Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a service provider capable of procuring, configuring, migrating data into, and supporting hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions for the Department of Transport. The project aims to modernize the department’s data storage and server infrastructure, deploy a private cloud environment, and enhance capabilities such as AI integration and virtualization support. Additionally, the service provider must deliver training and certification support for technical staff to ensure sustainable operational expertise.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Provision of hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) hardware and software for the Department’s Pretoria and Centurion data centers, including supply, configuration, and migration of existing data and workloads into the new environment.
• Deployment of all necessary hardware components such as HCI nodes, storage, management, and network switches, with specified configurations and capacities (e.g., 150 TB usable per node).
• Implementation of network infrastructure, including switches and management switches, with specified port configurations and support services.
• Provision of rack enclosures, power distribution units, and related physical infrastructure.
• Migration of existing VMware and Unity platform data, including testing and validation of the migration process.
• Provision of training credits and formal training for technical staff on HCI and VMware technologies.
• Development of project plans, documentation, and knowledge transfer to the department’s staff.
• Post-deployment support, maintenance, and support services, including support for AI capabilities and virtualization.

Technical Requirements

The technical specifications include:

• Supply of hyperconverged nodes with compute, storage, and AI capabilities, configured with Intel Xeon Gold processors, 32GB RDIMM, and Nvidia ConnectX-6 network cards.
• Provision of storage nodes with NVMe drives, dual CPU, and network transceivers supporting 25GbE/100GbE.
• Deployment of management nodes with SSD storage and network interfaces.
• Implementation of network switches (48x25GbE SFP28, 100GbE QSFP28/DDR) and management switches with specified port configurations.
• Configuration of VMware vCenter, vSphere, and vRealize Operations, with support for linked mode and licensing compliance.
• Hardware and software must support generative AI capabilities and be compatible with existing infrastructure.
• Migration of existing workloads, including validation, testing, and documentation.
• Provision of training credits for VMware vSphere, VCP-VCF, and HCI infrastructure certifications.
• Adherence to industry standards, data security, and compliance with relevant regulations.

Skills Requirements

• Proficiency in deploying and configuring hyperconverged infrastructure solutions, including hardware integration and virtualization platforms.
• Expertise in data migration, testing, and validation of VMware and Unity platforms.
• Knowledge of network architecture, including switches, routers, and management systems supporting high-speed data transfer.
• Capability to provide technical training and certification support for staff on VMware and HCI technologies.
• Experience in project management, documentation, and knowledge transfer to client staff.
• Ability to support AI-enabled hardware and software components, ensuring integration with existing systems.
• Compliance with industry standards, security protocols, and regulatory requirements.