Purchase Maintenance Support of Advance Web Application Firewall at Karachi Head Office

National Investment Trust Limited Administration Department in Karachi is procuring annual maintenance support for the F5 Advanced Web Application Firewall installed at its Head Office. This procurement invites authorized partners of the F5 equipment manufacturer to provide principle-backed maintenance support including parts and labor for one year, with the possibility of extension upon mutual agreement. The scope includes quarterly preventive maintenance, 24x7 support with 1-2 hours response time, and replacement of parts with genuine or equivalent components. The service also covers configuration changes, OS upgrades, bug fixes, and backup equipment provision to minimize downtime and ensure optimal firewall performance. Eligible bidders must be registered with Income Tax and Sales Tax Departments, be on the Active Taxpayers List of the Federal Board of Revenue, and hold authorized partnership status with the principal manufacturer. They should have at least three years of operation in Pakistan, provide maintenance support to a minimum of three customers for the last two years, and have resident certified engineers in Karachi. Submission requires a complete technical and financial bid including company profile, service level agreement draft, partner authorization, and proof of experience. The bid must be submitted electronically via the EPADS system by July 1, 2026, 3:00 PM, with bid opening at 3:30 PM at NIT Karachi. A practical tip for bidders is to conduct a thorough site visit and equipment inventory before bid submission to verify technical specifications and ensure compliance with tender requirements. This will help avoid disqualification due to non-conformance and strengthen the technical bid. Earnest Money is replaced by a Bid Securing Declaration, and all bids must be in PKR inclusive of taxes. Late or manual submissions will not be accepted. The department emphasizes strict adherence to the tender terms and encourages bidders to register early on EPADS to avoid technical difficulties.