Download Clarifications for the Enquiries Received on Electronic

Publication Reference: EuropeAid/135380/IH/SUP/ET
Contract : Supply, Installation, Configuration and Commissioning of the hardware and software: training on Acquired Software
and System for the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority
Location – East Africa, Ethiopia
Clarifications on Enquiries Received Regarding the Supply Tender Dossier
PLEASE NOTE THAT A CORRIGENDUM WILL BE PUBLISHED WITH IN 15 CALENDAR DAYS;
THE CORRIGENDUM WILL ALSO HAVE AN EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFERS;
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
(Referring Lot 1) 
Q.1
In order to prepare our offer we need details on the existing
Clarifications/Responses

hardware infrastructure/system of ERCA. Can you please describe
your existing equipment infrastructure?
ERCAs uses a WAN system (using a VPN) to connect its
sites throughout the country.

ERCA uses different servers, storage devices and various
communications and security devices
Q. 2 
Network infrastructure – where the newly offered equipment will

be installed? Is the site ready for the installation?
ERCA has two data centers which are ready for the
installation. The servers and racks will be installed at
the two sites.
Q.3 
Where the servers and racks will be installed? How many servers

will be installed in one rack?
ERCA has two data centers which are ready for the
installation. The servers and racks will be installed at
the two sites. We have ordered 2 racks and 10 servers.
Therefore, each rack will at least, accommodate five
servers.

Installation Location: Could you please specify the number of
installation locations and the address?
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
The number of installation locations are two located at
Mexico Square and Mgenagna.
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Q. 4 
What are ERCA existing server HW types?
Clarifications/Responses

ERCA uses different servers and storage devices; It uses
various Cisco devices (routers, switches, firewalls) for
communication and security
Q. 5 
Lot 1 Item 1 : Servers. Every server is required to have installed 4

The server specifications will be as it is specified in the
processors with 8 core each with expandability up to 8
bid dossier, and no variations or amendments will be
processors. Please confirm that 8 processors expandability is
acceptable. Accordingly the size of the machine will also
mandatory; please take into consideration that expandability up
be determined by that specification.
to 8 processors increase considerably the final price. Would you
take into consideration accepting more powerful processors such
as 12 or 15 core processors installed on a configuration with 2
processor installed and expandable up to 4 processors? This
would increase competitivity having last issued processors on
market ensuring best performances.
Q. 6 
Q. 7 
Lot 1 item 1: Servers. Please take into consideration that servers
The server specifications will be as it is specified in the
accepting up to 8 processors have usually a bigger chassis than
bid dossier, and no variations or amendments will be
the required one. In fact 8 socket servers usually reach 12U.
acceptable. Accordingly the size of the machine will also
Please confirm that a 1 U machine would be acceptable.
be determined by that specification.
Lot 1 item 2 SERVER RACK. For this item RJ45 wall jack and Power

Regarding cabling, we assume that the racks will have
wall jack are required. Please confirm that the requirements are
inbuilt interfaces for power cables. But you are
for wall socket, to be installed on wall probably near the rack
expected to bring the necessary cables and accessories
installation place. Please specify if the wall socket must only be
as per the standard.
installed this means that the cables (power and LAN) will be
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
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
already in position, or do we have to bring cables to the wall
outlets? In this case how long will these cables be required?
(Referring Lot 2) 
Q. 8
You require Authentication Server (Cisco ACS 1121 or equivalent)

Regarding the Authentication server, the specification
but in the specification described in this item we see the
stated is purely for Authentication Server, not for a
description a Firewall. Can you please confirm that you need
firewall. If you have seen the statements which refer to
Authentication Server (Cisco ACS 1121 or equivalent) and update
the word “firewall” it does not mean that we are
the technical requirements table for this item?
looking for a firewall device, it tries to specify some of
the features of the required Authentication Server. So
focus on the Authentication Server.
Q. 9 Lot 2, Item 2.1
In the technical requirements, you have specified AnyConnect or
Clientless VPN User Sessions 1000 licenses for each unit.
1. Can you clarify if both units will be installed in one and the
same building?
2. Will one of the units be used as hot spare?
3. Do you need 1000 VPN licenses for each unit or you need
1000 VPN licenses for both units?
Q. 10 Lot 2, Item 2.2
In the technical requirements, you have specified AnyConnect or
Clientless VPN User Sessions 1000 licenses for each unit.
1. Can you clarify if both units will be installed in one and the
same building?
2. Will one of the units be used as hot spare?
3. Do you need 1000 VPN licenses for each unit or you need
1000 VPN licenses for both units?
Q. 11  Origin of lot 2 Goods: You wrote CISCO as possible brand for
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1. Both units are installed in one and the same building
because of high availability that is, Active/Active or
Active / standby configuration.
2. No, we use it for load balancing and failover.
3. We need 1000 VPN user sessions licenses for each unit.
 Same as Q. 9.

You will find such information from the Tender Notice
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
many items. Considering that the origin of CISCO goods is
as well as the tender documents and associated
Chinese, can you please confirm that you also accept the Chinese
guidelines available on the EU website.
origin of CISCO item? Can you grant derogation to the rules of
origin?
(Referring Lot 3) 
I would like to have more information about the ERCA’s existing

system, for example which is the version of windows system. I
It uses Windows 2008 R2 for its AD and Network
management
would like to have more information about the ERCA’s existing
system, for example which is the version of windows system.

