Network Switches Procurement

The Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) Islamabad is procuring Network Switches for the financial year 2026-27. This procurement is aimed at enhancing the network infrastructure with advanced switching equipment to support the Authority's operational needs in Islamabad. Items being procured: - Distribution Switches (48 Port PoE+) with sfp/sfp+/sfp++/cat6A/or advance WAN switching software and firmware, quantity 9 - Distribution Switches with sfp/sfp+/sfp++ and fully loaded with all required cat6A/or advance poe +, Wifi 7 supported, quantity 3 - Core Switches with sfp/sfp+/sfp++ system performance and scaling requirements, quantity 2 - 10G Multi-mode SFP++, quantity 36 - 10G Single-mode SFP+, quantity 48 - 40G DAC Cable (3m), quantity 6 - Fully loaded Fiber multi mode, single mode and Copper cables, quantity 10 The technical scope includes switches supporting advanced protocols such as IGMP Snooping, QoS, MLD v1/v2, static and dynamic routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP), policy-based routing, VRRP, BFD, VLAN assignment, NAC integration, and support for high throughput and redundancy features. The equipment must have minimum buffer sizes, DRAM and Flash memory as specified, and support for L2 multipathing without STP limitations. The switches must be fully loaded with fiber and copper patch cords and support installation, testing, and commissioning services. Eligibility criteria require bidders to have valid registration with FBR, relevant experience, and supply orders or completion certificates. Joint ventures are allowed with up to 3 members. Bidders must provide manufacturer authorization and demonstrate technical staff strength and spare parts availability in PTA zones including Karachi and Lahore. The bid submission deadline is Monday, August 10, 2026, at 12:00 PM via EPADS v2.0. Manual submissions are not accepted. Bidders must submit a bid security as per the bidding documents and comply with all technical and financial requirements. The evaluation will be based on Least Cost Based Selection (LCBS) with a technical passing mark of 70 out of 100. A practical tip for bidders: Ensure your registration on EPADS v2.0 is complete well before the deadline and upload all required documents including bid security and manufacturer authorization to avoid disqualification. Also, conduct a thorough site survey and prepare a high-level design and connectivity plan as part of your technical proposal to score higher in evaluation. This procurement offers a significant opportunity for suppliers of advanced network switching equipment to engage with a key federal authority in Islamabad and contribute to the modernization of Pakistan's telecom infrastructure.