|
Chapter XI
|
The fluctuation in the rate of exchange between USD and local currency will cause financial disparity. The Mission may clarify on it.
|
Penalty will be fixed in currency Rand and a corrigendum is being issued.
|
|
Chapter VII
Para 2 (c)
|
In South Africa, labor law does not prescribe any minimum qualification requirements for any position, leaving it to individual companies to establish and enforce their own policies. For our company, the minimum qualification requirement is Matric, equivalent to grade 12, for all SO/Senior Officer level positions, while a degree or equivalent certification is necessary for managerial roles.
Can you please advise if minimum graduate level is also required for submission officer and back-office roles?
|
For Security guard and Receptionist, the qualification could be liberalized. However, all other submission staff/managers should be adequately qualified as mentioned in the RFP.
|
|
Chapter XI
Point 20 of the Para (iv)
|
Call Centre working hours mentioned here are 8 AM to 6 PM. Which is contradictory to clause Xii(e)). Pg no 30. (The telephone enquiries shall be attended to from 9 AM to 8 PM on all working days.)
Could you please confirm call center working hours.
|
It is clarified that call centres working hours shall be from 7 AM to 7 PM on all working days and an automatic answering system shall be functional outside the above period including holidays. Chapter VII Point B (xii) may be referred.
A corrigendum is being issued in this regard.
|
|
Annexure -C, Part-I Section B
|
Should the cost of providing Optional Services (Ex. Courier, PL etc) should be included here? Our understanding is that only the cost for core services should be provided in Annexure C Section B. Please confirm our understanding.
|
The anticipated cost for providing Optional Services like Premium Lounge and Door-to-Door Services are not part of the basic Service Fee. However, for the Optional services rendered at ICAC, a total anticipated costs involved, wherever necessary, shall be provided as per section B of the Annex-C of the RFP.
|
|
Annexure -C
Part-II-A
|
In the Annexure C: Financial Bid, Section Part III
Total estimated Revenue - Proposed Service Fee – We understand that the proposed service fee is a total of (a) Basic Service Fee (b) Enrolment of Fingerprint biometrics and (c) Facial biometric capture (which is calculated in Part II-A of Annexure C). Please confirm our understanding.
|
Yes, its correct
|
|
Annexure-C Part-III
|
It is mentioned that Viability difference between (f) and (e). Should this difference not be equal to zero? As (f) which is total estimated revenue is defined as (No of anticipated CPV applications x proposed Service Fee). And (e) sum of (a) +(b) + (d) which again is the same as total estimated service fee revenue. So the difference between (f) and (e) should be zero? Please confirm if this understanding is correct.
|
Yes, the difference between the Total estimated revenue (f) and (Total estimated expenditure + Local Taxes Payable + Profit) (e) has to be zero.
|
|
Chapter V-Mandatory Eligibility Criteria
|
The financials for the Year 2023 are still under audit review. Hence can we submit the audited financials for the three years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and unaudited financials for Year 2023.
|
This is permitted at the bidding stage. However, a certificate from the auditor regarding the financials for the Year 2023 shall be submitted. The Audited balance sheet for the year 2023 should be provided before the award of the contract.
|
|
Chapter V- Mandatory Eligibility Criteria
Para 1(x)
|
The Bidding Company must provide certification that its operations are compliant with local labour laws and the relevant tax regime and shall continue to be compliant with such regime. Shall the Self- certification by the bidding company on their letterheads be sufficient for fulfilling the above clause?
|
Self-certification would be sufficient. However, the concerned OSP shall be obliged to provide additional documentation to the Mission to substantiate its claims, if required.
|
|
General Query
|
Kindly provide details of the Embassy bank account duly mentioning Account No./Address of the bank, and details of SWIFT/IBAN.
|
The relevant Bank details will be shared with the companies that have submitted the organizational profile to the Mission.
|
|
General Query
|
Kindly advise whether all four copies of the technical bid are required in originals.
|
One copy of the technical bid should be original and three copies could be in duplicate along with soft copies in CD format.