Q. 12
In order to prepare our offer we need to know the existing

Concerning Lot3 the existing software licenses at ERCA
software (database and operating system) in ERCA. Can you
for DBMS is Oracle 11g, OS for network administration
please describe the Existing software licenses at ERCA – server
and management is Windows Server 2008 R2, for the
operating system, CALs, DBMS?
databases is Oracle Linux OS and for communication
and security administration is Cisco systems.
Q. 13 
Lot 3 item 1A - Enterprise version Database Management System

As stated in Q. 12 above

The server OS should be compatible to the existing
Since this software is required to be compatible with existing
ERCA system, please specify which system is in use on ERCA's
architecture. (Microsoft SQL server? Oracle? Other?)
Q. 14 
What is ERCA preferred server OS?
system as stated in Q. 12 above
Q. 15 
What are the existing ERCA server OS?

As stated in Q. 12 above
Q. 16 
Currently what kind of antivirus is used at ERCA?

The Antivirus software currently used is Kaspersky
Totalspace
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Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
Q. 17 
Which is the Database and Operating System referred to in Lot 3?

As stated in Q. 12 above
Q. 18 
Which are the existing systems referred to in Lot 3?

As stated in Q. 12 above. In addition if the question is
refereeing to the application systems, ERCA uses two
main business applications for Tax and Customs
administrations which are running on Oracle Database.
Q. 19 
Q. 20 
In lot 1 ten servers hardware has been requested but in lot 3 nine

The number of OS should be equal to the number of
units of Operating system Software for each server has been
Servers. Please refer to Corrigendum No. 1 published on
requested. Do you have reasons for this?
the EuropeAid website.
Technical Specifications: about the ERCA’s existing system, could

As stated in Q. 12 above

As stated in Q. 12 above
you define which version of windows system do you have?
Q. 21 
Technical Specifications: about the ERCA’s existing system, could
you define which version of database do you have?
Q. 22 Reference is made to Annex II + III, Technical Specifications, Lot 3 –
Software and Training, item 3.1, 3A. The following specifications are
required:
Quote
Software:
Enterprise version Database Management System processor License
(based upon 32 cores – 4 processors X 8 cores) – compatible to
ERCA’s existing system
Training:
DBMS Administration (certified)
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Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
Unquote
a) Could you please give detailed information regarding the ERCA’s
existing system?
b) Could you please indicate the Hardware architecture (32 or 64
bit) and the Operating System (including version number)
already installed?
c) Could you please indicate the specific certification for the
training on DBMS Administration?
d) Could you please indicate the duration of the above mentioned
training required?
Q. 23 Reference is made to Annex II + III, Technical Specifications, Lot 3 –
Software and Training, item 3.2, 3B. The following specifications are
required:
Quote
Software:
Operating system Software for each server (compatible to existing
systems)
Operating System Client Access License (compatible to existing
ERCA’s system)
Antivirus Client Access (compatible to existing ERCA’s system)
Training:
Administration of network communication and security (Certified)
Network Operating Systems Management and Administration
(Certified)
Unquote
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
As stated in Q. 12 above

As stated in Q. 12 above

As per the vendors’ curriculum

As per the vendors’ curriculum
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
a) Could you please give detailed information regarding the 
As stated in Q. 12 above
existing operating system?
b) Could you please give detailed information regarding the ERCA’s 
As stated in Q.1, Q. 2 and Q. 12 above
existing system?
c) Could you please indicate the Hardware architecture (32 or 64 
As stated in Q.1, Q. 2 and Q. 12 above
bit) and the Operating System (including version number)
already installed?
d) Could you please indicate the specific certification for the 
As per the vendors’ curriculum
training on Administration of network communication and
security and Network Operating Systems Management and
Administration?
e) Could you please indicate the duration of the above mentioned 
As per the vendors’ curriculum
training required?
f)
Could you please clarify the existing type of Client/Server 
As stated in Q.1, and Q. 2 above and the infrastructure
infrastructure and inform whether the client are run under a
runs under Microsoft Windows domain structure
domain (i.e. Microsoft) or there are Active Directory, shared
resources, etc?
g) Could you please indicate which services are installed on the 
Server and clients?
If this means applications, ERCA uses two main business
applications for Tax and Customs administrations which
are running on Oracle Database.
Procedure Issues: 
Q. 24
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Guarantee: In case of tendering for more than one Lot, is it
possible to open a single guarantee as a result of the sum of the

You will find such information from the Tender Notice
as well as the tender documents and associated
Enquiries
Serial No.
Enquiries
Clarifications/Responses
guarantees of each lot?

guidelines available on the EU website.
Customs clearance times: Within the period of implementation
do we have to consider also customs clearance times? If yes,
which is the responsibility of the supplier concerning local
bureaucracy and possible delays? If clearance times are included,
should we ask for a suspension certificate or is this automatically
accorded by the Contracting Authority?

Origin of the goods: Can you please provide the list of the
countries that are eligible about the rules of origin?

You will find such information from the Tender Notice
as well as the tender documents and associated
guidelines available on the EU website.
END OF CLARIFICATIONS
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