Supply, Installation and Integration of Enterprise NAS Storage for Backup & Archiving

Sukkur IBA University invites bids for the supply, installation, and integration of an Enterprise NAS Storage solution specifically designed for backup and archival purposes in Sukkur. This procurement is aimed at enhancing the data backup capabilities for virtual machines hosted on the existing Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) cluster, ensuring 24×7 datacenter operation reliability. Items being procured: - Enterprise NAS Storage with minimum 32TB total capacity (4 × 8TB SSD) - 2.5" SSD drives suitable for continuous backup and archival workloads - RAID 01 configurations support for data protection - Minimum 2 × 10 GbE ports with support for 10/25 GbE connectivity - Support for SMB/CIFS and NFS network protocols - Full compatibility with existing HCI environment and VM backup mechanisms - Complete delivery, installation, configuration, integration, testing, commissioning, and backup/restore verification - System configuration documentation and basic knowledge transfer - Minimum one (01) year comprehensive hardware warranty including replacement of defective components The technical scope includes supplying brand new, genuine SSD drives, ensuring sufficient read/write performance and network throughput for concurrent VM backup and restore operations. The bidder must be an authorized reseller or partner of the OEM and provide evidence of authorization. All necessary hardware, licenses, accessories, network interfaces, cables, installation, configuration, integration, documentation, training, and warranty/support must be included for a fully operational solution. Eligibility criteria require valid NTN and GST registration, three years of relevant experience, compliance with technical specifications, and no blacklisting by any government or autonomous body. Bid security of 2% of the estimated cost is mandatory. Bids must be submitted electronically through EPADS only; manual bids will not be considered. The bid security pay order in favor of Sukkur IBA University must be sent in original before the closing date. The submission deadline is strictly enforced, and bids received after the deadline will be rejected. Bidders are advised to carefully review all bidding documents and ensure completeness to avoid rejection. The contract will be awarded to the lowest evaluated responsive bidder. Payment will be made upon 100% delivery and issuance of inspection certificate. Liquidated damages of 0.1% per day will be charged for late delivery up to a maximum of 10% of the contract price. A practical tip for bidders: Ensure your bid clearly specifies the brand name and technical specifications without using ambiguous terms like 'or equivalent' to avoid disqualification. Also, prepare all required documents and bid security in the prescribed format to ensure compliance with the tender requirements.