Information to bidders: Committee's response to request for clarification

Clause of the Notice of Bidding:

7.3.1.3: “That the bidder developed and operated an electronic visa application website for the government of a national State, as well as a mobile application and call center that answered questions regarding visa applications.”

Response from the Committee:

“Regarding item 7.3.1.3, the Special Bidding Committee is not convinced the requirement to be excessively complex, as a demonstration of experience in operating a website, a mobile application and a call center for visa services is a reasonable requirement for a visa center. However, in light of the abovementioned similarity in the provision of electronic and non-electronic visa services, it will accept that such experience be demonstrated in relation to both kinds of visa.”

Almaviva requested confirmation whether operating a website, a mobile application, and a call center for visa services would be sufficient to demonstrate qualifying experience for both electronic and non-electronic visa services; or if the Committee expected bidders to have operated both an electronic visa application website and a website for non-electronic visa services (i.e., physical Visa Application Centers).

Furthermore, the bidder has also asked confirmation on whether the contracted party may, with the contracting authority’s approval, jointly build, operate, and maintain the electronic visa application website in collaboration with a subcontractor.

 

The request for clarification has been submitted in a timely manner.

The Committee wishes to clarify that operating a website, a mobile application, and a call center for visa services is sufficient to demonstrate qualifying experience and satisfies the criteria of Clause 7.3.1.3. There is no requirement that the bidder must have operated both an electronic visa application website and a website for non-electronic visa services. Experience in either category will be considered adequate, provided it includes the website, mobile application, and call center components.

Regarding the second request The Committee wishes to remind bidders that, in accordance with item 4.3.1.2 of the Basic Project:

"The subcontracting of any of the two main parts of the object of this contract is prohibited, namely: (i) the operation of reception and processing centers for visa applications in Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai, and in any other city where, at the request of the Brazilian government, a reception and processing center for visa applications may be established; and (ii) the development and operation of a specific technological solution for handling requests in the electronic visa modality – specifically, the creation and operation of an online service platform for requesting electronic visas for use by Chinese citizens who need to travel to Brazil for tourism, business or other purposes applicable to the visit visa (VIVIS), the maintenance of the data interface with the Brazilian consular network, and the creation and operation of a website and mobile application dedicated to the purposes of the service."

Accordingly, the contracted party may not resort to a subcontractor to build, operate, or maintain the electronic visa application website, as this represents one of the main objects of the present bidding process and cannot be outsourced.