Request for Proposals (RFP) – Digital Marketing Services

Issuance Date: 17.01.2018

Deadline for Offers: 01.02.2018

Description: Digital Marketing Services

For: Moldova ICT Excellence Center Project (ICTEC)

Funded By: United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
Contract No. AID-117-A-15-00002

Issued By: National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC)

Point of Contact: miliev@ict,.md, contact person Michelle Iliev

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

1.1 Acronyms and Definitions

ATIC National Association of Private ICT Companies
ADS USAID Automated Directives System
CFR United States Code of Federal Regulations
Cooperating Country Moldova
FAR United States Federal Acquisition Regulation
RFP Request for Proposals
US United States
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USG United States Government
VAT Value Added Tax

1.2 Introduction

The National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC) is soliciting proposals from eligible and responsible firms for the Digital Marketing for Tekwill Academy, as described below in Section 2 (Background, Scope of Work and Deliverables). The ICTEC Project is an official program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Contract Nr. AID-117-A-15-00002, and is being carried out in Republic of Moldova.

The ICTEC Project is a USAID program implemented by the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC). The project will be implemented as a private-public partnership (though Global Development Alliances instrument (GDA)), between the Moldovan Government, private industry, academia and donors. The private partners include multinational companies, IBM and Microsoft, and also Moldovan Association of Private ICT Companies (ATIC) members that are local (operated) ICT companies. The private partners will bring significant new resources, ideas, software, technologies and development activities, such as trainings, practical assignments, and mentorship. The private sector partners will have the chance to use the center to communicate with the university, SMEs, startups, professionals and contribute to the curricula improvement answering the market needs, as well as the improvement of the IT and entrepreneurship ecosystem that will lead to the economic growth of the country. The Government of Moldova supports this project at the highest level of the Prime Minister, and the partners include Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Education, and E-Government Center. The space will be provided by the Technical University, as part of the Government commitment to this project.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions stated herein. Failure to adhere with instructions described herein may lead to disqualification of a proposal from consideration. This RFP does not obligate ATIC to execute a subcontract or does it commit ATIC to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals.

1.3 Questions and Requests for Clarifications

Questions regarding the technical or administrative requirements of this RFP may be submitted no later than January 27, 2018, 17:00, local Chisinau time by email to miliev@ict.md. Questions must be submitted in writing; phone calls will not be accepted. Questions and requests for clarification—and the responses thereto—that ATIC believes may be of interest to other offerors will be circulated to all RFP recipients who have indicated an interest in bidding.

Only the written answers issued by ATIC will be considered official and carry weight in the RFP process and subsequent evaluation. Any verbal information received from employees of ATIC or any other entity should not be considered as an official response to any questions regarding this RFP.

1.4 Offer Deadline

Offerors shall submit their offers in hard-copy and/or electronically.

Hard-copy offers must be received no later than January 24, 2018, 17:00 at the following address:

In attention of Mrs. Ana Chirita,
Executive Director/ Senior Project Coordinator ICTEC Project
Moldova ICT Excellence Center Project
Str. Studentilor 9/11

Emailed offers must be received by the same time and date at the following address:

In attention of Mrs. Michelle Iliev,
Education&Skills Development Manager
miliev@ict.md

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions stated herein. Late offers may be considered at the discretion of ATIC.

1.5 Protocol for Submission of Offers

Each offeror must submit its proposal in accordance with attached specifications indicated in Annex nr 1, containing the information below on official letterhead or official quotation format. The following number of copies is required in each submission:

Offerors are requested to provide quotations, including specifications of works in
One (1) original hardcopies and one (1) electronic copy on CD per the instructions below.

All offers and related documents must be enclosed in sealed envelopes with the name and address of the offeror and the RFP number (“RFP No. ICTEC-2018-004”) clearly marked on the outside. If multiple envelopes must be submitted due to the size of a proposal, offerors must ensure that each envelope is sealed and clearly marked with the information described above.

The Offeror must submit the proposal electronically with attachments compatible with MS Word, Excel, or Adobe Portable Document (PDF) format in a Microsoft environment. Those pages requiring original manual signatures should be scanned and sent in PDF format as an email attachment.

All offers must be prepared in English, Romanian or Russian.

The offers should describe in detail the offeror’s proposed plan for providing the services. It should demonstrate a clear understanding of the work to be undertaken and the responsibilities of all parties involved. The plan should include details on techniques, personnel, and subcontractors that the offeror will make available to carry out the required activities. The plan should also provide details on the anticipated delivery schedule, including an estimated completion date.

