Centrally Managed African Cellular Services (CMACS)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE (CJTF) HORN OF AFRICA (HOA) (CJTF-HOA)

CENTRALLY MANAGED AFRICAN CELLULAR SERVICES (CMACS)

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. IT IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). In accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding Contract.

This is a request for market research information purposes only and does not constitute any Invitation for Bid or Solicitation, nor should this be considered as a commitment on part of the United States (US) Government. Industry respondents to this RFI are placed on notice that any information received by the US Government does not ensure participation in any planned or anticipated procurement. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any expenses associated with participation in this RFI.

CJTF-HOA is requesting information from industry to determine capability and availability to provide cellular services in and around the HOA Area of Responsibility (AOR). CJTF-HOA currently obtains cellular services via individual purchases of prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards, prepaid Minute Cards, and monthly Service Plans. The current procurement process to fulfill this requirement has multiple complexities. These complexities range from varying availability among local providers within different countries, administrative burden with delivery coordination/management, and the administrative burden of simultaneous procurement actions for the same or similar services. The US Government seeks information from industry on whether a single procurement could provide for these requirements, while also providing the services required to manage and ensure delivery with local suppliers.

CJTF-HOA’s current AOR is defined as East Africa, including Djibouti and Eritrea. Areas of interest include Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Specifically, CJTF-HOA is interested in the capability and availability of a single provider for SIM Cards, Minute Cards, and Service Plans in the following primary locations: Djibouti, Somalia, & Kenya. In addition to these, if there is capability and availability to provide these services in any other CJTF-HOA AOR location (secondary locations), please include this information with your response.

The following sample quantities are provided for potential requirements within the primary locations:

• Djibouti:
  • SIM Cards: 200 each annually
  • Minute Cards: 7,000 total minute cards annually (preference for 70 minute individual increment cards)
  • Service Plan: 30 each month
• Somalia:
  • SIM Cards: 100 each annually
  • Minute Cards: 2,000 total minute cards annually (preference for 70 minute individual increment cards)
  • Service Plan: 10 each month
• Kenya:
  • SIM Cards: 100 each annually
  • Minute Cards: 2,000 total minute cards annually (preference for 70 minute individual increment cards)
  • Service Plan: 10 each month

The US Government realizes that availability may be limited in some countries while there may be multiple options in others. Recognizing this, there may be varying factors which impact delivery lead times and pricing. Respondents are encouraged to include any details for these underlying factors with the response.

Responses should delineate whether SIM Cards are physical or electronic (e-SIM). While current preference is for physical SIM Cards, if options for each exist, please indicate so in the response.

Minute Cards & Service Plans should include data speeds of at least 10mbps; however, if this is not feasible in certain locations or if multiple options exist, please indicate so in the response.

Service Plans should include unlimited talk, text, & data; however, if this is not feasible in certain locations or if multiple options exist, please indicate so in the response.

Responses should indicate recommended delivery lead times for each product type (e.g., SIM Card, Minute Card) along with other factors which may impact this lead time (e.g., quantities of 30 SIM Cards can be delivered in 15 calendar days while quantities greater than 100 may require 30 calendar days). If any potential minimum/maximum individual order quantity preferences exists, please indicate so in the response.

Responses should indicate if your organization would be interested in providing a proposal for the requirements described in this RFI if a Solicitation were issued. Additionally, please describe your organization’s capability and if you have performed some or all of these services in the past.

Responses should clearly indicate which countries listed under the CJTF-HOA AOR your organization would be capable of supporting (either in full or in part).

Responses should indicate whether your organization believes a single procurement vehicle (either multiple or single-award) would be possible to provide these services and if your organization is currently included in any Contract vehicle(s) which might support these requirements.

While responses may include pricing information, this information will only be utilized for market research purposes only and will not be considered an offer towards any binding Contract.

Respondents are encouraged to provide any additional information which the US Government should consider as part of this effort.