Supply of laboratory equipment (Part VIII: Microcentrifuge, Bucket centrifuge, Ultrasonic bath, Analyzer and Homogenizer) for the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health (SES) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. - copy

New clarification added: Q.26 In the case when the Supplier offers goods that have already been imported into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, registered, and cleared by customs, please consider making the following addition to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, Clause 5.4 "Documents Required," sub-clause "Important" as follows: Documents must be provided by email prior to the actual delivery of the item. The Contractor is responsible for any financial losses resulting from failure to comply with the above requirements. Payment will be made within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the above documents at this office. UNOPS must pick up the goods from the supplier’s warehouse (in Tashkent) within 3 working days from the date of notification that the goods are ready for shipment. The supplier has the right to demand a storage fee on a per cubic meter per day basis. If, after 3 working days, UNOPS does not organize the collection of the cargo with the provision of a power of attorney to the authorized person receiving the goods, the Supplier has the right to demand a storage fee at the rate of “per cubic meter per day.”A.26 This requirement can be incorporated only after the contract is awarded and if deemed necessary.

New clarification added: Q.25 Please confirm (upon awarding the contract) the following changes to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, Clause 5.4 "Documents Required", sub-clause "Important" as follows: " Documents must be provided by email prior to the actual delivery of the item. The Contractor is responsible for any financial losses resulting from failure to comply with the above requirements. Payment will be made within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the above documents at this office. Consignee Obligations: The consignee, "Uzbekistan Respublikasi Soglikni saklash vazirligining 'Uzbekistan Respublikasi onkologik muassasalarini modernization qilish (II boskich)' loyihasini amalga oshirish guruhi 'Davlat muassasasi (LAOG)'," is obligated to carry out customs clearance no later than fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of arrival at the customs post of destination. UNOPS Obligations: UNOPS is obliged to provide the Supplier with invoices with a customs mark no later than three (3) working days from the date of delivery, and cargo customs declarations IM-70, IM-74, IM-40 with a QR code of the customs authority of the Republic of Uzbekistan no later than three (3) working days from the date of registration of the customs declaration."A.25 This requirement can be incorporated only after the contract is awarded and if deemed necessary.

New clarification added: Q.24 In reference to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, Clause 5.1: Schedule of Supply, Delivery, and Training Activities, it states the following: Implementation Plan: Within 14 days following the signature of the Contract, the Contractor is required to submit a preliminary implementation plan (schedule) for all activities. The plan should be presented in a table format and, at a minimum, must include the following details on a shipment-by-shipment basis: a) Item details (description, make and model, quantities, etc.) b) Production lead time in weeks or an exact date of the goods’ readiness at the manufacturing facility c) Exact FCA (Incoterms 2020) point of delivery d) Lead time for delivery to FCA e) Expected weight/volume information including numbers and dimensions of packages/crates/cartons f) Details of the freight forwarder g) Mode of transport h) Delivery route, transshipment points, and border crossing points to CPT Tashkent, Uzbekistan i) Expected delivery period and estimated delivery date from FCA point to CPT point If the offered goods are already available within Uzbekistan (i.e., the Supplier has offered products or goods that have already been imported, registered, and customs-cleared for free sale), the above items (a, b, d, e, f, g, h, i) shall not apply.A.24 This requirement can be incorporated only after the contract is awarded and if deemed necessary.

New clarification added: Q.23 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, Clause 2.4: "If the goods under the contract are already in Uzbekistan (i.e., the contractor has offered goods that are already imported, registered, and customs-cleared for free sale), the aforementioned clauses 2.2 and 2.3 do not apply. In such a case, the contractor must provide proof of ownership of the goods, and the transfer of ownership between the contractor and the recipient must be based on an official document of transfer of ownership signed by all parties involved." In light of this, the following amendment is proposed for Clause 5.4: Documents Required: "The contractor shall provide proof of ownership of the goods, and the transfer of ownership between the contractor and the recipient shall be based on an official document of transfer of ownership signed by all parties involved. Customs clearance documents will not be required. The goods will be dispatched from the supplier's warehouse via self-pickup by UNOPS. UNOPS is required to collect the goods from the supplier's warehouse within 3 working days from the supplier's notification of the goods being ready for dispatch."A.23 This requirement can be incorporated only after the contract is awarded and if deemed necessary.