At a minimum, the Offer must contain the following required completed documents:

1. Completed Technical Specifications (see Annex);
2. Letter of Transmittal (see Section 3);
3. Offeror’s Summary Sheet (see Section 4);
4. Completed/Signed Certifications (see Section 5);
5. Bank Account Award Certificate – copy – issued by the bank holding the account;
6. Certificate of regular payment of taxes – copy – or certificate issued by the Tax Inspectorate on double taxation records;
7. Past Performance Information (see Section 2.3)
8. Organizations responding to this RFP are requested to submit a copy of their official registration or business license.

Subcontracting arrangements: If the execution of work to be performed by the offeror requires the hiring of subcontractors, the proposal must clearly identify the subcontractor(s), contact information of subcontractor(s), and the services they will perform. ATIC will not refuse a proposal based upon the use of subcontractors; however, ATIC retains the right to approve or reject the specific subcontractors selected.

Taking into consideration the complexity of the work, the cost proposal is used to determine which proposals represent the best value and serves as a basis of negotiation before award of a subcontract.

Services: The proposal must include a unit cost breakdown for every line item described in Annex, as well as a description of any other costs involved (see Annex for the required format). The offer must preserve and clearly indicate the line item numbers as shown in Annex. All items, services, other costs, etc. must be clearly labeled and included in the total price. Prices must be quoted on a lump-sum, all-inclusive basis. No other costs, taxes, and/or fees may be added later.

The proposal shall also include a budget narrative that explains the basis for the estimate of every cost element or line item. Supporting information must be provided in sufficient detail to allow for a complete analysis of each cost element or line item. ATIC reserves the right to request additional cost information if the evaluation committee has concerns of the reasonableness, realism, or completeness of an offeror’s proposed cost.

The agreement under which this procurement is financed does not permit the financing of any taxes, VAT, tariffs, duties, or other levies imposed by any laws in effect in the Cooperating Country. No such Cooperating Country taxes, charges, tariffs, duties or levies will be paid under an order resulting from this RFP.

1.6 Validity Period

Offers must remain valid for at least 30 calendar days after the offer deadline.

1.7 Authorized USAID Geographic Code and Source/Nationality

All goods and services offered in response to this RFP or supplied under any resulting award must meet USAID Geographic Code 110 in accordance with the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 22 CFR §228, available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title22-vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title22-….

The cooperating country for this RFP is Moldova.

Offerors may not offer or supply any commodities or related services that are manufactured or assembled in, shipped from, transported through, or otherwise involving any of the following countries: Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, (North) Sudan, Syria. Related services include incidental services pertaining to any/all aspects of this work to be performed under a resulting subcontract (including transportation, fuel, lodging, meals, and communications expenses).

1.8 Eligibility of Offerors

By submitting an offer in response to this RFP, the offeror certifies that it and its principal officers are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise considered ineligible for an award. ATIC will not award a contract to any firm that is debarred, suspended, or considered to be ineligible.

1.9 Evaluation and Basis for Award

An award will be made to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be responsive to this solicitation document, meets the eligibility criteria stated in this RFP, meets the technical, management/personnel, and corporate capability requirements, and is determined to represent the best value to ATIC. Best value will be decided using the tradeoff process.

This RFP will use the tradeoff process to determine best value. That means that each proposal will be evaluated and scored against the evaluation criteria and evaluation sub-criteria, which are stated in the table below. Cost proposals are not assigned points, but for overall evaluation purposes of this RFP, technical evaluation factors other than cost, when combined, are considered approximately equal to cost factors. If technical scores are determined to be equal or nearly equal, cost will become the determining factor.

In evaluating proposals, ATIC will use the following evaluation criteria and sub-criteria:

Evaluation Criteria Technical Evaluation Sub-criteria Maximum Points
Does the proposed solution respond to the initial request of ATIC? Content 30 points
Innovative approach and additional communication channels proposal 20 points
Staff involved in the project 10 points
Past experience 20 points
Does the offeror meet all the requirements stated by the beneficiary 10 points
Price 30 points
Total Points – Technical and Cost Approach 120 points

This RFP utilizes the tradeoff process set forth in FAR 15.101-1. ATIC will award a subcontract to the offeror whose proposal represents the best value to ATIC and the ICTEC project. ATIC may award to a higher priced offeror if a determination is made that the higher technical evaluation of that offeror merits the additional cost/price.

1.10 Negotiations

Best and final price quotations are requested from all offerors. It is anticipated that awards will be made solely on the basis of these original quotations. However, ATIC reserves the right to conduct negotiations and/or request clarifications prior to awarding a subcontract.

1.11 Terms and Conditions of Subcontract

This is a Request for Proposals only. Issuance of this RFP does not in any way obligate ATIC or USAID to award a subcontract, nor does it commit ATIC or USAID to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

This solicitation is subject to the Draft Order Terms and Conditions detailed in Section 2. Any resultant award will be governed by these terms and conditions. ATIC reserves the right to make revisions to the content, order, and numbering of the provisions in the actual subcontract document prior to execution by ATIC and the selected awardee. Issuance of a subcontract award is subject to availability of sufficient funds.

