Objectives

CapeNature aims to replace its ageing analogue and mid-band radio infrastructure with a modern, scalable Digital Mobile Radio Communication Network (DMRN). The primary objective is to secure a qualified service provider to supply, install, commission, licence, maintain, and support digital radio communications across multiple nature reserves in the Western Cape Province over a three-year period, ensuring enhanced coverage, interoperability, and operational reliability.

Scope of Work

The contract mandates a phased three-year deployment across three geographical landscapes: West (Year 1), East (Year 2), and South (Year 3). Core deliverables include:

• Procurement and installation of handheld, in-vehicle/mobile, and base station radios.
• Construction and commissioning of approximately 25 high-site repeater systems, including solar-powered, off-grid installations at remote, ecologically sensitive locations.
• Complete radio frequency licensing, registration, and administrative management with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
• Twelve-month maintenance, optimisation, and technical support per completed phase.
• End-user training and seamless integration with the already modernised Central Landscape DMRN.
• Implementation of environmental mitigation strategies and compliance with protected area regulations.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must adhere to rigorous hardware and system specifications:

• Handheld Radios: DMR Tier 1 and Tier 2/3 models operating on VHF (136–174 MHz). Minimum requirements include 250–500 channels, 60–120 programmable zones, 7.4V batteries (1800–3000mAh), IP67 ingress protection, integrated GPS, and optional Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and phone patch functionality.
• Mobile/Base Radios: DMR Tier 3 units for vehicle and office deployment. Pricing must encompass complete physical installation, including labour, mounting brackets, cabling, connectors, and fittings.
• Repeater Infrastructure: ~25 high-altitude repeaters supporting VHF analogue/digital, minimum 64 channels, 1–50 W RF output, dual AC/DC input, and a minimum 5-day autonomous backup power capacity. Systems must comply with ETSI DMR standards and support multi-site networking.
• Network Compatibility: All new nodes must function as direct extensions of the existing Central Landscape DMRN, ensuring unified dispatch and cross-network communication.
• Power & Logistics: Remote sites require fully solar-reliant setups with defined battery depth-of-discharge and recharge cycles. Certain locations mandate helicopter deployment due to inaccessible terrain.
• Financial Structuring: Bids must reflect baseline costs and incorporate annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) escalation clauses for the three-year term.

Skills and Experience Requirements

Although not itemised as a standalone checklist, the evaluation framework and operational demands require bidders to demonstrate:

• Documented experience executing comparable telecommunications projects within nature reserves, conservation parks, or protected environmental zones (minimum five verifiable references).
• Technical expertise in architecting, integrating, and troubleshooting interconnected digital radio networks in remote or topographically challenging regions.
• Robust project management capabilities to deliver a sequential, timeline-driven phased rollout.
• Proficiency in ICASA regulatory processes, spectrum allocation, and radio licensing administration.
• Ability to develop and enforce comprehensive Environmental Management Plans and Health & Safety protocols suited to fragile ecosystems.
• A clearly defined organisational structure, including dedicated project leadership, field engineers, and logistical coordinators mobilised specifically for this contract.

Notes on Unusual or Complicated Terms

• DMR Tiers: DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) is an open-standard digital two-way radio protocol. Tier 1 denotes conventional portable radios, Tier 2 covers trunked portable/mobile systems, and Tier 3 represents advanced multi-site trunked networks with high capacity, roaming, and centralised control.
• IP Site Connect / Capacity Plus / Max: Industry-standard DMR networking architectures that interconnect multiple repeaters into a single logical system, enabling extended geographic coverage, cross-site calling, and efficient spectrum sharing.
• CPI Adjustments: Contract pricing will be automatically recalculated annually using South Africa’s official Consumer Price Index to offset inflationary pressures over the three-year performance period.
• Helicopter-Accessible Solar Sites: Refers to infrastructure that must be entirely off-grid, environmentally minimised, and engineered for aerial delivery, long-term autonomous operation, and minimal ecological footprint within protected reserves.