Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a comprehensive system for the supply, installation, and management of an STS6 Edition 2 compliant prepayment electricity vending system. The system aims to facilitate efficient, secure, and seamless vending of electricity and water prepaid meters, ensuring integration with municipal billing, GIS, and other third-party systems. Additionally, it seeks to enhance revenue protection, data management, and customer service through advanced technological solutions and support services over a contract period until 30 June 2031.

Scope

The scope encompasses:

• Supply, installation, and management of an STS6 Edition 2 compliant prepayment electricity vending system.
• Provision of hardware, software, and communication infrastructure supporting online, real-time vending, data management, and revenue protection.
• Integration with municipal ERP, GIS, billing, and third-party vendors.
• Management of vending channels including POS, mobile, ATM, and web portals.
• Meter audit, field data collection, tamper detection, and revenue protection activities.
• Vendor management, support, and training services over a 5-year period.
• Provision of backup, disaster recovery, and security measures compliant with industry standards.

Technical Requirements

The technical scope includes:

• System compliance with IEC 62055-xx, STS Part 1,2,3, NRS 009-2-1, NRS 009-2-2, NRS 009-6-10, ISO 8583, IEC 61968, ISO 27001, ISO 9001 standards.
• Secure, web-based, online vending architecture supporting real-time transactions, with support for multiple payment methods including card, EFT, vouchers, and USSD.
• Hardware infrastructure including servers, POS terminals, communication modules (GPRS, LTE, etc.), security modules, and backup data centers meeting Tier level 3 standards.
• Database system supporting high-volume data, concurrent multi-user access, range partitioning, and ACID compliance.
• Integration capabilities via web services and file-based protocols with the municipality’s ERP, GIS, and external vendors.
• Support for multiple meter technologies, including smart meters and automatic meter reading.
• Security features including role-based access, SSL encryption, audit trails, and compliance with POPI and PAIA acts.
• Support for meter lifecycle management, field audits, tamper detection, and revenue protection activities.
• Reporting tools for operational, financial, and compliance reports, with customizable options.

Skills and Skills Requirements

The tenderer must demonstrate:

• Proven experience (minimum 10 years) in implementing and managing prepaid electricity and water vending systems, including meter audit and revenue protection.
• Expertise in deploying and supporting IEC 62055, STS, NRS standards, and ISO certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 27001).
• Technical proficiency in system integration, including ERP, GIS, and third-party vendor systems, with demonstrated successful past projects.
• Capability to provide secure, scalable, and redundant hardware and software solutions compliant with Tier level 3 data center standards.
• Ability to develop, implement, and support complex database systems with high-volume data processing and multi-user access.
• Strong security management skills, including role-based access control, audit logging, and compliance with POPI and PAIA.
• Experience in field audits, tamper detection, and revenue protection activities, with qualified personnel (e.g., electricians with valid trade test certificates).
• Capacity to provide ongoing support, maintenance, training, and system upgrades over the 5-year contract period.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships, support third-party integrations, and ensure system security and data integrity.