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND, SCOPE OF WORK, DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

2.1 Technical Specifications

As specified in Annex, ATIC is looking to procure the following items as stated in Annex 1 (Specifications).

2.3 Past Performance

One of the main eligibility criteria is Past Performance. Successful offerors are requested to have minimum 3 similar size projects in the past. In their proposals all offers should include information for at least three (3) client references for similar activities or services supplied in the same amount of the contract.

The information supplied must include a.) the name, address, contact person, and current phone number of the organization for which services were performed; b.) a brief description of the work performed; c.) the duration (including the dates) of the work and amount (specify the currency) of the contracts/subcontracts. If the Offeror encountered problems in carrying out any of these contracts, it should provide an explanation of the problem encountered and describe any corrective action taken. Failure to submit complete and accurate information regarding previous similar or related contracts is grounds for disqualification from the evaluation process.

ATIC reserves the right to obtain past performance information obtained from sources other than those identified by the offeror. ATIC shall determine the relevance of similar past performance information.

2.5 Delivery Requirements

The delivery location for the items described in this RFP is ICTEC, str. Studentilor 9/11. As part of its response to this RFP, each offeror is expected to provide an estimate (in calendar days) of the delivery and execution timeframe (after receipt of order). The delivery estimate presented in an offer in response to this RFP must be upheld in the performance of any resulting contract.

The delivery estimate presented in any offers in response to this RFP must be honest, accurate, and upheld in the performance of any resulting subcontract or order.

SECTION 3: DRAFT ORDER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In the event of a subcontract award resulting from an offer submitted in response to this RFP, the following terms and conditions will apply:

1. All deliverables under this subcontract must be transferable to USAID, or another entity in the Cooperating Country designated by ATIC;

2. Delivery Terms;

A. Delivery terms are January 27, 2018, 17:00. The Subcontractor shall deliver the deliverables as set forth to the delivery locations.

B. Time is of the essence. By executing this subcontract, the Subcontractor confirms that it accepts that the delivery schedule stated herein is reasonable, and will comply with the delivery schedule.

C. Customs clearance. The Subcontractor shall clear any international shipments through customs and deliver them to the appropriate location(s) specified in Article 5. ATIC is responsible for providing the Subcontractor with the necessary documentation required by Moldovan customs officials for duty-free customs clearance.

D. Consignee address. For any international shipments requiring customs clearance in the Moldova, the following consignee address shall be used on each shipment to facilitate duty-free and tax-free customs clearance.

E. U.S.-flag requirement. Any international transportation carried out under this subcontract shall take place on US-flag vessels/carriers. Any international air transportation shall be in accordance with FAR 52.247-63 (“Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers”) and FAR 47.403 (“Guidelines for Implementation of the Fly America Act”).

3. PAYMENT AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

3.1. SUBCONTRACT PRICE

The Subcontractor shall complete all work (services) required under this subcontract for the fixed price of TBD. This price shall include all services costs, licenses, permits, administration costs, overhead, profit, and all other costs.

The Subcontractor will be paid the installment amounts listed under the column named “Payment Amount” only upon successful completion and acceptance by ATIC of all corresponding deliverables listed in the column named “Corresponding Deliverable Name.”

Payment No. Installments Payment Amount
1 In 15 days after signing the contract 30 % of subcontract fixed price
2 In 15 days after delivery of the services and receipt of the services and goods 70% of subcontract fixed price

3.2. PAYMENT TERMS

ATIC will pay the total price through a series of installment payments as provided in Article 9 above, after Subcontractor’s completion of the corresponding deliverables and ATIC’ acceptance thereof. The Subcontractor may submit invoices for deliverables that have been accepted and approved by the authorized ATIC representative. ATIC will pay the Subcontractor’s invoice within fifteen (15) days after the following conditions have been fulfilled:
a) the Subcontractor has delivered a proper invoice;
b) ATIC has issued an inspection certificate.

Payment will be made in MDL, paid via wire transfer to the account specified in the Subcontractor’s invoice. Payment of unpaid balances will be made upon completion and final acceptance of all works and deliverables by ATIC. Any invoices for services rendered and deliverables submitted—but not accepted by ATIC—will not be paid until the Subcontractor makes sufficient revisions to the deliverables such that ATIC may approve the deliverables and thus the invoice.

3.3. INVOICE REQUIREMENTS

The Subcontractor shall present an invoice to ATIC only for services and/or commodities that have been accepted by ATIC. The invoice must be an original invoice, submitted to:

ATIC
Attention: Violeta Bordeniuc, Senior Accountant
Moldova ICT Excellence Project

To constitute a proper invoice, the Subcontractor’s invoice must include the following information and/or attached documentation. This information will assist ATIC in making timely payments to the Subcontractor:

1. Subcontractor legal name, subcontract number, invoice date, and invoice number;
2. Deliverable(s) number, description of approved deliverable(s), and corresponding value;
3. Bank account information to which payment shall be sent.

