Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure professional services related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data. The aim is to enhance the City of Cape Town’s Data Analytics Hub by engaging qualified service providers to deliver expertise in AI and data-driven solutions, supporting the organisation's goal of harnessing data and AI to improve decision-making and service delivery.

Scope

The scope encompasses providing on-demand technical resources and professional services across two categories:

• Category A – AI & Data Insights: Services related to data analysis, statistical modeling, and AI insights.
• Category B – AI & Data Product Development: Services focused on developing AI and data products, including APIs and application development.

The services include deploying specialized AI domains such as Generative AI, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, and MLOps/AIOps, supporting the City’s modern, cloud-native, containerized environment. The contract duration is 36 months, with multiple resources and roles required on-demand, including data scientists, engineers, project managers, UI/UX designers, and others.

Technical Requirements

The technical scope involves:

• Expertise in Python, R, and open-source AI frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, etc.).
• Experience with containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes), CI/CD (Jenkins), and cloud platforms.
• Development of AI models, statistical analyses, and data pipelines aligned with the City’s technology stack.
• Implementation of AI solutions such as Generative AI, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, and MLOps pipelines.
• Provision of APIs, application interfaces, and documentation adhering to industry standards.
• Security, data privacy, and compliance with relevant legislation (GDPR, POPIA).
• Deliverables include software development, model deployment, documentation, testing, and ongoing monitoring.

Skills Requirements

The tender specifies the need for highly qualified personnel with proven experience and skills, including:

• Experience in AI & Data Insights and Product Development: Demonstrated success in implementing AI projects and developing AI-powered products within the last 10 years.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in Python, R, AI frameworks, containerization, cloud deployment, and API development.
• Roles and Competencies:
  • Project Managers with agile management skills.
  • Data Scientists and Data Analysts with proven project experience and relevant qualifications.
  • Data Engineers skilled in building scalable data pipelines.
  • DevOps Engineers experienced in AI lifecycle management, automation, and security.
  • UI/UX Designers, Frontend and Backend Developers with relevant project experience.
  • Technical Writers capable of producing comprehensive documentation.
• Open Source and Certification: Evidence of contributions to open-source projects, SAQA evaluations for foreign qualifications, and compliance with relevant certifications.
• Additional Skills: Knowledge of AI-specific design patterns, model lifecycle management, observability, security practices, and API documentation standards.

Overall, the tender emphasizes the need for experienced, skilled professionals capable of delivering innovative AI and data solutions aligned with the City’s technological environment and strategic objectives.