Objectives

The primary objective is to upskill two SANSA employees in Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies through targeted online training. The program aims to build internal technical capacity for signal processing, radio frequency analysis, and space-related communication systems using open-source platforms.

Scope of Work

• Deliver an online, self-paced training course for two participants.
• Provide continuous access to the learning management platform for approximately three months.
• Ensure each attendee completes a minimum of fifty instructional lectures.
• Include comprehensive coverage of SDR++ and RTL-SDR workflows.
• Issue formal certificates of competence or completion upon successful course completion.

Technical Requirements

• Training must be delivered entirely online with a self-paced structure.
• Platform access must remain active for roughly ninety days post-enrollment.
• Curriculum must meet or exceed the fifty-lecture threshold per participant.
• Content must explicitly address SDR++ configuration, usage, and troubleshooting.
• Materials must cover RTL-SDR hardware integration, driver setup, and signal reception principles.
• A verification mechanism must be in place to validate learner progress before certification.

Skills Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in Software Defined Radio architecture, baseband processing, and modulation techniques.
• Proven ability to design and facilitate structured, asynchronous digital learning programs.
• Advanced proficiency in GNU Radio flowgraph development, block library utilization, and custom module implementation.
• Hands-on experience configuring and optimizing SDR++ for multi-format signal monitoring.
• Capability to assess practical competencies and issue recognized certificates of completion.
• Strong instructional design skills to translate complex RF concepts into accessible, self-guided modules.

Explanation of Key Terms

GNU Radio: An open-source software development toolkit that enables the creation of software-defined radios using a modular block-diagram approach. It is widely used for prototyping and deploying complex signal processing systems.

SDR++: A modern, cross-platform SDR receiver application featuring an intuitive graphical interface, real-time spectrum visualization, and broad hardware compatibility.

RTL-SDR: A cost-effective USB dongle originally designed for digital television that has been repurposed for wideband radio reception. It serves as an entry-level hardware platform for SDR education and experimentation.

80/20 Preference Points System: A procurement scoring methodology where eighty percent of the evaluation weight is assigned to price competitiveness, and twenty percent is allocated to transformation targets such as black ownership, women ownership, and youth ownership in line with B-BBEE legislation.

CSD Registration: Mandatory enrollment in the Central Supplier Database, a national government portal used to verify supplier legitimacy, tax compliance, and procurement eligibility.

Fronting: A criminal practice involving misrepresentation of ownership or empowerment status to unlawfully secure preferential procurement benefits. Strictly prohibited under South African B-BBEE law.