Download NATIONAL INCUBATION CENTER Response to Queries on RFP

NATIONAL INCUBATION CENTER
Response to Queries on RFP
Question 1: Page 5 – The requirement of having minimum three members per incubatee is too
restrictive. We may be forced to turn away good candidates with less than three members which is not
ideal.
Answer: The bidders have to comply with the requirements of the RFP in this regard.
Question 2: Page 6 – The RFP mentions taking cohorts quarterly at the rate of minimum 10 per cohort
from the 2nd year onwards. We recommend taking 2 cohorts per year (one every six months) with
minimum 20 members per cohort.
Answer: The bidders have to comply with the relevant requirements of the RFP in this regard.
Question 3: Page 68 – Intellectual Property rights should ideally rest with the incubate graduate
founders.
Answer. Please refer to section 11.1.6 of draft agreement, reproduced below:
“The Company may assign or license its rights in the Developed IPR to any person/entity on such
terms as the Company may deem appropriate.”
Question 4: Page 12 – The RFP mentions that the distribution of equity between Incubatee and
Incubator management shall be decided between themselves. This gives room for potentially a different
equity stake with each incubatee. Ideally, equity stake should be standardized for all incubatees.
Answer: The provision facilitates mutual agreement between the successful bidder and Incubatee with
regards to equity distribution.
Question 5: Page 14 and Page 49 – There is a contradiction in the scoring & selection methodology.
Page14 mentions that scores will be calculated based on a weighted average of technical & financial
score, and the bidder with the highest total score will be awarded the contract. Page 49 mentions that
out of all the technically accepted proposals, the one with the lowest financial bid will be awarded the
contract.
Answer:
In accordance with PPRA rules, ‘“lowest evaluated bid” means,-
(i)
a bid most closely conforming to evaluation criteria and other conditions specified in the
bidding document; and
(ii)
having lowest evaluated cost;’
Therefore, the selection of bidder would be made as per formula described in section 12 of the
RFP.
Question 6: There was no mention of seed funding required by incubatees once they are the program.
We anticipate anywhere from $10k to $50k per candidate may be required once the candidate have
made some progress. Will the fund company provide this funding? What would be the terms?
Answer: Not Applicable.
Question 7: Page 6 – What is meant by virtual tenancy? Does it mean establishing a virtual network
with other incubators or providing incubation support & mentorship virtually to candidates?
Answer: Providing incubation support & mentorship virtually to candidates/incubatees from other
cities.
Question 8: Page 65-Clause 7 of the Finance Agreement contains a provision that the payment of the
costs incurred will be made after the expenditure has been made by the Bidder and invoices are raised
and verified by the Fund. Which means that the grant is following a reimbursement process rather than
upfront payment, which may be financially burdensome on bidder. How will we be insulated from
government changes / political landscape?
Answer: The same shall be catered for in the agreement.
Question 9: Page 13 – In the event of non-compliance with the TORs, the company may terminate the
funding agreement “without any further obligation or compensation”. In this event, what would happen
to the amount owed to us in lieu of OPEX or CAPEX, if any?
Answer: As per agreement, all the payments would be settled.
Question 10: Page 13 – For incentive, it says 0.5% of actual investment made by a Venture Capital. The
investment could be made by an Angel Investor as well so it should mention 0.5% of investment made
by a Venture Capital firm or Angel Investor.
Answer: The incentive would be applicable on both types of the investments.
Question 11: Site has been finalized by ICTRDF, should bidder propose the estimation of
electricity/gas/water (utilities) bills in the financial proposal? Or, will ICTRDF be paying for the utilities
themselves?
Answer: The bidder is required to provide the estimated costs of utilities in financial proposal.
Question 12: The building is not centrally air-conditioned. There are split units installed in some rooms.
Can we get the centralized air-conditioning system installed?
Answer: The bidder is required to provide conducive environment as per RFP. The infrastructure and
provision of allied facilities may be proposed accordingly.
Question 13: The back-up power is installed already. However it is not being currently used. So there are
following questions:
a. Does the back-up power already installed cover the entire building including the proposed block for
National Incubation Center?
b. Is the backup power system currently installed is based on UPS or Generator?
c. Is the backup power installed in one unit or in separate units for each block? i.e is it
separate for the proposed block for National Incubation Center ?
d. If the back-up power system will be shared, what will be the formula to work out the
costs/payments between contracting firm and NITB management?
e. Why is back-up power currently not being used at the building? Does it have any
technical faults that need repairing?
f. If the answer to 13a is Yes, can we study the backup power in detail?
g. If the answer to question 13a is no, and the contracting company needs to install the
back-up power system, Is it going to be a property of NITB or National Incubation
center?
Answer: The bidder is required to provide separate back-up power system for the designated area of
NIC.
Question 14: What will the formula for paying the utility bills? Are separate meters i.e electricity, gas
etc for the block proposed for the project installed already? If not then what will be the sharing formula
with NITB? Or this is something that National ICTRDF is going to take care of?
Answer: Like other OPEX components, the utility bills shall be paid by the bidder & would be
reimbursed accordingly. Separate meters are currently not installed. However, successful bidder is
required to provide all allied facilities including utilities as per RFP. Further modalities shall be decided at
the time of signing of agreement with the successful bidder.
Question 15: Is National Incubation going to be provided a separate entrance? If Yes, then which one it
will be? Is it possible to get the entrance and parking at the back? If no, then is there going to be
separate reception for National Incubation Center at the main entrance of NITB?
Answer: A separate entrance for NIC has already been designated which is on the west side of the
building neither at front nor at back. However, parking space for NIC is already designated at the
backside of the building.
Question 16: Will the contracting firm be allowed to re-do the structure of the building i.e replacement
of doors, removal of walls to merge rooms?
Answer: Renovation (if required) may be carried out by the successful bidder. However, restructuring of
building like merging of rooms is not allowed
Question 17: What is the rationale behind choosing 10% of the incubatees for virtual incubation (clause
3.3.1 - v). Does this need to be strictly adhered to or is this a 'guideline' that can be improved upon.
Answer: Reference to RFP Section 3.3.1 (v), the clause says
“Establishment of an environment to accommodate virtual tenancy up to 10% of the total number
of Incubatees population. Virtual tenancy may commence after first year of the operations of
National Incubation Center.”
Question 18: We have been informed by NITB management that Auditorium will be used jointly by NITB
and National Incubation Center. However, the auditorium currently does not have any chairs,
multimedia and air-conditioning in place/installed. Current practice at NITB is to rent all these items on
event to event basis. Will contracting firm be allowed to install all this equipment?
Answer: The successful bidder will be allowed to use the Auditorium when needed. However, for the
use of Auditorium the existing practice of NITB be followed i.e to rent all the items required. The bidder,
thus needs to include costs to be incurred for the functions organized in auditorium. Since auditorium is
not the part of designated area of NIC, therefore, prior permission from NITB as per availability of
auditorium will be required.
Question 19: If answer to above is Yes, then what will be the formula for sharing the running expenses
i.e electricity bill etc between NITB and National Incubation Center?
Answer: Not Applicable.