Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure multiple 10Gbps managed bandwidth services to refresh and upgrade the Eastern Cape rural links. The goal is to establish reliable, high-capacity connectivity across various sites in the Eastern Cape region, ensuring improved network performance, reliability, and service quality for rural links over a contract period of five years.

Scope

The scope encompasses the provision of multiple high-capacity managed bandwidth links connecting designated sites such as WSU Queenstown, UFH Bhisho, WSU Whittlesea, CUT Bloemfontein, IS Bloemfontein, UFH East London, and IS East London. The services include the deployment of end-to-end fibre optic circuits, infrastructure provisioning, routing, and associated maintenance activities. The scope also covers cross-connects, demarcation equipment, power supply, and service management to ensure end-to-end connectivity with specified performance and availability standards.

Technical Requirements

The technical specifications for the bandwidth services include:

• Link Capacity: Explicitly provide a committed capacity of 10Gbps for each link.
• Physical Routing: Provide diagrams or detailed descriptions of the physical route, ensuring the service is routed in a reasonably direct manner between end points.
• Core Infrastructure: Summarize existing infrastructure utilization and new infrastructure deployment, ensuring less than 30% of the link requires new infrastructure.
• End-to-End Fibre: Confirm the circuit is supplied end-to-end based on fixed-line fibre infrastructure.
• Underlying Infrastructure: Indicate if the circuit is provisioned on another supplier’s infrastructure, providing provider details if applicable.
• Demarcation Equipment: Commit to terminating on active provider-owned equipment with LC-compatible connectors.
• Power Supply: Deploy only AC-powered equipment at end points.
• Service Configuration: Enable Link Loss Forwarding and handle Jumbo Frames (9000 bytes).
• Ethernet Handoffs: Supply 10Gbps Ethernet handoffs on the specified LAN PHY interface.
• Service Quality & Availability: Guarantee a minimum link availability of 98% per month, supported by SLA documentation.
• Maintenance & Delivery: Maintain the fibre infrastructure as per specified procedures, with timely delivery within 6 months (or partial compliance within 9 months).

Skills Requirements

The tender requires bidders to demonstrate the following skills and capabilities:

• Technical Capability: Ability to design, deploy, and manage high-capacity fibre optic links with detailed routing and infrastructure planning.
• Infrastructure Management: Experience in utilizing existing infrastructure, leasing circuits, and provisioning end-to-end fibre services.
• Network Engineering: Skills in configuring network equipment for link loss forwarding, jumbo frames, and Ethernet handoffs.
• Service Level Management: Ability to guarantee and document service availability, SLA compliance, and maintenance procedures.
• Project Management: Capability to deliver the links within specified timeframes, supported by detailed project plans and delivery schedules.
• Documentation & Compliance: Proficiency in providing comprehensive technical documentation, compliance matrices, and acceptance testing reports.