Objectives

The primary objective is to appoint an interim service provider for a maximum period of three months to manage the complete hosting, maintenance, updating, and security of the uMfolozi Local Municipality’s official website. The engagement aims to ensure uninterrupted online presence, rapid content deployment, robust cybersecurity measures, and seamless data migration with minimal operational disruption.

Scope of Work

• Website Migration: Transfer all existing website files, databases, and associated content to the provider’s infrastructure while implementing planning strategies to minimize downtime.
• Hosting Services: Provide reliable, high-availability server space tailored to municipal traffic and compliance standards.
• Support & Maintenance: Perform routine technical upkeep, upload and publish municipal documents, newsletters, and other digital content. Strict service level agreements apply: standard documents must be published within four working hours of receipt, while urgent materials require publication within two working hours.
• Security Management: Conduct regular plugin and software updates, execute daily automated backups, and verify successful content publication with designated municipal officials.
• Access Control: Configure and manage user permissions, granting appropriate administrative and editorial access rights to authorized municipal staff.

Technical Requirements

• Enterprise-grade web hosting with uptime guarantees and scalable infrastructure.
• Proficient migration methodologies that preserve SEO integrity, database functionality, and media assets without service interruption.
• Advanced content management system (CMS) administration for rapid document processing and multimedia uploads.
• Cybersecurity best practices, including vulnerability patching, malware scanning, and immutable backup protocols.
• Role-based access control systems to securely distribute editorial privileges among municipal personnel.
• Monitoring tools capable of tracking publication timelines against the stipulated two-hour and four-hour service level agreements.

Skills Requirements

While not explicitly enumerated in the tender, the scope necessitates the following competencies:

• Certified web developers and DevOps engineers experienced in large-scale site migrations and cloud hosting environments.
• CMS specialists proficient in rapid content ingestion, formatting, and multi-channel publishing workflows.
• IT security analysts skilled in routine patch management, backup verification, and access provisioning.
• Project coordinators capable of managing tight turnaround times, stakeholder communication, and compliance reporting.
• Familiarity with public sector procurement standards and documentation requirements.

Key Procurement Terms & Unusual Terminology

• MBD Forms: Standard South African Municipal Bid Documents (MBD 1, 4, 6.1, 8, and 9) required for bidder registration, declaration of interest, preferential procurement preferences, and sworn statements.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: An evaluation framework where eighty percent of scoring is allocated to competitive pricing, and twenty percent is awarded for meeting designated socio-economic goals (disability ownership, female ownership, African ownership, youth ownership, or local uMfolozi residency).
• CSD Report / MAAA Number: Verification credentials issued by the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database, confirming supplier legitimacy, tax compliance, and registration status for government contracting.

All quotations must remain valid for ninety days, include VAT, specify a firm delivery timeline, and comply with mandatory submission requirements. Offers from current state employees are strictly prohibited.