Eight bidders have successfully submitted their Request for Proposal documents for the supply of goods and related services in Kenya’s Digital Literacy Programme. The Programme involves the introduction of laptops for use in public primary schools.
The bidders include:
- Kenyatta University, which partnered with BRCK and the Guangzhou Institute of Technology,
- The Dedan Kimathi University, in a joint bid with Partcipativa Technologia DA Educacao of Brazil,
- The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, partnering with PositivoBGH
- Moi University and JP SA Couto of Portugal
- The University of Nairobi in partnership with Huawei Technologies
- Multimedia University and Symphony Technologies
- Hewlett-Packard East Africa (solo bid)
- Lenovo East Africa, in partnership with Trans Business Machines
Ten bidders had initially been shortlisted last Friday, but two did not qualify. The Strathmore Research and Consultancy Centre (SRCC) withdrew its application, citing differences with its partners in the bidding process. Smoothtel/Data Solutions, who partnered with the Technical University of Kenya, had their bid cancelled as it was submitted late.
The Tender Committee Chairman Henry Mung’asia said that the shortlisted bids are now awaiting the evaluation process, which is expected to take at least 30 days.
“The winning firm will supply and install the devices beginning with a set of 14 counties in July 2016, then the next 21 counties in September, and the last 12 counties will receive theirs in November,” said Mung’asia, who is the Director of Administration at the Ministry of ICT.
“The shortlisted bidders will have to meet at least 70 per cent of the requirements set by the Ministry of ICT and Ministry of Education in order to move to the next stage”, ICT Authority Director John Sergon said. “The next stage is the assessment of the financial bids. Following this, the winners will be announced in February.”
The ICT Authority is the implementing agency for the programme. It is looking for either three companies or one that can supply the three different classes of devices: a teachers’ digital device, a learners’ digital device and a special needs education learner digital device.
The successful bidders will be required to install server routers and projectors to the over 22,000 public primary schools countrywide. The tender requires the delivery and installation of the devices, as well as the development of a local assembly facility.
The ICT Authority estimates that 294,981 learner laptops and 23,951 teacher digital devices will be supplied to schools by July.
