State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is seeking a joint venture (JV) partner for the commercialization of information and communications technology (ICT) facilities in New Clark City.

In a statement yesterday, the BCDA invited prospective bidders to submit pre-qualification requirements and bid for the disposition of its passive ICT Infrastructure.

It said the disposition would be undertaken through a JV that will handle the commercialization and, as necessary, the expansion, repair, and maintenance, of passive ICT infrastructure in New Clark City with an estimated project cost of P2.53 billion.

'Given that the services involved in the commercialization of passive ICT infrastructure are not typically provided by the public sector, the BCDA is looking for a JV partner that has expertise in this field,' the BCDA said.

It stressed that the commercialization of the ICT facilities is vital in achieving the New Clark City's vision of becoming the country's first smart urban development.

'In pursuit of its goal of transforming New Clark City into an intelligent, sustainable, and future-proof city, BCDA is now moving forward with the development of ICT infrastructure in the area. By taking this crucial first step, we will not only address the needs of our locators, but also set up the foundation for smart city development and e-governance in New Clark City' BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said.

'We recognize this as a massive undertaking, and we hope that the private sector can provide us with their expertise and capabilities in this field,' he said.

Conceptualized under an open access fiber model, the project will form the foundation for robust fiber infrastructure and competitive retail services in New Clark City.

According to the BCDA, this will allow telecommunication companies and data transmission providers to connect and service residences, offices, institutions, and data centers in the new metropolis.

The state-run agency said the open access fiber model would also serve as an anchor for smart city development and e-government solutions, which are highly dependent on resilient fiber-grade connectivity and data centers.

Under the terms and conditions of the project, the means of BCDA's disposition will be through the establishment of a JV company that shall be tasked to commercialize, and as necessary, expand the passive ICT infrastructure, such as conduits, fiber optic cables, chambers, colocation facilities, and others.

In addition, the JV shall also establish a 'meet-me room' or neutral hosting site through which active service providers can patch into the network.

The JV shall be in charge of maintaining and repairing said infrastructure and hosting site, and leasing out dark fiber on a wholesale basis to internet service providers, mobile network operators, data centers, and independent tower companies, among others.

The BCDA said the project shall be awarded through competitive public bidding in accordance with the BCDA Joint Venture Guidelines and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

It has formed a joint venture selection committee (JVSC) to oversee the bidding process.

'The bidding shall follow a two-stage process. In the first stage, prospective bidders shall undergo a pre-qualification process based on their legal, technical, and financial capability requirements,' the BCDA said, adding that the second stage involves the submission and evaluation of technical and financial bids from the shortlisted bidders.

Interested parties may participate in the bidding process by submitting a letter of intent prior to purchasing the Instructions to Private Sector Participants (IPSP) Volume 1- Forms and Annexures for a non-refundable fee of P250,000.

The BCDA is set to hold a pre-qualification conference on Nov.14.

Deadline of submission of eligibility requirements is on Dec.18.

Copyright © 2022 PhilSTAR Daily, Inc Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).