Maintenance and Technical Support (OEM) of in-use Forcepoint Data Center Firewall

This tender from SBP Banking Services Corporation in Karachi invites bids for OEM maintenance and technical support of Forcepoint Data Center Firewalls under IT & Office Equipment and IT Software & Licenses categories. The contract covers 24x7x365 support for four years starting May 2026, including hardware replacement, software upgrades, IPS and malware subscriptions, and vulnerability compliance. The scope includes onsite logistics, backup equipment provision, and ensuring all security components remain under OEM support throughout the contract. The technical requirements emphasize next business day replacement and dedicated customer success management. Bidders must be OEM or authorized partners of Forcepoint with at least two similar projects in the last six years, a local office in Karachi, and certified technical staff. Financially, bidders should have a minimum annual turnover of PKR 500 million and be registered with FBR appearing on the Active Taxpayer List. The bid validity is 140 days, and bids must be submitted electronically via EPADS. The procurement follows Rule 36(b) of the Public Procurement Rules 2004 with a single stage two envelope procedure. PEC category requirements are not explicitly stated, but compliance with FBR tax registration and ATL status is mandatory. The contract requires a 5% performance guarantee and bid security of PKR 650,000. The contract price is fixed but subject to adjustments for tax changes during the contract period. Payments will be made in PKR with 90% payable after SLA activation and 10% annually over four years. The submission deadline is 27 February 2026 at 11:00 AM with bid opening at 11:30 AM the same day via EPADS. The physical address for correspondence is the General Services Department, 3rd Floor BSC House, I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi. Bidders should ensure compliance with all technical specifications and eligibility criteria to avoid disqualification. Pro-Tip: Carefully review the bid security submission requirements, including timely physical submission of the original instrument, as failure to comply will lead to bid rejection. Also, verify all OEM authorization documents and ensure your technical staff certifications are up to date to meet the minimum eligibility criteria.