3.4. COOPERATING COUNTRY FEES, TAXES, AND DUTIES

This subcontract is entered into by ATIC on behalf of the ICTEC Project, an official program of the Government of the United States in Republic of Moldova.

As such, this subcontract is free and exempt from any taxes, VAT, tariffs, duties, or other levies imposed by the laws in effect in Republic of Moldova. The Subcontractor shall not pay any host country taxes, VAT, tariffs, duties, levies, etc. from which this USAID program is exempt. In the event that any exempt charges are paid by the Subcontractor, they will not be reimbursed to the Subcontractor by ATIC. The Subcontractor shall immediately notify ATIC if any such taxes are assessed against the Subcontractor or its subcontractors/suppliers at any tier.

The Subcontractor is responsible for payment of all applicable taxes, as prescribed under the applicable laws, associated with wages/salaries/compensation for services rendered by individuals employed by the Subcontractor and who are directed to work as required under this Subcontract. The Subcontractor is liable for payment of all applicable taxes associated with revenues (profit), and other such taxes, fees, or dues for which Subcontractor is normally responsible as a result of operating its business.

3.5. COOPERATING COUNTRY FEES, TAXES, AND DUTIES

ATIC reserves the right of set-off against amounts payable to Subcontractor under this subcontract or any other agreement in the amount of any claim or refunds ATIC may have against the Subcontractor.

4. AUTHORIZED USAID GEOGRAPHIC CODE

The authorized USAID geographic code for this procurement is USAID Geographic Code 110 in accordance with the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 22 CFR §228, available at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title22-vol1/pdf/CFR-2012-title22-….

The source and nationality of all goods, commodities, and services provided under this subcontract must meet the above-specified USAID geographic code specified in accordance with the regulations found in 22 CFR 228.

The cooperating country for this subcontract is Moldova.

No commodities or related services may be supplied under this procurement that are manufactured or assembled in, shipped from, transported through, or otherwise involving any of the following countries: Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, (North) Sudan, Syria. Related services include incidental services pertaining to any/all aspects of this work to be performed under a resulting subcontract (including transportation, fuel, lodging, meals, and communications expenses).

5. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PURCHASES (FAR 52.225-13)

(a) Except as authorized by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Subcontractor shall not acquire for its use in the performance of this subcontract, any supplies or services if any proclamation, U.S. Executive Order, U.S. statute, or OFAC’s implementing regulations (31 CFR Chapter V), would prohibit such a transaction by a U.S. person, as defined by law.

(b) Except as authorized by OFAC, most transactions involving Cuba, Iran, the Sudan, Burma and North Korea are prohibited, including importing/exporting to/from the United States, engaging in financial transactions, or facilitating any prohibited transactions by third parties. Lists of entities and individuals subject to economic sanctions – which are updated routinely – are included in OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn. It is the Subcontractor’s responsibility to remain informed as to sanctioned parties and to ensure compliance with all relevant U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions. More information about these restrictions, as well as updates, is available in the OFAC’s regulations at 31 CFR Chapter V and/or on OFAC’s website at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac.

(c) The Subcontractor shall insert this article, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts and subawards issued under this subcontract.

6. Compliance With U.S. Export Laws

Subcontractor warrants and agrees to comply with all U.S. export laws and regulations and other applicable U.S. law and regulations, including but not limited to: (i) the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 22 U.S.C. 2778 and 2779; (ii) Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA), 50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1-44; (iii) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130.; (iv) Export Administration Act (EAA) of 1979 and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774, (including the EAR anti-boycott provision); (v) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706 and Executive Orders of the President under IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. app. §§ 2401-2420; (vi) Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Parts 500-598; and (vii) other applicable U.S. laws and regulations. As required, subject to ATIC’ prior approval for all exports or imports under the Subcontract, Subcontractor shall determine any export license, reporting, filing or other requirements, obtain any export license or other official authorization, and carry out any customs formalities for the export of goods or services. Subcontractor agrees to cooperate in providing any reports, authorizations, or other documentation related to export compliance requested by ATIC. Subcontractor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend ATIC for any losses, liabilities and claims, including as penalties or fines as a result of any regulatory action taken against ATIC as a result of Subcontractor’s non-compliance with this provision.

7. ANTI-KICKBACK

(a) Definitions.
• Kickback, as used herein, means any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation of any kind, which is provided, directly or indirectly, to ATIC, the ICTEC project office or any of its employees, the Subcontractor or Subcontractor employees, or vendors in any way related to the performance or subsequent activities of this subcontract, for the purpose of improperly obtaining or rewarding favorable treatment in connection with this subcontract.
• Person, as used in this article, means a corporation, partnership, business association of any kind, trust, joint-stock company, or individual.
• Subcontractor employee, as used in this article, means any officer, partner, employee, or agent of the Subcontractor.

