Zambia Seeks International Internet Capacity for Government Network

Specific Procurement Notice Request for Bids Non-Consulting Services (Single Stage – Two Envelope) Purchaser : Smart Zambia Institute (SZI) Country: Zambia Name of Project: Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) Contract Title: Pre-Purchase of Bulk Dedicated International Bandwidth Capacity for Government:

• LOT 1: Supply and Delivery of Primary International Internet Capacity (Internet Protocol Transit) for One Government Network
• LOT 2: Supply and Delivery of Secondary (Redundant) International Internet Capacity (Internet Protocol Transit) for One Government Network

Grant No.: P505094 RFB Reference No.: ZM-SZ-530995-NC-RFB Issued on: 25th February, 2026 The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the International Development Association of the World Bank towards the cost for the Digital Zambia Acceleration Project (DZAP) and Smart Zambia Institute intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for the pre-purchase of internet capacity. “For this contract, the Borrower shall process the payments using the Direct Payment disbursement method, as defined in the World Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for those payments, which the contract provides to be made through letter of credit.” The Smart Zambia Institute (SZI) now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the Provision of International Internet Capacity. The services will be delivered nationwide across Zambia. The required Internet capacity is structured into two (2) Lots as follows:

• LOT 1: Supply and Delivery of Primary International Internet Capacity (Internet Protocol Transit) for One Government Network
• LOT 2: Supply and Delivery of Secondary (Redundant) International Internet Capacity (Internet Protocol Transit) for One Government Network

Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - Procurement in Investment Projects Financing” Seventh edition, September 2025” (“Procurement Regulations”) and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from Smart Zambia Institute, office of the Head - Procurement & Supplies Unit (PSU) and inspect the proposal Documents at the address given at the end of this RFP below from 08:00 hours to 13:00 hours and 14:00 hours to 17:00 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation process set out in the bidding documents. The following weightings apply; for Rated Criteria (including technical and non-price factors): 20% in compliance with the mandatory requirements for Rated Criteria in the Procurement Regulations, and for Bid Cost: 80%. These weightings are already reflected in the RFP. The Request for Bids (RFB) document in English Language may be purchased by interested eligible Bidders upon the submission of a written application to the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Zambian Kwacha One Thousand (ZMW 1,000.00) or its equivalent in a freely convertible currency. The method of payment will be Bank / electronic transfer or Bank Certified Check Foreign bidders will be required to pay an extra amount to cover shipmen. This is because the official document is a hard copy. For convenience only, RFB document is available and can be downloaded for viewing purposes from the following Websites; www.szi.gov.zm.For convenience of preparation of bids, the RFB document will on request be sent by email to interested bidders upon sending proof of payment. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before Friday, 27th March, 2026, at 10:00 am local time . Electronic Bidding will not be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected. The outer Bid envelopes marked “ORIGINAL BID”, and the inner envelopes marked “TECHNICAL PART” will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at the address below on Friday, 27th March, 2026, at 10:00 am local time . All envelopes marked “FINANCIAL PART” shall remain unopened and will be held in safe custody of the Employer until the second public Bid opening. All Proposals must be accompanied by a Bid-Securing Declaration in the format provided in the RFB document . Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the bidding document. The address(es) referred to above is (are): (a) Address for Inspection, seeking clarifications or information on the Bidding Documents The Head - Procurement and Supplies Unit Smart Zambia Institute ICCC Office Suite, 1st Floor, Corner of Nationalist and Independence Avenue P.O. Box 31998 Lusaka - Zambia E-Mail : dzap_procurements@grz.gov.zm (b) Address for Bid Submission The National Coordinator ICCC Office Suite Office of the President, E-Government Division, SMART Zambia Institute, Corner of Nationalist Road and Independence Avenue P.O. Box 31998, Lusaka, ZAMBIA. (c) Address for Bid Opening SZI Board room ICCC Office Suite, 1st Floor, Corner of Nationalist and Independence Avenue Lusaka - Zambia Agency: SMART ZAMBIA Procurement method: Request for Bids Notice type: Invitation for Bids Status: Published Value: 3000000.0 USD