Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to supply, deliver, install, and configure a cloud-based disaster recovery backup solution for Ikhala TVET College. The solution aims to ensure rapid, reliable, and secure backup and restoration of critical data and systems over a period of three years (36 months), supporting business continuity and disaster preparedness.

Scope

The scope of the tender includes:

• Provision of a disaster recovery cloud backup service covering specified data types such as Microsoft Entra ID, databases, system configurations, user files, VoIP backups, Office 365 emails, and Teams meetings.
• Implementation of backup strategies including hourly/daily full backups with retention policies until further notice.
• Replication of backup data across multiple geographic sites, including the college’s data centre, Alwal North Server, and Komani Server, for failover and business continuity.
• Ensuring recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) are met, with minimal or no data loss and rapid data restoration capabilities.
• Security measures such as encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring of backup processes.
• Testing, evaluation, and certification of the backup system’s functionality and security compliance.
• Provision of on-site support, training, and management of cloud and physical components.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the tender include:

• Data Security: Implement robust encryption for data at rest and in transit, strict access controls, and continuous monitoring.
• Backup Strategy: Full backups scheduled hourly/daily, with retention policies until further notice.
• Replication: Data must be replicated across all sites, including a warm disaster recovery site within Eastern Cape, South Africa.
• Storage Capacity: Adequate cloud storage capacity based on the data volume to ensure reliable backups and restores.
• Compliance & Certification: The provider must be a Microsoft Silver Partner with cloud proficiency, Veeam Backup Reseller, Microsoft Azure Backup Server, and a Microsoft FastTrack Partner. They must also comply with ISO/IEC 27000 standards and the POPI Act.
• Disaster Recovery Site: Must be located within South Africa, with specific mention of a warm site in the Eastern Cape.
• Testing & Evaluation: Regular testing procedures, proof of previous similar projects, and certification audits of the data centre facilities.
• Team Qualifications: Service delivery manager must hold NQF Level 6/7 ICT qualification and ITIL certification.
• On-site Support: Physical components, onsite services, and training for data maintenance and recovery operations.