(b) The Subcontractor and its employees, whether directly or indirectly engaged in the performance of this subcontract, agree to abide by the terms of The United States Anti-Kickback Act of 1986, which prohibits any person from providing or attempting to provide any kickback; soliciting, accepting, or attempting to accept any kickback; or including, directly or indirectly, the amount of any kickback in the contract price charged by the Subcontractor to ATIC.
When the Subcontractor has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation described in paragraph (b) of this provision may have occurred, the Subcontractor shall promptly report in writing the possible violation. Such reports shall be made to ATIC, who shall forward the report to the USAID Inspector General for investigation, as required.

The Subcontractor agrees to cooperate fully with any United States Government agency investigating a possible violation described in paragraph (b) of this article.

ATIC may offset the amount of the kickback against any monies owed by ATIC under this fixed price subcontract or order the monies withheld from future payments due the Subcontractor.

The Subcontractor agrees to include the substance of this article in any contract it may issue under this subcontract.

8. TERRORIST FINANCING PROHIBITION

The Subcontractor (including its employees, consultants, and agents) by entering into this subcontract certifies that it does not engage, support or finance individuals and/or organizations associated with terrorism. The Subcontractor is reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. A list of entities and individuals subject to restrictions, prohibitions and sanctions can be found at the web site of the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), at http://treasury.gov/ofac. It is the legal responsibility of the Subcontractor to ensure compliance with the Executive Order 13224 and other U.S. laws prohibiting terrorist financing. This provision must be included in all subcontracts or subawards issued under this subcontract.

9. ELIGIBILITY OF SUBCONTRACTORS

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.209-6, “Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment,” (SEP 2006), no commodities, software, goods, materials, or services shall be eligible for USAID financing or reimbursement under this subcontract if provided by a subcontractor or supplier (or a subcontractors’ or suppliers’ principle) that is debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment by USAID or the USG. This applies to the Subcontractor and the Subcontractor’s subcontractors and suppliers as well.

10. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND STANDARDS

The Subcontractor shall perform all work, and comply in all respects, with applicable laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and other authoritative rules of the United States and Moldova and its political subdivisions and with the standards of relevant licensing boards and professional associations. The Subcontractor shall also comply with the applicable USAID regulations governing this subcontract, which are incorporated by reference into this subcontract, and appear in Article 35, Clauses Incorporated by Reference.

11. INDEMNITY AND SUBCONTRACTOR WAIVER OF BENEFITS

A. The Subcontractor waives any additional benefits and agrees to indemnify and save harmless ATIC, USAID their officers, directors, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims and liability, loss, expenses, suits, damages, judgments, demands, and costs (including reasonable legal and professional fees and expenses) arising out of:
(1) the acts or omissions of Subcontractor, its employees, officers, directors, agents or its subcontractors;
(2) injury or death to persons, including officers, directors, employees, agents and subcontractors of Subcontractor, or loss of or damage to property, or fines and penalties which may result, in whole or in part, by reason of the buying, selling, distribution, or use of any of the goods or services purchased or provided under this Subcontract except to the extent that such damage is due to the negligence of ATIC;
(3) the infringement or violation of any patent, copyright, trademark, service mark, trade secret, or other proprietary interest of any third party resulting from ATIC use, distribution, sale, sublicensing, or possession of the goods (including software and all forms of written materials) or services purchased or provided, as authorized hereunder, or from the use or possession of said goods or services by ATIC, USAID, as authorized hereunder; or false claims submitted by Subcontractor or its subcontractors under this Subcontract or as a result of a Subcontractor misrepresentation of fact or fraud by Subcontractor.

B. Subcontractor shall defend and settle at its sole expense all suits or proceedings arising out of the foregoing, provided that Subcontractor has notice or is given prompt written notice of such claim or suit and, further, that Subcontractor shall be given necessary information, reasonable assistance and the authority to defend such claim or suit. Subcontractor shall not settle, compromise or discharge any pending or threatened suit, claim or litigation, arising out of, based upon, or in any way related to the subject matter of this subcontract and to which ATIC is or may reasonably be expected to be a party, unless and until Subcontractor has obtained a written agreement, approved by ATIC (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) and executed by each party to such proposed settlement, compromise or discharge, releasing ATIC from any and all liability.

C. If any of the goods or services provided by Subcontractor hereunder, including without limitation software and all forms of written materials, become the subject of a claim of infringement or violation of a third party’s intellectual property, privacy and/or proprietary rights, Subcontractor shall, at its own expense, use its best efforts—
(1) to procure for ATIC the right to continue use and, if authorized under this Subcontract, distribution of the infringing goods or services or,
(2) to modify the goods or services to make them non-infringing, or to replace them with equivalent, non-infringing counterparts.

