Request for Proposal (RFP) for Zcash Lightwalletd Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
Project Overview
The Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) committee is inviting submissions for an essential initiative focused on the development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance of Zcash lightwalletd infrastructure. ZCG is interested in decentralizing and distributing infrastructure amongst multiple providers and is open to approving more than one proposal. This project is crucial for improving the performance, scalability, and security of lightweight Zcash wallets, facilitating their interaction with the Zcash blockchain for shielded transactions without necessitating a full node. The aim is to provide a seamless, reliable, and secure service that meets the expanding requirements of the Zcash ecosystem.
Background Information
Zcash is a privacy-centric digital currency, founded on strong scientific research. The lightwalletd service plays a fundamental role in the Zcash infrastructure, enabling lightweight wallets to execute shielded transactions efficiently. This service is key to Zcash’s scalability and accessibility, allowing users to benefit from privacy without the need to operate full nodes.
Scope of Work
The selected vendor(s) will be responsible for:
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Infrastructure Architecture Design: The vendor will design an architecture that is scalable, secure, and resilient, tailored for the Zcash lightwalletd service. This includes configuring servers, databases, load balancers, etc., to ensure high availability, fault tolerance, and geographical redundancy. The design must support growing transaction volumes and user connections, with strategies for scaling to meet demand and deploying across regions to maintain uninterrupted service.
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Implementation of Security Measures: Robust security measures will be integrated to protect against DDoS attacks, unauthorized data access, and vulnerabilities. This includes data encryption, secure authentication, comprehensive security policies, active monitoring, and rapid response protocols to mitigate security incidents.
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Security Measures: Implementing comprehensive security measures to defend against DDoS attacks, unauthorized data access, and other cyber threats.
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Testing and Quality Assurance: The infrastructure will undergo testing for scalability, security, and reliability, including load testing, security penetration testing, and disaster recovery testing. Quality assurance processes will ensure continuous performance and security monitoring, with regular updates and patches for new threats and Zcash network compatibility.
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Deployment Strategy: Establishing infrastructure within a cloud-based environment, it is crucial to ensure geographical redundancy and high availability across a minimum set of global regions—including North America, South America, Europe, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), and Asia—to provide uninterrupted service.
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Maintenance and Upgrades: Offering ongoing maintenance, active monitoring, and prompt upgrades to the lightwalletd service to ensure it remains compatible with Zcash network updates.
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Incident Response Plan: Developing and implementing an incident response plan that includes procedures for identifying, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.
Proposal Requirements
Prospective vendors should demonstrate:
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Expertise in cloud-based infrastructure design and management, emphasizing security, scalability, and reliability.
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Experience in the deployment and maintenance of critical network services, with a preference for those in the cryptocurrency sector.
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A solid grasp of cybersecurity measures and best practices for countering modern threats.
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Previous work with blockchain technologies, with experience in Zcash being an advantage.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions must include:
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Proposal Document: A detailed proposal that outlines the approach for infrastructure development, deployment, maintenance, and security, consistent with the Scope of Work.
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Budget & Timeline: An itemized budget and a project timeline, adhering to a maximum budget of $50k for the year per applicant and considering the possibility of selecting multiple applicants.
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Professional Qualifications: Documentation of the vendor’s professional history, highlighting experience pertinent to this project.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
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The vendor’s technical capacity and track record with similar projects.
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The proposed solution’s fit with the Zcash ecosystem’s goals and needs.
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The cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed budget and timeline.
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Prior experience with blockchain and cryptographic technologies, especially within the Zcash ecosystem.
Additional Requirements
Applicants are encouraged to detail:
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The global distribution of infrastructure to ensure robustness and fault tolerance.
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Uptime guarantees and the penalties for failing to meet these guarantees or in the event of excessive latency.
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A detailed breakdown of costs, including setup, maintenance, and any variable costs, should be clearly outlined.
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Applicants are expected to list the third-party providers they plan to use, including cloud services, networking, and any other critical infrastructure services.
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The proposal should clearly define its limits and liabilities, highlighting what is not covered within the scope of the project.
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Information about the team composition is crucial, including the expertise and roles of team members contributing to the project.
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Detailed procedures for implementation, monitoring, and maintenance must be included, along with any other information critical for a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal’s scope and execution plan.