New clarification added: Q.22 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, the delivery requirements are detailed as follows: FCA: 90 calendar days and CPT Tashkent, Uzbekistan: 120 calendar days. Please include delivery conditions for participants who are residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan. If the goods under the Contract are already available within Uzbekistan (i.e., the Contractor has offered goods that are already imported, registered, and customs-cleared for free sale), Incoterms would not apply. In this case, would it be appropriate to specify the delivery conditions as: Pickup from the supplier’s warehouse by UNOPS?A.22 For tender participants who are residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan: if the goods under the contract are already in Uzbekistan (i.e., they are imported, registered, and customs-cleared for free sale), Incoterms such as CPT may be applicable. In this case, local companies can use CPT conditions for delivery of the goods to the destination specified in the tender documentation. This means that the supplier is responsible for transportation and covering all costs up to the UNOPS warehouse in Tashkent.

New clarification added: Q.21 Reference is made to point 1 in part 2 of Annex 1 (Special Conditions) of the Draft Contract (RFQ Section IV): Can you explain in detail with an example what is meant here? If the product itself does not occupy a full container in terms of dimensions. Will the shipment be carried out by LCL, in which case you will not accept the goods? Please confirm that, subject to clause 2.4 in Annex III (Schedule of Requirements) of the Draft Contract (RFQ Section IV), “If the goods under the Contract are already available on the territory of Uzbekistan (i.e. the Contractor has offered for free sale a product or goods that have already been imported, registered and cleared through customs" this paragraph is not applicable.A.21 This clause means that partial delivery shall be allowed only if the volume of partial delivery reaches FCL. No partial delivery shall be allowed otherwise. If the volume of full shipment doesn't reach FCL, deliveries can be made as LCL. This condition won't apply in case goods are already imported by the Supplier into the territory of Uzbekistan. However, there may be a situation where part of the goods are already available in Uzbekistan (i.e. a bidder offered an item or items that are already imported, registered and customs-cleared for free sales), but the rest needs to be ordered from abroad. In such case this clause can be used to deliver the already imported goods first and claim partial payment for them.

New clarification added: Q.20 In reference to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, Lot #5 specifies "Homogenizer handheld - 74 pcs." Please confirm whether the homogenizer is intended to be of the handheld type. If the requested device is indeed a handheld model, it may not be feasible to meet the specified requirements, including ultrasonic functionality and a working volume of 1 – 2,000 ml (H2O).A.20 ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB. While the specification specifies "Homogenizer handheld" it has been determined that the handheld feature is not critical to the beneficiary's needs. Therefore, bidders may offer Homogenizer which are not handheld provided that all other requirement are met. The requirement for ultrasonic source will also be removed, however the working volume requirement of 1 – 2,000 ml (H2O) will remain unchanged.

New clarification added: Q.19 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, line 7 of lot 4 states: "The analyzer is capable of operating at depths of up to 500 meters or more." Clarification is sought to understand this requirement in more detail. Specifically, it is unclear whether the sensor needs to be immersed to this depth or if a bypass line can be provided to the analyzer on the surface. Any P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagram) or additional description that can be provided would be much appreciated.A.19 ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB. We will revise point 7 of the specifications to explicitly require that the sensor must be capable of being immersed to a depth of at least 30 meters. This ensures the sensor can handle the conditions specified without the need for a bypass line. The application requires the analyzer to be capable of measuring oil concentrations in water at a depth of up to 30 meters. This depth is crucial for accurately assessing oil content in various water bodies or industrial processes.

New clarification added: Q.18 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, line 35 specifies a set of at least 28 adapters of each size. All manufacturers use one type of adapter for 10/15 ml tubes with a round bottom. If 15 ml tubes with a conical bottom are required, a second type of adapter will be necessary. Could you confirm if the adapters should be specified for both types of tubes, or if a single type is sufficient for both round and conical bottoms?A.18 ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB.

New clarification added: Q.17 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, lines 33-36 specify the following requirements for the bucket centrifuge (2500 rpm, 250 ml): adapters for tubes of 10/15 ml (line 33) with 28 pieces of each size, made of plastic or better material (line 34), a set of at least 28 adapters of each size (line 35), and 220 V ± 10 %, 50/60 Hz (line 36). The adapter for the horizontal rotor is inserted into the bucket, with one adapter per bucket, and may have several holes for tubes depending on their size. If a centrifuge with a capacity of 28 tubes of 10/15 ml is required, should the capacity of one adapter be specified as at least 7 tubes of 10/15 ml? Additionally, the total quantity of adapters required is 4 pieces. Can you confirm if this is correct?A.17 ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB.