If none of the above-mentioned can be successfully implemented, then Subcontractor shall refund to ATIC all monies paid to the Subcontractor for the infringing goods and services.

 

12. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

A. Prior to delivery, any commodities under this subcontract—including raw materials, components, intermediate assemblies, and end products—shall be subject at any time to inspection and testing at the request of ATIC at the expense of ATIC. ATIC will notify the Subcontractor in writing of the names of any inspectors or inspection firms. It is understood that inspection or testing shall not in any way release the Subcontractor from any warranty or other obligations under this subcontract.

B. If any inspection or test is made by or on behalf of ATIC on the premises of the Subcontractor, the Subcontractor shall provide reasonable facilities and assistance for the safety and convenience of ATIC or its inspectors in the performance of their duties without additional charge.

C. Once commodities have been delivered to the delivery point by the Subcontractor, ATIC shall inspect the commodities to confirm compliance with the subcontract requirements. If the commodities are compliant with subcontract requirements, an inspection certificate will be issued by ATIC. In the event that the commodities are not fully compliant, the Subcontractor shall be required to remedy any defects or faults prior to acceptance by ATIC.

13. MODIFICATIONS

Modifications to the terms and conditions of this subcontract, including any modification to the scope of work, may only be made by written agreement between authorized personnel of both Parties as stipulated in Article 16 of this subcontract. Each Party shall give due notice and consideration to any proposals for modification made by the other Party.

14. CHANGES

In accordance with FAR Clause 52.243-1 “Changes—Fixed-Price” (AUG 1987), ATIC may at any time, by written order, and without notice to the sureties, if any, make changes within the general scope of this subcontract in the services to be performed.

If any such change(s) causes an increase or a decrease in the cost, or the time required for the performance, or any part of the work under the subcontract, an equitable adjustment shall be made in the subcontract price or delivery schedule, or both, and the subcontract shall be modified in writing accordingly. Any claim by the Subcontractor for adjustment under this subcontract must be asserted within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt by the Subcontractor of the modification or change.

15. ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION

This subcontract may not be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by the Subcontractor without the written consent of ATIC. Absent such written consent, any assignment is void.

16. TERMINATION
ATIC reserves the unilateral right to terminate this fixed price subcontract at any time, paying for all deliverables completed at the time of termination and a pro-rata share of any deliverable in progress, in accordance with FAR Clause 52.249-1, Termination for Convenience of the Government (Fixed Price) (Short Form) (April 1984), which is incorporated by reference in Article 35 herein.

In the event that the Subcontractor fails to make progress so as to endanger performance of this fixed price subcontract, or is unable to fulfill the terms of this fixed price subcontract by the completion date, the Subcontractor shall notify ATIC forthwith and ATIC shall have the right to summary termination of this fixed price subcontract upon written notice to the Subcontractor in accordance with the incorporated FAR Clause 52.249-8, Default (Fixed-Price Supply and Service).

SECTION 3: LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

The following cover letter must be placed on letterhead and completed/signed/stamped by a representative authorized to sign on behalf of the offeror, as part of the Technical Volume:

To: Moldova ICT Excellence Project
Str. Studentilor 9/11

Reference: RFP No. ICTEC-2018-002

To Whom It May Concern:

We, the undersigned, hereby provide the attached offer to perform all work required to complete the activities and requirements as described in the above-referenced RFP. Please find our offer attached.

We hereby acknowledge and agree to all terms, conditions, special provisions, and instructions included in the above-referenced RFP. We further certify that the below-named firm—as well as the firm’s principal officers and all commodities and services offered in response to this RFP—are eligible to participate in this procurement under the terms of this solicitation.

Furthermore, we hereby certify that, to the best of our knowledge and belief:
• We have no close, familial, or financial relationships with any ATIC or ICTEC project staff members;
• We have no close, familial, or financial relationships with any other offerors submitting proposals in response to the above-referenced RFP; and
• The prices in our offer have been arrived at independently, without any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.
• All information in our proposal and all supporting documentation is authentic and accurate.
• We understand and agree to ATIC’ prohibitions against fraud, bribery, and kickbacks.

We hereby certify that the enclosed representations, certifications, and other statements are accurate, current, and complete.

Authorized Signature:

Name and Title of Signatory:
Date:

Company Name:

Company Address:

Company Telephone and Website:

Company Registration or Taxpayer ID Number:

Does the company have an active bank account (Yes/No)?

