Tender Summary: Supply, Delivery and Licensing of an On-Premises Backup and Replication Solution

Objectives

The primary objective is to procure, deploy, and licence an on-premises backup and disaster recovery solution aligned with SAFCOL’s virtualised infrastructure. The initiative aims to guarantee data integrity, ensure rapid recovery capabilities, maintain business continuity, and provide a scalable architecture that accommodates future workload expansion without disruptive re-engineering.

Scope of Work

• Supply and deliver Veeam subscription licences covering up to 30 virtual machines (VMs) hosted on an 8-node Microsoft Hyper-V failover cluster with 230 TB raw storage capacity.
• Perform complete installation, configuration, and performance optimisation of the backup server, proxy infrastructure, backup repositories, retention policies, and automated job schedules.
• Seamlessly integrate the solution with the existing Hyper-V cluster and associated storage targets.
• Conduct operational handover and deliver structured knowledge transfer sessions for the client’s internal ICT personnel.
• Provide 24/7 OEM production technical support and guarantee full access to all software updates, minor patches, and major version upgrades throughout the agreed contract duration (12 or 36 months).

Technical Requirements

• Hypervisor Integration: Native compatibility with Microsoft Hyper-V Failover Cluster architecture spanning eight host/storage nodes and Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV).
• Core Backup Functions: Image-based automated backups, application-aware processing, real-time inline deduplication, compression, and AES 256-bit encryption.
• Recovery Capabilities: Instant VM recovery, granular item-level restoration (including files, Active Directory objects, and database entries), and automated backup validation/testing.
• Replication & Disaster Recovery: Native VM replication supporting failover and failback operations between primary cluster nodes or designated secondary disaster recovery locations.
• Scalability: Architecture must permit seamless capacity expansion in 10-VM increments without requiring fundamental system redesign.
• Support & Maintenance: Direct portal access to 24/7 OEM production support, with continuous entitlement to software enhancements throughout the subscription term.

Skills & Qualification Requirements

• Must hold current authorisation as a Veeam reseller or partner, with credentials subject to independent verification.
• Submission of a valid B-BBEE certificate from a SANAS-accredited verification agency, or a sworn affidavit for EME/QSE classification.
• Demonstrated tax compliance verified via SARS e-Filing or the Central Supplier Database (CSD).
• Mandatory registration on the National Treasury CSD; unsuccessful bidders must register within seven working days post-award if not already listed.
• Full compliance with SAFCOL’s Supplier Code of Conduct and completion of statutory disclosure forms (SBD) confirming absence of conflict of interest, collusive practices, or state employment affiliations.
• Evaluation utilises an 80/20 preference scoring model, allocating 20 points exclusively to enterprises with 51% or greater black ownership.

Notes on Specialised Terms

• Veeam Subscription Licensing: A recurring commercial model for enterprise backup software that provides ongoing access to updated features, security patches, and vendor support without requiring large upfront perpetual licence fees.
• Failover Cluster & CSV: A high-availability infrastructure where multiple servers operate collectively as a single logical unit; CSV enables concurrent read/write access to shared storage across all cluster nodes, eliminating single points of failure.
• Inline Deduplication & Compression: Real-time data optimisation techniques that identify and remove redundant data blocks and compress remaining files during the backup process, significantly reducing storage consumption and network bandwidth usage.
• Instant VM Recovery: A disaster recovery feature that allows a failed virtual machine to be booted directly from its backup repository, bypassing traditional restore phases to achieve near-zero recovery time objectives (RTO).
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement evaluation framework where 80 points are awarded based on competitive pricing and 20 points are reserved for designated socio-economic development objectives, such as black economic empowerment.