Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (B-BBEE Act)
Act 53 of 2003
Provides the empowerment-compliance context often used in public-sector supplier evaluation.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Documents available on tender detail page
Tender Type
Request for Bid(Open-Tender)
Delivery Location
1303 Heuwel Avenue - Centurion - Pretoria - 0046
Organization Type
GOVERNMENT
Published
12 Jun 2026
OCDS Reference
ocds-9t57fa-158926
The electoral commission (iec) seeks a nationwide private access point name (apn) solution to securely connect up to 100,000 devices (including voting management devices, laptops, and tablets) with flexible, consumption-based scaling. The solution must ensure 95%+ 3G-or-better coverage across 28,495 voting stations, with failover and alternative connectivity for gaps, to support free and fair elections.
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Description
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfThe Electoral Commission (IEC) seeks a flexible, consumption-based Access Point Name (APN) solution to connect 2,500–100,000 devices (currently 41,500: 40,000 VMDs, 1,500 laptops, +16,000 tablets) nationwide. The solution must provide secure mobile internet connectivity (3G or better) across all 23,000+ voting stations, with alternative mechanisms (roaming, satellite, radio) for areas with poor coverage. The contract is for 5 years (60 months) and must support seasonal scaling without financial penalties or functionality loss. The APN will enable remote field workers to access IEC’s network securely for elections, voter registration, and campaigns.
Important Dates
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Closing date and time: 2026-07-09T11:00:00.000Z. Enquiry cut-off date: published on VotaQuotes platform. Briefing session details: published on e-Procurement website. Implementation must be completed within 6 months of Purchase Order (PO) receipt, with SIM card swapping within 1 month of PO receipt.
Contact Information
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Submission address: Electoral Commission’s Tender Box, Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157. Enquiries: Submit exclusively via VotaQuotes platform (www.votaquotes.elections.org.za). No telephonic, email, or other communication accepted.
Submission Guidelines
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Submit bids in the Electoral Commission’s Tender Box at Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157 by the closing date and time. Clearly mark submissions: 'For the attention of Procurement and Asset Management Department – Auction Number: 0010566886'. Required documents: detailed APN solution proposal with architecture, Appendix A (Technical Bid Response Sheet), Appendix D (Network Data Coverage), Appendix D1 (Summary Data Coverage), Appendix D2 (Coverage Gap Solutions), Appendix D3 (Other Technical Requirements), Appendix B (Pricing Schedule) with sub-appendices (B1-B5), 5 references of similar work, proof of APN service experience (minimum 3 years), service structure/service levels, ICASA license copy, example SLA, link to interactive data coverage map, and implementation project plan. Failure to submit all required documentation by the deadline will invalidate the bid. All enquiries must be submitted via the VotaQuotes platform (www.votaquotes.elections.org.za). No other communication methods accepted.
Evaluation Criteria
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Mandatory
Preferential
Technical Specifications
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Scope: Private APN solution for 2,500–100,000 devices (41,500 baseline: 40,000 VMDs, 1,500 laptops, +16,000 tablets). Requirements: nationwide 3G+ coverage (95% minimum across 28,495 voting stations), alternative connectivity (roaming, signal boosters, satellite/radio) for gaps, seamless failover, SD-WAN backhaul (300 Mbps baseline, upgradeable to 2 Gbps, burstable), dual diverse fibre links (HSRP/VRRP), 99.99% availability during elections (99% baseline otherwise), QoS management, APN management platform (SIM provisioning, usage limits, reporting), shared firewall for internet breakout (300 Mbps, upgradeable to 5 Gbps), virtual DNS hosting, support for VoIP/MDM/cloud migration, IP address blocks for different device groups, security audits/vulnerability assessments, OTA security, and 48-hour SIM activation. Must integrate with IEC’s Radius Server and Active Directory. Solution must accommodate 5-year-old VMDs and seasonal scaling without penalties.
Experience & Qualifications
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfBidder must: have at least 3 years’ APN service experience (5+ years preferred), provide proof via letter-headed document or profile, and allocate a service manager/account manager for escalations. During heightened election periods (12 months pre-election to 10 days post-results), 24/7 support (including weekends/public holidays) is required. Monthly SLA meetings mandatory. Bidder must demonstrate ability to manage 40,000+ legacy VMDs and support IEC’s mandate for free/fair elections.
Quality Management
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfBidder responsibilities: Ensure solution meets all technical/functional specifications, is fully operational without additional dependencies, and is in good condition. IEC may: request facility inspections, require solution demonstrations/presentations, and select the best technical/financial investment. Quality control conditions are mandatory; non-compliance disqualifies bids. Successful bidder must warrant solution alignment with specifications and provide monthly performance reports.
Pricing Schedule
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfPricing must be consumption-based with flexibility for seasonal fluctuations. Baseline: 10 GB/SIM/month (unlimited acceptable if cost-effective). Total bid price (Appendix B) must include all costs (hardware, software, licensing, implementation, delivery, warranties, maintenance, data) for 60 months, inclusive of VAT. Sub-appendices required: B1 (device count fluctuations), B2 (data usage), B3 (backhaul bandwidth: 300 Mbps baseline, upgradeable to 2 Gbps), B4 (internet breakout bandwidth), B5 (device on-boarding). Prices firm for 180 days; post-award adjustments ≤ CPI. Monthly invoicing.