Official name associated with bank account (for payment):

SECTION 4: OFFEROR’S TECHNICAL SUMMARY SHEET

The following information must be completed and submitted in the Technical Volume:

I. Name of Offeror:
Tax ID No.:
DUNS No:
Address:
Telephone/Fax No.:

II. Is the Offeror an official dealer for the commodities offered? ____yes _____no

III. International warranty on all commodities? ____yes _____no

Copy of warranty terms/conditions included? ____yes _____no

How many years for the warranty? ___2____ years

III. Authorized agent(s) in Republic of Moldova for service, warranty, etc.:

A. Name(s):
B. Address(s):
C. Telephone No.(s): Fax No.(s):
D. Contact:

IV. Delivery time

Deliverable Number Deliverable Name Delivery Schedule
1
2
3
4
5
etc.

TOTAL delivery estimate (after receipt of order) ______________ calendar days.

(NOTE: Delivery data must be honest, accurate, and upheld in any resulting subcontract.)

Company Name

Name and title of authorized representative

Signature

Date

SECTION 5: REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

The following certifications must be completed and submitted in the Technical Volume:

SECTION 5-1: CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION

CERTIFICATE OF INDEPENDENT PRICE DETERMINATION

_______ hereinafter called the “offeror”)
(Name of Offeror)

(a) The offeror certifies that—
(1) The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor relating to— (i) Those prices;
(ii) The intention to submit an offer; or
(iii) The methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered.
(2) The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the offeror, directly or indirectly, to any other offeror or competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the case of a negotiated solicitation) unless otherwise required by law; and
(3) No attempt has been made or will be made by the offeror to induce any other concern to submit or not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting competition.

(b) Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory—
(1) Is the person in the offeror’s organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this bid or proposal, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision; or
(2)(i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the following principals in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision _________and _______________ [insert full name of person(s) in the offeror’s organization responsible for determining the prices offered in this bid or proposal, and the title of his or her position in the offeror’s organization];
(ii) As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals named in subdivision (b)(2)(i) of this provision have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision; and
(iii) As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this provision.

(c) If the offeror deletes or modifies paragraph (a)(2) of this provision, the offeror must furnish with its offer a signed statement setting forth in detail the circumstances of the disclosure.

Company Name: ____________

By (Signature): ___________________ Title: _____________________

Printed Name: ____________________ Date: _____________________

SECTION 5-2: CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

CERTIFICATION REGARDING RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS

(a) (1) The Offeror certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that –

(i) The Offeror and/or any of its Principals –

(A) Are 0, are not 0, presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible for the award of contracts by any Federal agency;

(B) Have 0, have not 0, within a three-year period preceding this offer, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, state, or local) contract or subcontract; violation of Federal or state antitrust statutes relating to the submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property;

(C) Are 0, are not 0, presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity with, commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(B) of this provision;

(D) Have 0, have not 0, within a three-year period preceding this offer, been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in an amount that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains unsatisfied.

(ii) The Offeror has 0 has not 0, within a 3-year period preceding this offer, had one or more contracts terminated for default by any Federal agency.

(2) “Principal,” for the purposes of this certification, means an officer, director, owner, partner, or a person having primary management or supervisory responsibilities within a business entity (e.g., general manager; plant manager; head of a subsidiary, division, or business segment; and similar positions). This certification concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and the making of a false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker subject to prosecution under Section 1001, Title 18, US Code.

(b) The Offeror shall provide immediate written notice to ATIC if, at any time prior to contract award, the Offeror learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.

c) A certification that any of the items in paragraph (a) of this provision exists will not necessarily result in withholding of an award under this solicitation. However, the certification will be considered in connection with a determination of the Offeror’s responsibility. Failure of the Offeror to furnish a certification or provide such additional information as requested by ATIC may render the Offeror non-responsible.

(d) Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render, in good faith, the certification required by paragraph (a) of this provision. The knowledge and information of an Offeror is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings.

(e) The certification in paragraph (a) of this provision is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when making award. If it is later determined that the Offeror knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available ATIC, ATIC may terminate the contract resulting from this solicitation for default.

Company Name:

By (Signature): ___________________ Title: ___________________

Printed Name: ____________________ Date: _____________________

SECTION 5-3: EVIDENCE OF RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

EVIDENCE OF RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

This statement describes the offeror’s internal policies and procedures, as well as its ability to comply with the terms and conditions of a potential subcontract resulting from RFP No. ICTEC-2018-004. The offeror shall complete the information in this statement as part of its proposal.

Company Name: _______________

1. Authorized Negotiators

The offeror’s proposal in response to RFP No. ICTEC-2017-003 may be discussed with any of the following individuals. These individuals are authorized to represent our company in negotiation of this proposal.

Names of authorized negotiator(s): _____________

These individuals can be reached at the following office:
Address: ______________________________
Telephone/Email: ________________________________

2. Adequate Financial Resources

We hereby certify that the above-named company maintains adequate financial resources to manage any subcontract resulting from this offer.

