Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a service provider to review and update the ICASA IT Strategy for a period of 6 months. The goal is to ensure the strategy is forward-looking, aligned with ICASA’s 5-year Strategic Plan, and capable of supporting digital modernization, emerging technologies, and regulatory mandates. The review aims to produce a practical, implementable, and comprehensive IT strategy that positions ICASA as a technologically advanced and evidence-based regulator, transitioning from a support function to a strategic enabler.

Scope

The scope includes:

• Review and document the current ICASA IT environment, including infrastructure, applications, policies, and governance.
• Refine and update the draft 2024/25 IT strategy to ensure it is comprehensive, forward-looking, and aligned with ICASA’s strategic objectives.
• Articulate key digital modernization programs, including emerging technologies such as AI and OT.
• Integrate operational technology considerations and address the convergence of IT and OT.
• Conduct broad stakeholder consultations, including onsite facilitation sessions at ICASA’s head office.
• Develop a complete, costed 5-year implementation plan with a year-by-year roadmap, resource estimates, risks, and milestones.
• Produce a final strategy document in Word and PDF formats, including an appropriate IT structure and governance model.

Excluded from scope:

• Obtaining approval of the strategy from ICASA governance structures.
• Managing or driving the implementation of the strategy post-delivery.
• Procurement or implementation of technology systems, hardware, or software.
• Organizational change management execution after strategy delivery.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements encompass:

• Review of current IT landscape, policies, and maturity assessment using recognized frameworks.
• Refinement of the draft IT strategy to ensure alignment with ICASA’s strategic goals and global best practices.
• Clear articulation of digital modernization initiatives, including AI and OT considerations.
• Stakeholder engagement through onsite facilitation sessions, with documented outputs and feedback.
• Development of a comprehensive, actionable 5-year implementation plan with detailed cost estimates, milestones, and resource needs.
• Design of an IT structure and governance model suitable for strategy execution.
• Inclusion of cybersecurity protocols, data analytics, cloud adoption, and IT/OT convergence strategies.

Skills Requirements

The service provider must demonstrate:

• Proven experience in IT strategy development, review, and modernization within the public sector or regulated industries.
• Capability to conduct comprehensive current state assessments, gap analyses, and maturity evaluations.
• Expertise in stakeholder facilitation, including onsite workshops and engagement with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong project management skills to deliver all outputs within the 6-month timeframe, including detailed project planning, risk management, and quality assurance.
• Technical proficiency in emerging technologies such as AI, OT, cloud computing, and cybersecurity frameworks.
• Ability to produce clear, coherent, and actionable strategy documents, including implementation roadmaps and governance models.