Supply, Installation and Support Services of Data Center Core Switches at Karachi

State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan invites bids from qualified IT firms for supply, installation, and support of Data Center Core Switches in Karachi. This tender focuses on advanced networking hardware essential for managing the IT Data Center operations of the corporation, ensuring robust and scalable infrastructure. The scope includes delivery, installation, commissioning, and three years of OEM support with 24x7 technical assistance, advance hardware replacement, and software updates. The switches must meet detailed technical specifications including high port density, advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, and support for protocols like BGP, OSPF, VXLAN EVPN, and others. The equipment must be from OEMs recognized as leaders or challengers in Gartner Magic Quadrant, with local presence and support in Pakistan. Bidders must be registered with Income Tax and Sales Tax departments, active on FBR's ATL, and comply with all eligibility criteria including OEM authorization and local office presence. PEC category and FBR compliance are critical; bidders should ensure their documentation is complete and up to date for the 2025-26 financial year to avoid disqualification. The submission deadline is **09-03-2026 11:00 AM**, with technical bids opening at **11:30 AM** the same day. Bids must be submitted through the EPADS online portal. The physical address for bid security submission and correspondence is the Central Procurement Division, 10th Floor, State Life Building No. 11, Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi. Pro-Tip: Carefully review the tender documents for bid security submission requirements. The original bid security must be delivered physically before the deadline, a step often overlooked leading to bid rejection. Also, ensure your technical proposal clearly demonstrates compliance with all mandatory technical criteria to qualify for financial bid opening.