|
|
Chapter X
Bank Guarantees
|
Kindly advise the amount for all three bank guarantees
|
Bank Guarantee for Government Funds: Rand 2,23,943.00
The exact amounts of BGs for Performance Guarantee and Premature Termination can be arrived at only at the time of award of the contract as Service Fee of the successful bidder is required for calculating the same.
|
|
General Query
|
Can the bid documents be signed by DSC or physical signatures are required
|
Bid documents are to be signed physically.
|
|
General Query
|
Please confirm to which year, the conversion rate of Rand to INR will be applicable for getting the equivalent value of Turnover and Net Worth, for the respective financial / calendar years, e.g. Jan 2021-Dec 2023
|
The Conversion rate for the purpose of calculating the equivalent value of Turnover and Net Worth is:
US $ 1 = Rs. 83.60
Rs. 1 = Rand 0.2198
|
|
Chapter-I
Para-5
|
Please provide complete technical specifications of the hardware and its installation which we have to quote in our price bid as of now without having any clarification on the quantity, technical specification, or any other hardware/software.
|
There are no confirmed timelines for the rollout of chip-enabled e-passports as of now. The information will be shared as and when the rollout is undertaken by the Ministry.
Quantity of hardware planning is for bidders to make, keeping in account the anticipated applicants to be served daily, counters, redundancies, etc.
|
|
General query
|
Requested to please clarify, in the event of an extension of the agreement after the contract period, if there is any possibility of revising the existing rates in view of price index/changed price index of the country, to make the project viable. This may include revision in service fee, applicable all local taxes (VAT/GST etc.) and minimum wages.
|
At the end of the three-year contract period, the Mission may at its discretion extend the Agreement, with the approval of the Ministry, for a maximum period of two years, on the same terms and conditions, with the mutual consent of both the Mission and the OSP
|
|
General Query
|
The procedure of handling of leftover applications by the current service provider to the new appointed service provider has not been mentioned in the RFP, which is a crucial part for taking of the charge, please clarify.
|
This does not arise as the existing Service Provider, who collected the Service Fee, needs to fulfill their obligations.
|
|
General Query
|
Whether services of sub-contractor can be availed for certain category of ancillary services? Please clarify and share the details.
|
Sub-contracting is not allowed as per the RFP
|
|
General Query
|
Would Maseru, Lesotho be the main centre in Lesotho for the Service Desk.
|
Yes.
|
|
General Query
|
Is there a minimum benchmark for service fees
|
There is no benchmark for service fees.
|
|
General Query
|
Would more services like OCI be added
|
Consular Services (including OCI, Attestation etc.) is part of RFP.
|
|
General Query
|
With regards to the Premium Lounge Suite, is it in the 250 sq metres
|
The total minimum area prescribed in the RFP is inclusive of the Premium Lounge. However, the actual area of the Premium Lounge will be decided by the Mission later.
|
|
General Query
|
ICAC in Sandton, exactly where in Sandton
|
The Centre should be at prominent/prime locations in well-connected commercial complexes with ample parking facilities for applicants.
|
|
Chapter VII
Scope of Work
|
Is there a calculation on the staffing requirement
|
The minimum staffing requirement is given at Chapter VII: Scope of Work and Deliverables Required, Para 1A (xi).
|
|
Chapter-III
Para xiv(o)
|
Bidders are required to make a Presentation at the time of valuation of Technical Bids as per the date and time fixed by the Mission, which will also be evaluated in Annexure-E of RFP.
Please confirm that the presentation will be held privately between the Mission and the bidder as our presentation will contain confidential information.
How many participants per company are permitted to attend the oral presentation?
Will this be an e-meeting or in-person at Mission premises?
|
Yes. The presentation shall remain confidential between the Mission and the bidder. It will also become part of the technical bid document. However, claims regarding experience may be publicized by the Mission.
2-3 participants per company shall be permitted for the oral presentation.
The presentation has to be in person.
|
|
General Query
|
Please confirm if a Single Service Fee is to be quoted for all the categories of services. For example: Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Registration for OCI etc.
|
Yes, service fee remains the same for all the services that would be offered by the OSP. Please refer to Chapter XV Para B (ii) (Pages 82-83)
|
