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Tenders are invited for Procuring IT Infrastructure and Server Room for the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Closing Date: Monday, 04. Nov 2024 Intervention Sector(s): Training & Capacity Building Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing one of the worst economic crises globally since the mid-nineteenth century according to the World Bank, with 2 major events intensifying its impact, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion in 2020. As the financial and economic situation unfolds, the downfall can be seen in all of the countrys aspects, from the availability of state services to the functioning of public administrations. Understanding the extent of this downfall requires an overview of several key facts that could represent Lebanons new reality. Lebanon has also been facing political and economic crises for several years. The country has a complex political system that is based on power-sharing arrangements among its religious sects. However, this system has led to political gridlock, corruption, and a lack of accountability, which has resulted in a deteriorating economic situation and social unrest. The political deadlock in Lebanon refers to the ongoing inability of the countrys political leaders to form a functioning government. This deadlock has been repetitive and has always persisted for multiple months and sometimes years. The countrys worsening context has severe consequences on all sectors, with Lebanese public administrations being the most affected due to the reduction of available public funds. This has affected the core of public services and the basic functioning of administrations. A new EU Program Action started in December 2023 that aims to support progress in key areas of public administration reform in Lebanon through enhancing the integrity, transparency and accountability of its public administration aligned with the principles of a modern public administration. It consists of three outcomes: Safeguarding integrity of the public administration, mainly in the area of public human resources management (i.e. civil service reform); Enhancing transparency in public administration systems, mainly in the area of public procurement at central and local level (i.e. public financial management reform) and access to public information (i.e. accountability); Strengthening accountability of the administration by reinforcing the role of the main oversight bodies (i.e., Central Inspection Board, Court of Audits and National Anti-Corruption Commission) in implementing reform, fighting and preventing corruption. The Outputs to be delivered contributing to the outcome 2 on public procurement reform are: 2.1. Centralized and decentralized public procurement systems more transparent by setting up the e-procurement platform; 2.2 Skills of procurement officers and stakeholders enhanced and public procurement function created; 2.3 The public procurement system is regulated by an independent authority committed to the principles of transparency, fair treatment of all bidders and equal opportunities to participate; 2.4 The role of civil society organizations in supervising and monitoring public procurement enhanced. Needs justification Albeit the financial crisis, almost all Lebanese governmental entities have suffered from budget cuts that affected negatively on their IT infrastructure and IT systems spending. The complications have multiplied with the financial crisis and political gridlock in the country, leaving most public administrations in dire need of support. The PPA, officially established on July 29, 2022 in accordance with the law, is a public procurement regulatory authority, whose missions defined by article 76 of law 244/2021, and include: Assistance and control of contracting entities in their public procurement operations. The variation of the law in secondary legislation. The definition of national public purchasing policies. The creation of public buyers professions and the definition of a national training policy. The establishment of an e-procurement system. International cooperation in public procurement. The project aims to support the IT and Capacity building needs of the public procurement authority. Digitalization and reliance on IT solutions are key to the success of the PPA, especially with the international standards for transparency in public procurement. In order to carry out the project activities, Expertise France will support the procurement of IT infrastructure and Data Center for the PPA, as per the following specifications. Objectives and desired results General objective The objective of the assignment is building the IT Infrastructure of PPA including cabling, switching, VoIP Telephony, Redundant Power supply, WIFI Hot spots, Internet connection cabling and a Server room. Specific objectives Empower PPA in conducting its leading and focal role in supporting public administrations. Provide a modern and stable infrastructure much needed for the smooth operation within the PPA. Scope of Work 1.1. Network Infrastructure (24/7) Design and deploy a structured cabling system based on industry standards. Provide and install high-quality network core and edge switches and related hardware. Ensure scalability for future expansion. Implement redundancy and failover mechanisms. Conduct testing and optimization for optimal network performance using Use tools such Wireshark, SolarWinds, or PRTG to measure current network performance metrics such as latency, throughput, packet loss, and jitter. Configure QoS to prioritize critical traffic and ensure that important applications Use VLANs to segment network traffic and reduce congestion have the necessary bandwidth. Properly subnet the network to improve routing efficiency and reduce broadcast traffic. 1.2. Server Room Design and build PPA Server room Install and configure servers, storage systems, and backup solutions. Implement virtualization technologies. Set up environmental monitoring, cooling, and power distribution systems. Ensure compliance with industry standards (TIA-942) and regulations. 1.3. Security (24/7) Integrate intrusion detection/prevention systems/firewalls, and antivirus solutions to protect against internal and external cybersecurity threats. Implement access controls, encryption protocols, and secure network communication. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. Develop and implement an incident response and disaster recovery plan. Ensure compliance with Lebanese security regulations and procedures. Technical Requirements 2.1. Cabling Cat6 or higher structured cabling for data and voice. Power cables Proper labeling and documentation of cabling infrastructure with a well-documented map in AutoCAD and JPG formats to be delivered to PPA as part of the sign off process. Labeling should follow the below guidelines: Use Durable Labels Material: Use labels made from durable materials that can withstand environmental conditions like heat, moisture, or abrasion (e.g., vinyl or polyester). Print Quality: Use a label printer that provides clear, smudge-proof, and fade-resistant text. Consistent Naming Convention Identifier Code: Develop a standard naming convention that includes unique identifiers, such as: Location: Include room number, rack number, or panel number. Cable Type: Specify if its a power cable, network cable, etc. (e.g., CAT6, HDMI, Fiber, etc.). Source and Destination: Clearly state where the cable starts and ends (e.g., SW01-P01 to SW02-P10). Sequence Number: Include a sequential number for similar cables (e.g., Cable 1, Cable 2, etc.). Example: RACK1-SW01-PORT01-TO-SW02-PORT10 Label Both Ends Ensure that each cable is labeled at both ends with the same identifier. This makes it easier to trace cables through pathways or bundles. Visible Placement Positioning: Place the label close to the connector but not on it, ensuring it remains visible and accessible. Orientation: Ensure that the label text is easy to read without needing to twist or turn the cable. Use Color Coding Consider color-coded labels to distinguish between different types of cables, purposes, or priorities (e.g., red for power cables, blue for network cables). Documentation Keep a detailed record of all cable labels in a master document, mapping each label to its corresponding cable route, type, and purpose. This documentation is crucial for PPA later on maintenance and troubleshooting. 2.2. Network Edge Switches Gigabit Ethernet Managed edge switches with PoE ready capabilities + dedicated UPS of 10 to 15 minutes backup time for each Proposed switches and Network components should support SFP interfaces. VLAN support and QoS features. Redundant power supplies and high availability features. Web-based or command-line interface (CLI) for easy configuration and management Operating temperature range suitable for the installation environment 2.3. Core Switch Managed Layer 3 Core Switch with 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, supporting advanced routing protocols, redundancy features (e.g., VRRP, HSRP), and high-speed uplinks (10G/40G/100G), including rack-mount kit, power supply, and necessary licenses. Form Factor: Rack-mountable, 1U/2U chassis Ports: Ethernet Ports: Minimum of 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet ports. Uplink Ports: Minimum of 4 x 10G SFP+ (or higher) uplink ports, with optional 40G or 100G uplink support. Expansion Slots: Support for modular expansion (e.g., additional SFP+ or QSFP+ modules). Redundancy: Dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans. Throughput: Minimum of 1 Tbps switching capacity and high packet forwarding rate. Latency: Ultra-low latency for high-performance environments. Routing Protocols: Support for advanced Layer 3 routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, Tender Link : https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/expertise-france/calls/procuring-it-infrastructure-and-server-room-public-procurement-authority-ppa
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