Summary of Tender: Provision of Internet Services

Objectives

The primary objective is to procure and deploy direct internet connectivity for ten regional offices across South Africa, replacing the client's existing MPLS VPN infrastructure. The contract aims to establish a reliable, high-performance internet service with a minimum three-year or five-year term, subject to annual performance reviews. The procurement also supports national economic transformation goals through structured preference point scoring aligned with enterprise development and black economic empowerment frameworks.

Scope of Work

• Deliver symmetrical 100 Mbps internet bandwidth to ten specified regional sites located across multiple provinces.
• All last-mile connectivity must be deployed over fibre optic infrastructure; radio frequency alternatives are permitted only under exceptional, documented circumstances.
• Provide end-to-end project execution, including physical installation, router configuration, network integration, and ongoing operational management.
• Bidders must submit pricing for two contract duration options: three years and five years. Cost breakdowns must cover one-off installation, recurring bandwidth fees, last-mile access circuits, and customer premise equipment rental.
• Full service implementation must be completed within twelve weeks of contract award. The successful provider will enter into a master service agreement subject to annual performance evaluations.

Technical Requirements

• Hold a valid ICASA licence authorising operation as an internet service provider.
• Demonstrate ownership of independent backbone network infrastructure, supported by a detailed design drawing.
• Submit a comprehensive network proposal including diagrams that identify Points of Presence (PoPs), available link capacities, and the exact bandwidth allocable to the client.
• Supply ISP-managed routers at each site and grant read-only SNMP access for remote network monitoring.
• Provide a management portal capable of generating real-time utilisation reports, including bandwidth consumption graphs and top talker analytics.
• Ensure technical support availability eight hours daily, Monday to Friday, with guaranteed next-business-day hardware replacement.
• Submit a proposed Service Level Agreement defining uptime guarantees, fault resolution timelines, query handling procedures, and measurable adherence metrics.
• Present a detailed implementation plan outlining key activities, resource allocation, milestones, and delivery schedules not exceeding twelve weeks.

Skills and Experience Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in designing, deploying, and managing multi-site internet connectivity solutions.
• A minimum of three verifiable client references from comparable projects executed within the past five years.
• Project team competency in network architecture, ISP operations, hardware provisioning, and cross-regional rollout coordination.
• Ability to draft, negotiate, and maintain rigorous SLAs while integrating SNMP and portal-based monitoring systems.
• Financial stability, regulatory compliance capability, and proven track record in executing large-scale telecommunications contracts.

Key Terminology and Service Clarifications

• MPLS VPN: Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network. A secure, private networking technology currently used to interconnect regional offices; this tender replaces it with standard direct internet access.
• SNMP Access: Simple Network Management Protocol. Enables the client to monitor router health, traffic statistics, and interface status in read-only mode without granting administrative control or compromising security.
• PoP (Point of Presence): Geographic locations where the provider's network infrastructure physically and logically interfaces with the client's local office networks.
• Top Talkers: Network analytics features that identify which applications, users, or devices generate the highest traffic volumes, aiding in bandwidth optimisation.
• B-BBEE: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. South African legislative framework influencing bid evaluation through preference point scoring based on black ownership, management control, employment equity, and enterprise development commitments.
• POPIA: Protection of Personal Information Act. National data privacy legislation requiring strict handling, processing, and storage standards for any personal information exchanged during procurement and service delivery.