The Instituto Rio Metrópole (IRM) invites submission of qualifications and proposal data (collectively referred to as the “Proposal”) from interested U.S. firms that are qualified on the basis of experience and capability to execute Technical Assistance which will support IRM’s planned expansion of Rio de Janeiro state’s digital connectivity infrastructure and provision of high-speed internet access to 22 municipalities in the greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. The Proposal submission deadline is MAY 20, 2024 at 4 p.m. Rio de Janeiro local time (GMT-3)/ 3 p.m. EDT. The U.S. firm selected will be paid in U.S. dollars from a $971,000 grant to the Instituto Rio Metrópole (IRM) from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
About the Grantee
IRM is the state-level executive body of the Rio greater metropolitan area charged with executing decisions made by its deliberative council, which is chaired by the Governor of Rio de Janeiro and comprised by the mayors of the municipalities that make up the metropolitan region and by segments of civil society. Priority areas for IRM include basic sanitation, solid waste management, drainage and management of urban rainwater, pipelines, and digital connectivity, among others.
Project Background
The Government of Rio de Janeiro needs a high-speed communication network capable of providing data, voice, video and telemetry to integrate and modernize its public management across the state. Given the strong economic concentration among the 22 municipalities of the greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, IRM will develop and lead a plan in coordination with the state ICT company, PRODERJ, to strengthen connectivity first across the greater metropolitan region and later replicate the same model throughout the state.
About the Technical Assistance
IRM seeks assistance to expand digital connectivity infrastructure and provide high-speed internet access to 22 municipalities in the greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. The Technical Assistance will review existing network assets; provide recommendations for an improved technical network design; and develop an implementation plan for digital inclusion. The expanded network is expected to use fiber-optic connections (if economically viable) or microwave links, satellite stations, and radio LTE to locations where the installation of optical fiber is not justified. The Technical Assistance will recommend the optimal configuration for the network considering topography, demand, technological, and commercial considerations. The Technical Assistance will also assess different contracting strategies and will provide recommendations on how to best structure the Project to ensure that it is self-sustaining from a revenue generation perspective and will propose recommended paths for financing. IRM will coordinate the participation of the state ICT company, PRODERJ, where appropriate.
It is noted that, separately from the Technical Assistance, IRM also seeks to expand digital connectivity to an additional 70 municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. Firm understands that IRM intends to utilize the work product from the Technical Assistance to inform IRM’s planning of this additional expansion of connectivity, including in relation to administrative, legal, and financial modeling, and concession planning. As directed by IRM, the U.S. Firm shall share information and work product from the Technical Assistance with IRM and any consultants hired by IRM, to support IRM’s work on such additional expansion of connectivity. For the avoidance of doubt, such additional expansion of connectivity to 70 municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro is separate from and not a part of this Technical Assistance or these Terms of Reference.