Panel of mobile network operators for postbank’s nationwide connectivity (3-Year contract)

Enquiries: Lihle Cindi, Email: [email protected]. Submission email: [email protected]. Postal address: PO Box 10 000, Pretoria, 0001. Physical address: NPC Building, Jeff Masemola Street, Pretoria, 0002.

Submit bids electronically to [email protected] by 29 June 2026 at 16h30. Late submissions will not be accepted. Use only the official forms provided (do not re-type). Bids must comply with the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and General Conditions of Contract (GCC). Successful bidders must sign a written contract (SBD7). Postbank reserves the right to: award to multiple providers, select partial services, augment with preferred services, or reject any bid. Failure to deliver on time constitutes a material breach. All bid preparation costs are for the bidder’s account. Disqualification risks: misrepresentation, conflict of interest, or state employment of bidder/directors/members.

Evaluation is conducted in two phases: Phase 1 (Mandatory Requirements): Bidders must comply with all mandatory criteria or face disqualification. Phase 2 (Price and Specific Goals): Evaluation uses the 80/20 PPPFA principle, with 80 points for price and 20 points for specific goals. Specific goals points allocation: Historically Disadvantaged Individuals/Company (51%+ ownership): 8 points; Women (51%+ ownership): 7 points; Disability (51%+ ownership): 5 points. Bidders must accept the evaluation criteria as stated. Postbank may request written clarifications; failure to respond within the specified timeframe results in disqualification.

Scope: Appoint a panel of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide reliable, secure, and scalable mobile data connectivity for Postbank’s Card Replacement Project (CRP) sites and future operations nationwide for 3 years. Key deliverables: Provide mobile data services at sites where the MNO has the strongest signal, ensure SIM compatibility with Postbank’s infrastructure, and deliver consistent connectivity for banking operations. Functional requirements: Must be a national provider with nationwide coverage (urban, peri-urban, rural), provide signal strength reports for Postbank sites, offer 24/7 support with a service desk and escalation process, and support secure SIM activation/onboarding. Technical requirements: Minimum 4G/LTE (5G where available), automatic fallback/roaming, transaction response time ≤3 seconds, 90% monthly network availability (excluding maintenance), seamless integration with Postbank’s infrastructure, sufficient bandwidth for card issuance/authentication, redundancy mechanisms (e.g., SIM roaming), and compliance with POPIA/FICA. Data must be stored in South Africa unless approved otherwise. Bidders must be licensed MNOs or authorised network service providers. Future capabilities (non-evaluated): Bulk SMS, USSD, Network Initiated USSD, secure API/SMPP/HTTP(S) integration, delivery tracking, scalable volumes, and regulatory compliance for messaging services.

Pricing must be submitted using the attached pricing table without deviations. Provide a full cost breakdown per line item on official company letterhead. All prices must be VAT inclusive (if VAT registered) and quoted in ZAR. No price changes allowed after Purchase Order/Award Letter issuance. List all additional costs and conditions. Pricing must cover: SIM provisioning (setup, data-only SIM, activation, replacement), data bundles (20GB, 40GB, uncapped), and support/tools (support services, SIM management portal). Postbank reserves the right not to award and will not make upfront payments. Payment terms: Postbank pays only for subscribed services. Contract validity: 3 years.

Tax Compliance: Submit a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN (via SARS e-filing at www.sars.gov.za) or a printed TCS certificate. If no TCS PIN is available but the bidder is registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), provide the CSD number. For consortia/joint ventures/sub-contractors, each party must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number. B-BBEE: Postbank supports B-BBEE and requires commitment in ownership (51%+ HDI/Women/Disability), skills transfer, employment equity, and procurement practices (SMME development). Preferential Procurement: Evaluation aligns with PPPFA and Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022. Disqualification: Bidders may be disqualified if they or their directors/members are state employees, listed on the Tender Defaulters or Restricted Suppliers register, or fail to provide required tax/CSD documentation. Foreign suppliers: Must answer a questionnaire; if no presence/income/tax liability in RSA, no SARS PIN is required. Bidders must disclose any state employment, conflicts of interest, or relationships with Postbank officials.