NAN expands operation as ANSA signs partnership agreement

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) says it is expanding its operation in news exchange as the agency signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoS) with Italian news agency, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), in Abuja.

ANSA, the leading news agency in Italy, is a not-for-profit cooperative, founded in 1945 whose members and owners are 36 leading news organisations in the European country. Its mission is the distribution of fair and objective news reports.

The Managing-Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, signed the agreement for NAN while the Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Mr Stefano De Leo, signed on behalf of ANSA at the NAN headquarters.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed virtually by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ANSA, Mr Stefano De Alessandri, and the Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, Mr Mfawa Abam.

Also, at the signing ceremony, De Alessandri said that ANSA is a private news agency 100 per cent private, adding that they specifically are a cooperative of 26 publishers of newspapers, magazines and the most important national and regional newspapers.

He added that ANSA has more than 500 employees, two third of them are journalists, also with correspondents in more than 50 countries around the world.

“We do not publish only in Italian language, our websites publishes news in English, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and German.

“We are at the same time a traditional news agency providing news wire, photo and videos services on a bit to bit, we are trusted and respected in Italy.

“Currently, we have agreements with more than 70 international partners all across Europe, South America, Asia and Africa,” he said.

According to him, the objective of this agreement is the exchange of our respective news wires with the possibility to use up to 50 news items per day of the partner agency for editorial production.

“I am very please to be here today to sign this agreement with NAN, which is the first country by population in Africa and one of the most important in the continent.

“Starting from 2022 we are renewing our collaboration agreements with international news agencies and we also open new partnership,” he said.

The CEO added that the agreement would enable both agencies to exchange videos, saying this partnership will allow us to improve our coverage of event in Nigeria.

“Thus, improve our information offer for the large Nigerian community living in Italy with more than 120 thousand citizens in 2022, and is one of the largest foreign population we have in Italy.

“Also, it will allow our colleague and partner NAN to offer more news on Italy in Nigeria, hopefully bringing our countries even closer and enlarging the cooperation between our two countries.

“Moreover, by way of this agreement we will be able to provide access to our news feed to our respective Embassies, meaning that we will give our news feed to the Nigerian Embassy in Rome and NAN will do the same with our embassy in Nigeria.

Responding, Ponle said that the agreement was a step in the right direction as it would unveil great possibilities of news exchange between both agencies.

The managing director described NAN as the country’s largest content provider and national purveyor of information, with 36 state offices and 26 district offices.

Ponle added that NAN has Nigeria as its focus and Africa as the centerpiece of its reportage.

“Today’s signing of news exchange agreement with ANSA marks another defining phase in our continued engagements with like minded institutions.

“It is my hope and belief that this landmark event will signal the beginning of a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship.

“To leverage on its octopoidal reach, NAN also has news exchange partnerships with leading international wire agencies such as Rueters of United Kingdom, Deutsch PresseAgentur of Germany, Xinhua of China and Sputnik of Russia.

“Other are Yonhap (South Korea), Asian News International (India), Anadolu (Turkey) and Bulgaria News Agency (Bulgaria).

“This is just a chip of the global experiences we are bringing into the partnership agreement with ANSA, aimed at fostering a new and positive order in global reportage,” he said.

Also speaking, Mbam said that the signing agreement demonstrates the importance of what Nigeria and Italy attached to their existing relations and commitment in strengthening it.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria welcome’s this development and the close collaboration which will enhance the quality of news delivery and lead to further initiatives that will add value to the development of both agencies in years to come.

“Therefore, I will like to assure the readiness of the Nigerian Embassy in Italy to provide all necessary support for the successful implementation of this agreement,” he said.

The Italian ambassador said that the agreement would strengthen the already existing relationship between Nigeria and Italy.

He added that the exchange of information and knowledge was key with Nigeria as the giant of Africa.

“Today is an important day because as the African saying goes thus, “that if you want to go far go alone.

