Higher Education Commission Islamabad Notice of Tender

Specific Procurement Notice

Request for Proposals

Information Systems (Design, supply, and Installation)

Purchaser: Higher Education Commission

Project: HEDP - Higher Education Development in Pakistan

Contract Title: Procurement of Software and Services for Cloud and High-Performance Computing

Country: Pakistan

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: 6438-PK

RFP No. PK-HEC-384774-GO-RFP

Issued On: May 30, 2024

1. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Higher Education Development in Pakistan "HEDP" and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Procurement of Software and Services for Cloud and High-Performance Computing.

2. The Higher Education Commission now invites sealed Proposals from eligible Proposers for Procurement of Software and Services for Cloud and High-Performance Computing as further detailed in the Request for Proposals document.

3. The procurement process will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Proposals (RFP) as specified in the World Bank's "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 ("Procurement Regulations") and is open to all eligible Proposers as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

4. Interested eligible Proposers may obtain further information from procurement.hedp@hec.gov.pk during 09:00 AM — 03:00 PM (Business Days) latest by ten (10) days till the deadline for proposal submission date.

5. The Request for Proposals document in English may be downloaded from https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/news/Pages/TendersRFPs.aspx without any fee(s)/ charge(s). If required by the proposer, the document in hard/ printed form; on specific request via official email or printed over official letterhead duly signed and stamped by the authorized signatory, can be sent through courier for a non-refundable amount of PKR 15,000 or for an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.

6. A virtual pre-proposal session shall be held at 11:30 AM on June 13, 2024. Interested Proposers may obtain the respective meeting link/ invite via writing an email addressed to the undersigned (procurement.hedp@hec.gov.pk) between June 07, 2024, and June 1-2-2024 (during regular business hours).

7. Proposals must be delivered to the address below on or before 11:30 AM dated July 22, 2024. Electronic procurement will not be permitted. Late Proposals will be rejected. The outer Proposal envelopes marked "ORIGINAL PROPOSAL", and the inner envelopes marked "TECHNICAL PART" will be publicly opened in the presence of the Proposers' designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at the address below on the same day i.e., July 22, 2024, immediately after the Proposal submission deadline. All envelopes marked "FINANCIAL PART" shall remain unopened and will be held in the safe custody of the Purchaser until the second public Proposals opening.

8. All Proposals must be accompanied by a "Proposal-Securing Declaration", as per the details/ requirements given at the respective section(s)/ clause(s) in the Request for Proposal document.

9. Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful Proposer's beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the Request for Proposal document.

10.The address(es) referred to above is (are): Procurement Specialist (HEDP)

Project Coordination Unit (PCU)

Higher Education Development in Pakistan (HEDP) Project

Higher Education Commission

Sector H-9/4, Islamabad, Pakistan,

Contact: 051-90400120