Panel of service providers for international broadcast feed collection and distribution (3-Year contract)

All enquiries must be directed to: Tender Office, SCM Division, Radio Park Office Block, Henley Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. Email: [email protected]. Unauthorised communication with SABC staff may result in disqualification.

Submit bids electronically in PDF format (protected from modifications) to [email protected]. Email subject line must include: Bidder’s Name, Tender No, and Tender Title. Submit at least 60 minutes before closing time (10:00 on 06 Feb 2026) to avoid transmission delays. Late submissions will be rejected.

Required returnable documents:

• SARS PIN to validate tax compliance.
• Original or certified B-BBEE Certificate (SANAS-accredited) OR sworn affidavit for EMEs/51% black-owned QSEs confirming annual revenue (≤R10M for EMEs, R10M–R50M for QSEs) and black ownership percentage. IRBA certificates are invalid post-30 Sep 2016.
• Proof of valid TV License (company, shareholders, directors) OR affidavit confirming no TV license. SABC will verify internally.
• Certified copy of Company Registration Document (name, registration number, date, active directors/members).
• Certified copies of Shareholders’ certificates.
• Certified copies of ID documents of Directors/Members.
• Last 3 years’ audited/reviewed financial statements OR management accounts.
• Proof of CSD registration.

All bid forms must be completed, signed in ink (no photocopied signatures), and all pages initialed. Photocopies of forms are permitted. Incomplete bids or bids with missing/duplicated pages will be disqualified. No post-closing alterations are allowed.

Disqualification risks: Misrepresentation of B-BBEE status, tax/TV license non-compliance, or failure to submit required documents. Winning bidder must maintain/improve B-BBEE level post-award.

Functional evaluation (100 points total, 90-point threshold required):

• Previous Experience (40 points max): Company profile (25), core business in TV/radio broadcast satellite transmission/distribution (15), portfolio of evidence (5), proof of relationships/licenses with satellite/fibre providers (5). Number of successful services rendered: 1–2 reference letters (5), 3–5 (10), >5 (15).
• Capacity to Deliver (40 points max): Connectivity/accessibility on demand, proof of technical capacity (equipment, satellite/fibre/IP connectivity, uplink/downlink), human capital (CVs of technical staff).
• Project Implementation Plan (20 points max): Detailed workflow/timelines for booking administration, technical checks, live production execution/monitoring, post-production reporting.

Bids scoring <90 points are disqualified. SABC reserves the right to reject bids based on poor past performance or financial instability.

Preference Points (80/20 system):

• Price: 80 points (calculated using comparative price formula).
• Specific Goals: 20 points (EME/SME 51% black-owned: 10; 51% black-owned: 5; 51% black women-owned: 3; Black Youth: 2). Evidence must be submitted for each claimed goal; no evidence = 0 points for that goal.

Final award: Highest total points (price + specific goals). Ties broken by highest specific goals score, then by lot. SABC may negotiate with shortlisted bidders post-evaluation.

Scope: Provide services to collect and on-pass feeds from international gateways (e.g., BT Tower, Arqiva, Hilversum), international satellites (Europe/Middle East/Africa: ASTRA 2G, BADR-4/6, EUTELSAT 5 West A, etc.; Americas: EUTELSAT 117 West A, GALAXY 19, etc.), and host broadcasters on an as-needed basis for 3 years.

Key Requirements:

• Permanent point of presence in South Africa.
• Technical ability to collect/deliver feeds via satellite (uplink/downlink), fibre, or IP, including redundancy options where required.
• Must own/access relevant IRDs for individual feeds.
• Manage multiple media formats (e.g., 1080i) with multiple audio tracks.
• In-house MCR/ICR monitoring of live feeds in South Africa.
• Quick turnaround: Detailed quotes within 24 hours, emergency request processes, after-hours service.
• Fair, transparent pricing with set rates for uplink/downlink and space segments (per MHz).
• Distribution capabilities: Book satellite space, provide uplink facilities, deliver feeds via fibre/satellite to international gateways as per Host Broadcaster agreements.
• Existing international/national infrastructure (fibre/satellite networks) or relationships.

Deliverables: All feeds terminate at SABC Master Control Room (MCR). When SABC is the host broadcaster, deliver audio/video feeds to teleports/satellites specified by Sporting Federations (e.g., BT Tower via fibre or satellite).

Panel Selection: Vendors chosen based on capability (not price). Work allocated via rotation, considering competitiveness, technical viability, and quotation fairness. Minimum 1-day turnaround for procurement thresholds. Subcontracting is prohibited unless prior SABC approval is obtained.

Pricing must be in South African Rand (ZAR), with VAT as a separate line item. Foreign currency quotes must be converted to ZAR with the applicable exchange rate stated.

Pricing Rules:

• Fixed prices for the first year; subsequent increases capped at CPI.
• Prices must include all costs: local guarantee bonds, taxes/duties, customs, clearance, transportation, storage, unpacking, installation, integration, testing, and project duration costs.
• For supplies requiring installation/erection, include all costs for on-site delivery.
• No price changes accepted post-submission pre-award.

Payment Terms: Standard SABC payment terms are 60 days from invoice date. For foreign currency payments, provide bank name/address, account number, and SWIFT code.

Financial Stability: Bidders must pass SABC’s financial stability assessment. Submit last 3 years’ audited/reviewed financial statements or management accounts.

Bid Validity: Prices must remain valid for 180 days from closing date.

Mandatory Compliance:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration (submit proof).
• Valid SARS PIN for tax compliance verification.
• Valid TV License (company, shareholders, directors) or affidavit confirming none held. SABC will verify internally.
• B-BBEE Compliance: Original/certified B-BBEE Certificate (SANAS-accredited) OR sworn affidavit for EMEs (≤R10M revenue) or 51% black-owned QSEs (R10M–R50M revenue) confirming turnover and black ownership. IRBA certificates invalid post-30 Sep 2016. Winning bidder must maintain/improve B-BBEE level post-award.
• Company Registration: Certified copy of CIPC registration document (name, registration number, date, active directors/members).
• Shareholder/Director Details: Certified copies of shareholder certificates and ID documents of directors/members.

Prohibitions:

• No contracts awarded to bidders with outstanding tax/TV license issues.
• No awards to blacklisted bidders or those with fraud/misrepresentation records.
• No awards to SABC employees, former employees (12-month cooling-off), dismissed employees (5-year ban), or Board members (12-month cooling-off).
• No subcontracting without prior SABC approval.
• Fronting or misrepresentation of B-BBEE status is a criminal offence and will result in disqualification and potential legal action.

Additional Notes:

• Bidders must declare any conflicts of interest (e.g., state employment, relationships with evaluators) via SBD 4 form.
• All returnable documents must be submitted with the bid.