3. Ability to Comply

We certify we are able to comply with the proposed schedule and period of performance, having taken into consideration all existing business commitments, commercial as well as governmental.

4. Record of Performance, Integrity, and Business Ethics

Our record of integrity is outstanding. We have no allegations of lack of integrity or of questionable business ethics. Our integrity can be confirmed by our Past Performance References, contained in the Technical Volume.

5. Organization, Experience, Accounting and Operational Controls, and Technical Skills

Describe how the subcontract will be managed:

6. Equipment and Facilities

We maintain the necessary facilities and equipment to carry out the subcontract.

7. Eligibility to Receive Award

We are qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulation. In addition, we have performed similar work – describe:

8. Acceptability of Subcontract Terms and Conditions

We have reviewed the solicitation document and attachments and agree to the terms and conditions set forth therein.

 

I hereby certify that the above statements are true and accurate, to the best of my knowledge.

Company Name: ________________________

By (Signature): ___________________ Title: _Owner____________________

Printed Name: ____________________ Date: _____________________

ANNEX: DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Background
Tekwill Academy has been created in order to help bridge the gap between what is learned in IT education and what is necessary in the industry, Tekwill developed programs for different target groups. The program seeks to develop local ICT talent, transfer knowledge, promote a greater understanding of, and interest in, the technological sector and encourage regional building and participation in the digital community. Tekwill Academy is supported by companies from IT and non-IT sector, building together dynamic, unique, and constantly evolving programs.
In 2018 Tekwill Academy will focus on:
• Strong positioning on the market
• Development of new products
• Focus on STEM industry and the relationship with non ICT companies

2. Target market
The audience intended to be covered by the digital marketing campaigns is comprised of several major groups:
• Youth and students
• Schools and colleges (teachers of informatics, math and physics)
• Professional conversion
• IT / non IT companies
• Girls interested in IT sector (gender sensitive campaign of girls promotion in IT sector)

3. Goals
The digital marketing campaign has the following goals:
• to provide independent advice and support in developing and/or executing strategic, operational plans to meet defined targets and objectives
• to build and implement the SMM: storytelling, facebook algorthims
• to appy google AdWords
• to build an email marketing campaign

• to create awareness among target audience groups regarding the products and to contribute to the raising of the number of applicants for the courses
• Assist the team members in devising and implementing marketing strategies for their programs and specific projects and review their implementation on a predefined basis.
• Provide the reports and data analysis of the efficiency of promo campaigns and most relevant communication channels

 

4. Preferred communication channels/methods
In order to ensure the necessary reach, the campaign should involve Romanian and Russian language media, and should include, but not be limited to:
• facebook/twitter/linkedin
• youtube/Instagram
• medium
• live streaming during the events

5. Timeframes
The digital marketing campaign should include 3 stages:
• before the courses are launched February – March 2018
• during the courses (February – May 2018)
• after the courses (june – august 2018)
Communication channels and methods should be adapted accordingly.
6. Format and Content
An Executive Summary of no more than 3 pages must be provided which describes the manner in which the Vendor proposes to meet Organizers requirements, and clearly and concisely states the major elements of the Proposal.
In addition to the Executive Summary, the proposal should include the following:
• A draft plan for executing the digital marketing Campaign, which will include various lines of communication etc.
• Experience in similar institutions/ projects.
• Staffing capacity to undertake the current project.
• Vendor/Partner presence in the target areas.
• Technical and financial background of the Vendor company(ies).
• Statement of conflicts of interest, if any.
A budget should be attached to the proposal. The format of the budget is subject to the Vendor’s choice.
All vendors must agree to keep the quoted pricing in their proposals for a minimum of 90 days after proposal submission.
At this stage, this is expected to be a single stage tender. However, Organizers reserve the right to request for negotiation meetings and/ or a Best and Final Offer, as necessary.
Expenses for Proposal
Proposers are solely responsible for their own expenses, if any, in preparing and submitting a proposal in response to this Request for Proposal. This would include any costs incurred during functional demonstrations and subsequent meetings and negotiations.
Format and Content
An Executive Summary of no more than 3 pages must be provided which describes the manner in which the Vendor proposes to meet Organizers requirements, and clearly and concisely states the major elements of the Proposal.
In addition to the Executive Summary, the proposal should include the following:
• Experience in similar campaigns and projects.
• Staffing capacity to undertake the current project.
• Vendor/Partner presence in the target areas.
• Technical and financial background of the Vendor company(ies).
• Statement of conflicts of interest, if any.
A budget should be attached to the proposal. Please break down the budget following the three main categories below, and indicate the budget associated to each (add or expand as necessary; the maximum level of detail possible on the budget is expected):
• Personnel costs;
• Overheads/Administration, if any;
• Price for paid and unpaid media;
All vendors must agree to keep the quoted pricing in their proposals for a minimum of 30 days after proposal submission.