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  <h1><st1:place><b><font size=4 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
   13.5pt'>Eastern Africa</span></font></b></st1:place> Backhaul Terrestrial
  Connectivity - Pre-Feasibility Study<o:p></o:p></h1>
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  <p><st1:place><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
   9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Eastern Africa</span></font></st1:place><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'> Backhaul Terrestrial Connectivity<br>
  Pre-Feasibility Study<br>
  <br>
  CONSULTING SERVICES<br>
  <br>
  <br>
  Expressions of interest<br>
  <br>
  The Global Information and Communication Technologies Department (GICT) of
  the World Bank Group <span class=GramE>intends</span> to procure consulting
  services for the Eastern Africa Backhaul Terrestrial Connectivity –
  Pre-Feasibility Study.<br>
  <br>
  Background and Objective of the TA assignment<br>
  The </span></font><st1:place><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
   style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Africa</span></font></st1:place><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'>: Regional Communications Infrastructure Project (RCIP) supports
  NEPAD’s infrastructure initiative to develop the Eastern Submarine
  Cable and regional terrestrial infrastructure in order to bring low-cost
  international connectivity to Eastern and </span></font><st1:place><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>Southern Africa</span></font></st1:place><font size=1
  color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'>. The primary objective of the study, which is part of the
  preparation of RCIP, is to design and evaluate the feasibility of (<span
  class=SpellE>i</span>) a terrestrial, backhaul network routed Mombassa -
  Nairobi - Kampala - Kigali - Bujumbura - Dar <span class=SpellE>es</span>
  Salaam (Eastern Loop) that will ensure that these countries have a
  competitively priced high-bandwidth access to the most convenient and
  appropriate shore landing stations of the <span class=SpellE>EASSy</span>
  submarine cable system and also work as a back-up and restoration route for <span
  class=SpellE>EASSy</span>; and (ii) core national backbone networks relevant
  for the regional initiative in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and
  possibly one or two additional Eastern and Southern African countries to
  channel traffic into the Eastern Loop and the <span class=SpellE>EASSy</span>
  system.<br>
  <br>
  The services will include:<br>
  • Review the status of existing (and in construction or planned) links
  of the </span></font><st1:place><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
   style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Eastern Loop</span></font></st1:place><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'> and national backbone networks<br>
  • Assessment of the demand for additional national core backbone
  networks<br>
  • Definition of the mechanisms for cooperation between different
  stakeholders to assure timely availability of backhaul links<br>
  • Specification of technical requirements for the </span></font><st1:place><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>Eastern Loop</span></font></st1:place><font size=1 color=black
  face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> and
  core national backbone networks<br>
  • Design, specification, and assessment of cost of each of the new
  links (both for the </span></font><st1:place><font size=1 color=black
   face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Eastern
   Loop</span></font></st1:place><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
  style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> and the national
  networks)<br>
  • Determine the technical and economic feasibility of each link, and
  the feasibility of the overall system, including <span class=SpellE>EASSy</span><br>
  • Recommendation on optimal structure for the implementation,
  operation, and maintenance of the </span></font><st1:place><font size=1
   color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>Eastern Loop</span></font></st1:place><font size=1 color=black
  face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> and
  core national backbone networks<br>
  • Recommendation on relevant commercial, legal and regulatory
  implementation solutions to issues<br>
  • Determine which additional feasibility studies and Technical
  Assistance are required<br>
  <br>
  The key deliverables of the assignment are: (<span class=SpellE>i</span>)
  Technical and economic report centered on the long term viability of the
  project; (ii) Policy and regulatory report focusing on the development of
  open access communications infrastructure; (iii) Workshop to discuss the
  recommendations with concerned governments, East Africa backhaul coordination
  task force, and other stakeholders; and (iv) Detailed action plan and
  implementation program with timetable.<br>
  <br>
  The assignment is expected to be implemented over a period of about 4 months
  from contract signature.<br>
  <br>
  GICT of the World Bank Group now invites eligible consultants to indicate
  their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide
  information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services
  (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar
  conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).
  Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.<br>
  <br>
  For this assignment we request submission of a short (maximum four <span
  class=GramE>page</span>) note outlining how the consultants would conduct
  this assignment if selected. The note should include the following: (a) an
  analytical framework and a process by which the research will be conducted;
  (b) a timeline that demonstrates the consultants ability to meet the
  deadlines; (c) a brief narrative on resource allocation; and (d) brief
  summaries of key personnel to be involved in the work, particularly their
  experience that directly relates to needs of this study.<br>
  <br>
  Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below
  from </span></font><st1:time Hour="10" Minute="0"><font size=1 color=black
   face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>10am</span></font></st1:time><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'> to </span></font><st1:time Hour="17" Minute="0"><font size=1
   color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>5pm</span></font></st1:time><font size=1 color=black
  face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> US
  Eastern Time.<br>
  <br>
  Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by </span></font><st1:date
  Month="10" Day="18" Year="2005"><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
   style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>October 18, 2005</span></font></st1:date><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'>. Electronic submission of the EOI, including a maximum four page
  note as mentioned above is preferred. It can be submitted either in Microsoft
  Word or PDF format.<br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  To:<br>
  Mavis <span class=SpellE>Ampah</span><br>
  Mail Stop: F 5K-508<br>
  </span></font><st1:Street><st1:address><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>1818 H Street, NW</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'><br>
  </span></font><st1:place><st1:City><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Washington</span></font></st1:City><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>, </span></font><st1:State><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>DC</span></font></st1:State><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'> </span></font><st1:PostalCode><font size=1 color=black
    face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>20433</span></font></st1:PostalCode></st1:place><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'><br>
  Tel: (1) 202 473 0095<br>
  Fax: (1) 202 522 3001<br>
  E-mail: mampah1@worldbank.org<br>
  <br>
  Copied to:<br>
  Peter <span class=SpellE>Silarszky</span><br>
  Mail Stop: F 5K-509<br>
  </span></font><st1:Street><st1:address><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>1818 H Street, NW</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'><br>
  </span></font><st1:place><st1:City><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Washington</span></font></st1:City><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'>, </span></font><st1:State><font size=1 color=black face=Arial><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>DC</span></font></st1:State><font
   size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
   color:black'> </span></font><st1:PostalCode><font size=1 color=black
    face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>20433</span></font></st1:PostalCode></st1:place><font
  size=1 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
  color:black'><br>
  Tel: (1) 202 458 0418<br>
  Fax: (1) 202 614 0845<br>
  E-mail: psilarszky@worldbank.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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