The bidding documents for a universal access and service (UAS) competition provide complete information on the following four key elements of the UAS bidding programme:
- The context and background of the UAS bid (e.g., the UAS policy, overall programme and government commitment), including a detailed description of the particular UAS project for which the tender is called;
- The detailed requirements and obligations of the UAS service provider (i.e., the winning bidder);
- The rules and procedures of the bidding process itself; and
- A draft contract, also called the UAS Service Agreement, and a draft license (including spectrum license and numbering rights, if required).
In many cases the bidding documents also include specific forms, or templates, to be completed by the participating bidder.
The purpose of including all these elements is to provide the bidders with as complete and comprehensive information as possible in advance of the project. This will solicit well-prepared bids and provide a transparent process with no ambiguities, especially in regards to the bid evaluation and bidders’ qualification rules. The following table provides an overview of key topics and elements typically covered in UAS bidding documents.
Source: ITU-infoDev ICT Regulation Toolkit – UAS Module
Generally, qualification criteria for bidders should be limited to ensuring applicants have the financial, technical and managerial resources and experience to successfully develop and execute the planned project. It is important to establish clear, rigorous and proportionate qualification criteria, explicitly stated in the bidding documents. Depending on the planned project, the qualifications may vary, but need to be developed by the funding agency. The input from various interested bidders during the consultation process might help to clarify key qualifications, since the most appropriate qualifications may vary from project to project, with market size, etc.
Draft contract
In general, the bidding documents should include as an annex the draft contract, also called a UAS service and subsidy agreement. Details of its typical contents are shown in the following table:
Source: ITU-infoDev ICT Regulation Toolkit – UAS Module
End notes
- A bid bond is a bank guarantee provided by the bidder, ranging from 1 to 5 per cent of maximum subsidy, which the bidder will have to fortify if the bidder withdraws its bid. The purpose of the bid bond is to deter companies that are not serious bidders.
- A performance bond is a bank guarantee, ranging from 10 to 25% of contract value, provided by the winning bidder that guarantees satisfactory completion of the project or the bidder may loose part or all of the money.