New clarification added: Q.16 According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, lines 29, 30, 31, and 32 of Lot 2 specify the following requirements: adapters for Falcon-type tubes of 50 ml (line 29), made of plastic or better material (line 30), a set of at least 12 adapters (line 31), and twenty-eight (28) adapters for tubes of 10/15 ml (line 32). For Lot 2, the adapter for the horizontal rotor is inserted into the bucket, with one adapter per bucket, and may have several holes for tubes depending on their size. If a centrifuge with a capacity of 12 of 50 ml tubes is required for Lot 2, would it be more accurate to specify the capacity of one adapter as at least 3 of 50 ml tubes? Additionally, we need to clarify whether the adapters should be for conical or round-bottom tubes.A.16 ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB.

New amendment added #3: The ITB has been further amended as follows:To reflect changes in Lots: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 the document titled “ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_Technical Bid Form_Rev1_29.07.2024” is hereby replaced with the updated documents titled “ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_Technical Bid Form_Rev2_14.04.2024”.The deadline for the submission of bids is extended until 22 August 2024, 12:00 PM Tashkent time (UTC +5 hours).All other requirements remain unchanged.

New amendment added #2: The ITB is further amended as follows: ​The deadline for the submission of bids is extended until 15 August 2024, 12:00 PM Tashkent time (UTC +5 hours).All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

New clarification added: Q15: Please consider extending the bid submission date by two additional weeks. The current timeframe is too short to ensure a thorough selection of the best products for your needs.   A15: The deadline for tender submissions will be extended by an additional 10 calendar days, to August 15, 2024, at 07:00 UTC.

New clarification added: Q14: Could you please clarify whether installation and training services are required at end-user locations (distributed locations)? Specifically, is it necessary for these services to be provided at multiple sites across different locations, or should they be centralized at a single location?   A14: Installation services are not required. For details regarding training services, please refer to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, specifically Section 4.1: Training Services.

New clarification added: Q13: According to the Schedule of Requirements in Section IV: Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3, Delivery Requirements, sub-section 2.2, it is stated: "If required, the Supplier must obtain a Certificate of Registration/Authorization/Waiver for the import and use of IVDs and MDs from the health regulatory authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan (State Center for Expertise and Standardization of Medicines, Medical Devices, and Medical Equipment under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, referred to as 'Uzpharm Control' and the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, referred to as 'SES')."Could you please clarify whether the products offered in the tender need to be currently registered with the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, or if it is acceptable to complete the registration process after winning the tender?   A13: Yes, It is acceptable. Please read Schedule of Requirements in Section IV: Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3, Delivery Requirements, sub-section 2.2.

New clarification added: Q12: According to "Form E: Manufacturer’s Authorization Form," listed in the Document Checklist as mandatory, the bidder must be either the manufacturer of the offered goods or a sole representative of the manufacturer to the United Nations.A local Uzbekistan supplier with years of experience and hundreds of units of equipment installed and supported throughout the years has expressed concern that the obligation to provide the signed copy of the Manufacturer’s Authorization limits the ability to select a fitting supplier in the Republic of Uzbekistan.Such a requirement provides an advantage to only the exclusive distributors, thus limiting competition and allowing fitting suppliers to unreasonably raise the financial offer price.In connection with the arguments presented above, please clarify if there is a way for a local supplier to prove the ability to supply, install, and service the offered equipment without providing Form E.   A12: The requirement remains unchanged. Form E is mandatory.

New clarification added: Q11: According to ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, Annex 1: Special Conditions, Part 2 - Added Clauses, No. 2 states: "UNOPS reserves the right to impose liquidated damages for delays attributable to the Contractor. Specifically, UNOPS may deduct from the contract price an amount equivalent to 0.1% (zero point one percent) of the total Contract price for each day of delay until actual delivery or performance. This deduction is capped at a maximum of 10% (ten percent) of the total Contract price. If this maximum deduction is reached, UNOPS may terminate the Contract in accordance with the Conditions of Contract."It is requested that the responsibility of the parties be joint, not unilateral. Therefore, it is proposed that either this clause be removed or amended to reflect joint and several liability.  A11: This requirement remains unchanged.

New clarification added: Q10: Once the contract is awarded, could you please confirm if it is possible to include the bank details of both parties (Supplier and Buyer) in Clause 5.5 of ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods?   A10: Yes.

New clarification added: Q9: Could you please confirm if it is possible to include a reference to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan # PP-5129 dated 27 May 2021 in Clause 1.1 of ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods, in order to obtain the specified benefits within the framework of the project?   A9: This requirement can be incorporated only after the contract is awarded and if deemed necessary. Should it be required for obtaining the specified benefits under the project, a reference to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan # PP-5129 dated 27 May 2021 can be included in Clause 1.1 of the ITB_2024_52869_Section IV_Draft Contract for Goods.

