Strategic Support for Telecommunications Sector — Sao Tome and Principe

GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

CENTRAL AFRICAN BACKBONE # APL 2

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR

GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE

Loan No./Credit No./TF No./Grant No. IDA Q 7150

Project ID No. P117652

The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe has received   financing in the amount of US$ 14.9 million equivalent from the World Bank toward the cost of the Central African Backbone - APL 2 - Sao Tome and Principe Project (CAB2 STP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, works, related services and consulting services to be procured under this project.   This project will be jointly financed by the private sector.

The Project will include the following components:

Component 1 - Enabling environment:

• Modernizing and harmonizing the legal and regulatory framework of theInformation   Communication Technology (ITC) sector and the Information Society trough the preparation of a ICT strategic plan and the provision of technical assistance and capacity building in priority areas;

• Developing PPP arrangements for access to the submarine cable, namely through hiring legal and business advisors to advise government on negotiations with private sector operators, and by financing technical and financial audits of the structures to be setup during the first years of operation;

• Promoting a pro-competitive environment by launching a second global license and eventually license additional service providers;

• Promoting PPP investment in the telecommunications sector;

• Performing environmental studies under the project and of monitoring and evaluation studies and surveys related to the information and communications technology sector.

Component 2 - Connectivity:

• Finance Sao Tome and Principe contribution for participating in the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable on an open access basis of   PPPs to secure access to capacity on a regional submarine cable system which is expected to provide cheaper and higher quality international telecommunications connectivity to the country;

• Financing  of associated investments to the submarine cable such as the setup of a national Internet Exchange Point (IXP) and the provision of technical assistance to ensure the IXP is crafted on the most appropriate technical and institutional terms for future growth and long-term sustainability.

Component 3 - Project Management

Establishment of an effective management system for the Project to ensure the implementation on a suitable financial management, procurement and monitoring and evaluation system and availability of the required communications expertise, all through the provision of works to refurbish the office, goods, consultants' services and the financing of operational costs.

Procurement of contracts financed by the World Bank will be conductedthrough the procedures as specified in the World Bank's   Guidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits dated May 2004, revised in October 2006 and May 2010, and is open to all eligible bidders   as defined in the guidelines.   Consulting services will be selected in accordance with the World Bank's   Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers dated May 2004, revised in October 2006 and May 2010;

Specific procurement notices for contracts to be bid under the World Bank's international competitive bidding (ICB) procedures and for contracts for consultancy services will be announced, as they become available, in World Bank external website ,   UN Development Business online and Local newspapers.

Interested eligible bidders who wish to be included on the mailing list to receive invitations to prequalify/bid under ICB procedures, and interested consultants who wish to receive a copy of advertisement requesting expressions of interest for consultancy contracts, or those requiring additional information, should contact the address below.

Agência Fiduciária e de Administração de Projectos

Attn. Sr. Alberto Fernandes Leal, Coordenador da AFAP

Ministério das Finanças e Cooperação Internacional

São Tomé e Príncipe

São Tomé

Tel. + (239) 222 52 05

Fax + (239) 222 46 65

E-mail:   [email protected]