Financial Requirements
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Pricing: Consumption-based model with baseline of 10 GB/SIM/month (unlimited option acceptable if cost-effective). Total bid price must be firm for 180 days (inclusive of VAT) and cover 60 months. Include: hardware/software/licensing, implementation, delivery to Centurion, warranties, maintenance, data costs, and all once-off/monthly costs. Flexible pricing required for: device count fluctuations (Appendix B1), data usage (B2), backhaul bandwidth (B3: 300 Mbps baseline, upgradeable to 2 Gbps), internet breakout bandwidth (B4), and device on-boarding (B5). Inflation adjustments allowed post-year 1 (≤ annual CPI). Monthly invoicing. IEC reserves right to adjust quantities/costs.
Compliance Requirements
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf (unknown)Mandatory: Valid ICASA I-ECNS or I-ECS license (bidder’s name and partnership level must be clear). Minimum 3 years’ APN service experience (5+ years preferred). Submit 5 contactable references for similar scope/services (customer name, contact details, service description, value, bandwidth, device count). Complete Appendices A, D, D1, D2, D3, B, B1-B5. Comply with all statutory/regulatory telecom requirements. Successful bidder may require security clearance. Non-disclosure agreement and SLA mandatory. Preference for bidders with own network. Due diligence audits apply.
Environmental
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfBidder must address: power mitigation infrastructure for towers covering voting stations (given load shedding challenges), and environmental feasibility for temporary connectivity solutions (e.g., satellite/radio) in areas with poor coverage. IEC will provide technical resources for setup/configuration of its systems, but bidder must handle initial equipment configuration and environmental requirements.
Contractual Terms
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfContract duration: 60 months (extendable at IEC’s discretion). Terms include: SD-WAN backhaul (300 Mbps baseline, upgradeable to 2 Gbps, burstable), dual diverse fibre links with automatic failover (HSRP/VRRP), 99.99% availability during election periods (99% baseline otherwise), monthly SLA meetings, and performance reports (uptime, utilization, SLA targets). IEC reserves right to: use own SD-WAN firewalls, adjust bandwidth/device counts, inspect bidder facilities, and terminate for non-compliance. Contract is consumption-based with monthly invoicing. Inflation adjustments allowed post-year 1 (≤ CPI). Non-disclosure agreement and security clearance required for personnel.
Section
Source: Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdfBid evaluation will prioritize: technical compliance with minimum specifications, nationwide data coverage (95%+ 3G/equivalent across 28,495 voting stations), flexibility for device scaling (2,500–100,000), and cost-effectiveness. Bidders must refer to Appendix E for detailed criteria. Preference given to: bidders with own networks, higher coverage percentages, and unlimited data options. Adjudication may include shortlisting, presentations, demonstrations, and proof of concept (POC). Final award subject to SLA negotiation and due diligence. Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (2000) and Regulations (2022) apply.
Categories
Request for Bid(Open-Tender)
1303 Heuwel Avenue - Centurion - Pretoria - 0046
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These references help suppliers understand the public-procurement framework around this opportunity. They are generated from the tender category, issuing organisation type and procurement context.
These rules commonly apply to South African public-sector procurement.
Act 53 of 2003
Provides the empowerment-compliance context often used in public-sector supplier evaluation.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 108 of 1996 (s217)
This is general procurement context, not legal advice. Always verify requirements in the official tender documents and issuing authority notices.
Auction 0010566886 - APN Solution - 2026.pdf
The Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa seeks to procure a flexible, consumption-based Access Point Name (APN) solution to securely connect up to 100,000 devices (including Voting Management Devices, laptops, and tablets) nationwide. The solution must provide 3G-or-better mobile connectivity, with fallback options for areas with poor coverage, and include APN management, backhaul connectivity, and robust security features. The contract duration is 5 years, with scalability to adjust the number of connected devices and bandwidth as needed. The tender emphasizes nationwide coverage, high availability (99.99% during elections), and seamless failover capabilities.
Auction 0010566886 - Appendix D - National Coverage of Voting Stations.xlsx
To download these documents and access AI-powered analysis, visit the main tender page.
Date & Time
Thursday, 09 July 2026 - 11:00
Venue
Virtual
12 Jun
2026
Tender Published
Tender was published
09 Jul
2026
Closing Date
Tender closing date
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Median Estimate
R 3 421 969
Range
Based on 9 comparable awarded tenders. Companies with similar profiles typically bid near the median.
* Estimates are based on historical data and do not guarantee actual award values.
Sets the constitutional standard for fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective public procurement.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 5 of 2000
Covers preferential procurement and preference-point systems used in public tenders.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 12 of 2004
Supports anti-corruption controls and supplier integrity in procurement processes.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 28 of 2024
Provides the national framework for public procurement across government.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 2 of 2000
Supports access to tender records, award decisions and public-sector procurement information.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Act 3 of 2000
Supports lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair administrative tender decisions.
Relevant because this is a South African public-sector procurement opportunity.
Address
13 Cedarfield Cl, Springfield, Durban, 4001, South Africa
Source confidence
High source confidence
Official source
eTenders.gov.za
Documents found
2
Last checked
12 Jun 2026
AI status
Enhanced
Data conflicts
None detected
This tender has strong source evidence, including source metadata and supporting tender information synced from the government tender portal.
Tenders SA is not the issuing authority. All tenders are automatically synced from the official government tender portal. Always confirm final submission details, closing dates, briefing sessions, eligibility requirements, and documents on the official government portal before applying.
Contact
012-622-5700[email protected]www.elections.org.za13 Cedarfield Cl, Springfield, Durban, 4001, South Africa
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