Objectives

The primary objectives of this tender are to select a qualified service provider to support, maintain, and manage a Hosted Infrastructure as-a-Service (IaaS) platform for the NDA. The goal is to establish a scalable, high-performance, and secure cloud environment within Microsoft Azure that ensures high availability, disaster recovery, and compliance with relevant data protection legislation. Additionally, the solution aims to facilitate future growth, reduce operational risks, and improve operational efficiency through migration, support, and training.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Provisioning and deployment of Azure IaaS environment, including architecture design and deployment planning.
• Migration of existing systems, applications, and data to the new Azure environment with minimal disruption and downtime (less than 4 hours per system during cutover).
• Support, maintenance, and management of the hosted infrastructure, including patching, configuration, and security compliance.
• Implementation of security controls aligned with ISO27001, POPIA, and other relevant standards.
• Monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance management of the environment.
• Provision of comprehensive documentation, support SLAs, and training for NDA ICT staff.
• Conducting buy-back and decommissioning of existing IT equipment, including valuation and disposal.

Technical Requirements

The solution must meet the following technical criteria:

• Deployment of a scalable Azure IaaS platform with high availability, redundancy, and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Support for migration of existing NDA systems, including databases, applications, and backup solutions.
• Implementation of multi-layered security measures, including ISO27001 certification, POPIA compliance, and vulnerability management.
• Hosting data within South Africa, ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with national laws.
• Connectivity options supporting secure, reliable access for users and cloud services.
• Support for monitoring, management, and troubleshooting tools, with proactive maintenance and reporting.
• Provision of a detailed migration methodology, validation, and fallback plans.
• Adherence to the NDA’s core principles of simplicity, maintainability, and cost-effectiveness.

Skills Requirements

The service provider must demonstrate:

• At least 5 years of experience in implementing and managing IaaS solutions, particularly within the public or government sector.
• Proven track record of successful migration projects to cloud environments, with case studies or references.
• Valid certifications aligned with cloud infrastructure, security, and project management (e.g., Microsoft Azure certifications, ISO 27001, COBIT).
• Capability to support 24/7/365 support and proactive monitoring.
• Expertise in security architecture, compliance, and data sovereignty requirements.
• Ability to provide comprehensive training and documentation for NDA ICT staff.
• Experience in equipment buy-back, decommissioning, and asset valuation.