“But if you want to go distance and far you have to go together, and having ANSA and NAN working together is the right step in the right direction,” he said. (NAN)

1. INTRODUCTION. The Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara pursuant to its mandate, and in compliance with the requirements of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other extant government regulations wishes to invite interested, competent/qualified and experience Contractors/Supplier with relevant experiences and good track records who may wish to be pre-qualified for the procurement of Text books and office equipment under the YEAR 2022

TETFUND LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION and ii ICT SUPPORT INTERVENTION as stated below;

2. SCOPE OF SUPPLY/SERVICE

CATEGORY A: SUPPLIES

Lot 1: Library intervention

1A: Various Assorted Textbooks 2022

1B: Office Equipment

CATEGORY B: SERVICES

Lot 2: ICT- E-Learning Applications & E-Learning

3. ELEGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS

Prospective bidders should submit the following documents: a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7. Business Name with Form BN1 is also acceptable for Services; b. Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate (or Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificates of all the Partners in case of Business Name) for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2023; c. Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2023 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 15 and above); d. Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2023 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 5 and above or the bidder’s annual turnover is N50m and above); e. Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2023; f. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31st December, 2023 or valid Certificate issued by BPP. g. Sworn Affidavit:

- disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Delta State Polytechnic, OtefeOghara or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;

- that no Director has been convicted in any Country for any criminal offence relating to fraud or financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter;

- that the Company is not in receivership, the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings;

- that the company does not have existing loan or financial liability with a bank, other financial institution or third party that is classified as doubtful, nonperformance, bad or whose repayment portion has been outstanding for the last four (4) months; h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years - 2020, 2021 & 2022; i. Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed; j. Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications such as COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON etc.; k. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects; l. Works: List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease Agreement; m. Lot 1A: Evidence of current membership of Publishers or Booksellers Association of Nigeria; n. Lot 1B: Letter of Authorisation as representatives of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs); o. Lot 2: Evidence of Firm’s current registration/accreditation with Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); p. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided indicating among others the Lead Partner (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Clearance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Clearance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner); q. All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/ Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

4.0 COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS (GOODS)

Interested firms are to collect the Standard Bidding Documents from the Procurement Unit, Office of the Registrar, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara upon payment of a non-refundable tender fee of N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) through Remita in any Commercial Bank of their choice. Evidence of such payment is to be presented at the cash office, Bursary Department for official receipt which is to be presented at the point of collection of the SBD(s) between 10:00am – 4pm, Mondays – Fridays, please.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS (GOODS)

Prospective bidders are to submit two (2) hard copies of the Technical and Financial Bids (original and photocopy) packaged separately in sealed envelopes and clearly marked “Tender”. Thereafter, put the two sealed envelopes and addressed to: The Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara P.M.B 03, Otefe-Oghara, Delta State and clearly marked with the name of the project and lot number. Each of the envelopes must have the full address of the bidder at the reverse side of the envelope where the lot number and project were written. Furthermore, the sealed and properly addressed envelope shall be dropped in the designated Tender Box situated in the Office of the Registrar not later than 12:00pm on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023. Kindly remember to sign the Bid Submission Register at the point of submission as the Polytechnic will not be liable for wrongly submitted Bids.

6.0 SUBMISSION OF EOI (SERVICES)

Interested Firms in Services are to submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) for each of the Lot desired, in three (3) hard copies each (one original & two copies). The EOI should be addressed as indicated above and submitted not later than 12:00pm on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023.

7.0 OPENING OF EOI AND TECHNICAL BIDS

The EOI and technical bids shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12.00pm on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023, at the Conference Hall Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara in the presence of the bidders or their representatives; while, the financial bids will be kept un-opened please. Bidders or their Company’s representative, CSOs, Private Professional Organisations and the general public are hereby invited to witness the EOI/Technical opening,

8.0 GENERAL INFORMATION i. Bids must be in English language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder; ii. Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned un-opened; iii. All cost will be borne by the bidders; iv. The Technical Bids will be opened in the presence of Bidders or their representatives, CSOs in the areas of Anti-Corruption and Transparency and Private Professional bodies; and will be covered by video recording; invitation link will be sent to bidder who chooses to join the bid opening online; v. Goods: Only pre-qualified bidders at technical evaluation will be invited at a later date for financial bids opening, while the financial bids of un-successful bidders will be returned un-opened; vi. Services: Only shortlisted Consultants at EOI’s evaluation will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals; vii. The Polytechnic reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any claims made on documents submitted and shall disqualify any company whose claims are found to be false in addition to other sanctions that may be deemed necessary viii. The Polytechnic is not bound to pre-qualify/shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the Procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Signed: Efedi, Chukwuemeke Registrar Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara