectrum management and monitoring practices in The Gambia, with a view to developing new frameworks to meet the current demands in the short term but also plan for their long-term implications in a way that enables the effective and efficient management and monitoring of the national spectrum resources. It is imperative that the developed frameworks best meet the needs of the Gambia and its citizens, and are in line with international best practices as well as ITU Standards, Regulations and Recommendations.

The objective of the Spectrum Management Technical Assistance is amongst others to facilitate improved access to broadband Internet, particularly mobile broadband, in underserved and unserved areas of The Gambia. Improved broadband Internet access will support business development across sectors, facilitate improved service delivery and improve access to information and communications for disadvantaged communities.

• Scope of Work OF THE STUDY

The scope of the assignment is to provide advisory assistance to the Authority for spectrum planning, assessment of spectrum refarming costs/compensation and benefits, allocative options and implementation plan, including migration strategy in order to stimulate further development of mobile broadband in unserved and underserved areas of The Gambia.

The consultant will carry out work under the following categories:

• Carry out a comprehensive review, assessment and analysis of the existing spectrum pricing and assignments in the Gambia with recommended changes/improvement which are in line with international best practices. The consultant should highl