Supply of International Internet Bandwidth for the Government Networks under the Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU) approach.

**Project:** Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia Phase 2 - Bhutan Project

                                                  Specific Procurement Notice

                                   Request for Bids - Non-Consulting Services

Employer: Government Technology Agency, Royal Government of Bhutan

Project: Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia Phase 2 - Bhutan Project (P181278)

Contract title: Supply of International Internet Bandwidth for Government Networks under Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU) approach

Country: Bhutan

Loan No. /Credit No. / Grant No.: IDA Credit No. 7756-BT and IDA Grant No. E431-BT

RFB No: GOVTECH/NCS-4/1

Issued on: October 14, 2026

1. The Royal Government of Bhutan (the “Borrower”) has received financing from the World Bank for Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia Phase 2 - Bhutan Project (P181278). The Government Technology Agency (the “Employer”), an implementing agency of the Borrower, intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Supply of International Internet Bandwidth for Government Networks under Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU) approach.
2. The Employer now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders to supply a 10-year indefeasible right of use (“IRU”) of IBW delivered at two specified interconnection points on the Bhutan-India border. The successful bidder will provide IBW to the Employer that affords access to the full global internet for all of the Employer’s outbound and inbound internet traffic during the 10-year IRU term.
3. Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (“RFB”) under the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, September 2023 and is open to eligible bidders as defined therein.
4. The IRU purchase price will be fixed at USD 8 million. Bidders will compete on the quantity of IBW offered for a fixed price rather than the price charged for a fixed quantity. Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation process set out in the RFB, with 20% of bid score based on service quality offers and 80% based on IBW quantity offers.
5. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of USD 400,000 (USD Four Hundred Thousand) Only.
6. Bids must be delivered to the address below by 1500 Hours (Bhutan Standard Time) (GMT+6 Hours) on or before December 11, 2026. Electronic Bidding will not be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected. The outer Bid envelopes marked “ORIGINAL BID”, and the inner envelopes marked “TECHNICAL PART” will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at the address below on 1530 hours Bhutan Standard Time (GMT+6) on December 11, 2026. All envelopes marked “FINANCIAL PART” shall remain unopened and will be held in safe custody of the Employer until the second public Bid opening.
7. Bidders intending to participate in this procurement shall be required to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to the issuance of the bidding documents. This requirement is necessary to safeguard sensitive technical information, including network architecture drawings, ensuring that such information is used solely for the purpose of preparing responsive bids and is not disclosed to unauthorized parties. Accordingly, the complete bidding documents shall be made available only to those bidders who have duly signed and submitted the NDA. The NDA template signed by the purchaser will be made available on https://tech.gov.bt/ for interested eligible bidders to submit it along with the written application as specified above. The NDA must be signed by an authorized representative and affix company’s official seal. A complete electronic set of the Bidding Documents, will be provided free of charge by email upon receipt of a written request and dully signed NDA.
8. Interested eligible Bidders may obtain further information from Ms. Tshering Lhamo, Procurement Assistant, GovTech Agency, at tsheringl@tech.gov.bt, with a copy to jamyangdema@tech.gov.bt, during office hours from 09:00 to 17:00 hours Bhutan Standard Time (GMT+6).
9. Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the bidding document.
10. The address(es) referred to above is (are): [insert detailed address(es)

Jigme Wangdi, Director, Department of Digital Infrastructure (DDI),

Project Director, ACCESS-Bhutan Project,

GovTech Agency,

Main Building, Flag Hosted outside,

Thori Lam, Upper Chubachhu,

Thimphu, Bhutan.

P.O Box: 482

Att’n: Ms. Tshering Lhamo, Procurement Assistant

Contact No: +975-17521303

Email: tsheringl@tech.gov.bt and copy to jamyangdema@tech.gov.bt

Website: https://tech.gov.bt