New amendment added #1: The ITB is amended as follows: ​The deadline for the submission of bids is extended until 05 August 2024, 12:00 PM Tashkent time (UTC +5 hours).The document titled ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_Technical Bid Form is hereby replaced with the updated document titled ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form_Rev1_29.07.2024. The changes in the revised document are highlighted in red.All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

New clarification added: Q6: According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form, line 23 of lot 2 contains no information. Please add information or delete the line.     A6: This line contains no information. ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB.

New clarification added: Q8: According to the Schedule of Requirements in Section IV: Draft Contract for Goods, ANNEX 3, Delivery requirements, clause 2.2 read as follows: "If required, the Supplier must obtain a Certificate of Registration/ Authorization/ Waiver for the import and use of IVDs and MDs from the health regulatory authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan (State Center for expertise and standardization of medicines, medical devices, and medical equipment under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, referred to as 'Uzpharm Control' and Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, referred to as 'SES')". Could you please clarify whether a registration certificate is required for the urine analyzer?A8: To the best of our knowledge the laboratory equipment is not subject to Uzpharm Control registration in Uzbekistan, but the import requirements for the equipment in question might change. It shall be the Contractor's responsibility to verify whether registration with Uzpharm Control is required for the items under its contract. If it transpires that registration is indeed required, the Contractor shall, upon signing the contract, submit the application forms along with the required documents to Uzpharm Control and SES for registration. The Contractor shall make efforts to obtain the certificates of registration or authorizations for the import and use of the items before the goods arrive in the country.

New clarification added: Q7: According to the ITB_2024_52869_Section_IV_Draft_Contract_for_Goods, Section IV, ANNEX 3: Schedule of Requirements, clause 4.2 on Warranty and After-sales Services, can the company effectively provide warranty and after-sales support solely through remote services from its original manufacturing facility without the need for local partners?A7: No. Local partner is mandatory.

New clarification added: Q5: According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Forms_Form D_ Technical Bid Form, line I of lots 1-5 reads as follows: "Confirmation statement on the unloading of the goods within the final Lot of destination as per RFQ specified Locations." Where are the requirements for unloading the goods specified in the tender? Could you please clarify the specific unloading requirements? Should all costs related to unloading be covered?  A5: The requirement mentioned is not applicable. This document will be updated to address this point and will be uploaded to the current ITB.

New clarification added: Q4: According to ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable Bidding Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, line 6 of Lot 5 reads as follows: "Working volume 1 – 2,000 ml (H2O)." However, a handheld type homogenizer typically cannot accommodate such a large volume, as it usually handles sample volumes below 250 ml. Will a handheld type homogenizer with a working volume below 250 ml be accepted, or is a stand type homogenizer preferred?A4: Homogenizers with a working volume below 250 ml and those that are stand-type only are not acceptable. Devices must be capable of functioning as both handheld and stand-type.

New clarification added: Clarification for Q1: Most microcentrifuges available on the market operate at speeds of 13,000 rpm, primarily used for molecular biological tasks. Could you please clarify whether 1,300 rpm is sufficient for research purposes and outline the intended applications for this speed?   A1: A minimum speed of 1,300 rpm is essential for the centrifuge, designed for use in a parasitology laboratory focusing on traditional, routine activities rather than advanced research or molecular biology. Bidders must ensure that the proposed equipment meets or exceeds these specifications to be considered substantially compliant. 

New clarification added: Q3: There are a total of 8 tenders for laboratory equipment, and, similar to the previous ones, all tenders have been extended. Given the large quantity and complex requirements for this tender, could you please explain why we cannot extend it for an additional two weeks?   A3: A total of 20 days has been provided for the solicitation period, which is sufficient for the current requirements.

New clarification added: Q2: Please consider extending the bid submission date by two additional weeks. The current timeframe is too short to ensure a thorough selection of the best products for your needs.   A2: Regrettably, extending the bid submission deadline cannot be accommodated, as adherence to the established timeline is essential for the procurement process.

New clarification added: Q1: Received the following question: "ITB_2024_52869_Section_III_Returnable_Bidding_Form_Form D_Technical Bid Form, Lot 1 follows: 'Microcentrifuge (1300 rpm, 1.5 ml)', 'Maximum speed: not less than 1,300 rpm'. Please confirm this parameter. We suppose that the maximum speed should be 13,000 rpm."Clarification requested: The current question was not clear, therefore it is requested to confirm if it is intended to specify a maximum speed of 13,000 rpm?