Appointment of a service provider for the supply and delivery of a humanoid robot.

Closing date: 17 August 2026 at 11:00 AM South African time.

Briefing session: None.

Clarification queries: must be submitted before the closing date to [email protected].

Email for queries and submissions: [email protected]

Telephone: +27 11 207 2600

Submission address: MICT SETA Head Office, Level 3 West Wing, Gallagher House, 19 Richards Drive, Halfway House, Midrand (delivery address for the robot).

Submit one soft copy by email to [email protected] before 11:00 AM SA time on 17 August 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed, and submitted):

• CSD registration report (register before submission)
• Pricing schedule
• Valid tax clearance certificate or SARS-issued verification PIN
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): declares any connection to the state or procuring institution
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form): claims preference points for specific goals
• Certified copies of directors' ID (not older than six months)
• CIPC document
• Shareholding certificate
• Bidder's Eligibility Form A (declares no prohibition, bankruptcy, or corrupt practices)

The RFQ invitation document must be completed, signed, and submitted as a whole by the authorised company representative.

Two-stage evaluation:

Stage 1 – Mandatory criteria:

• Bidder must be an OEM, authorised distributor, or authorised by the OEM/distributor to supply, configure, and support the solution. Submit documentary proof (certificate/letter from product owner).
• The proposed robot must meet or exceed the detailed specifications. Bidders must state "Comply" in the required column; ticks, crosses, or "Yes/No" are not accepted.

Any bidder failing Stage 1 is eliminated.

Stage 2 – Price and Specific Goals (80/20 system):

• Price: 80 points
• Specific Goals: 20 points total
• 10 points: enterprise at least 51% owned by historically disadvantaged persons
• 5 points: enterprise at least 51% owned by historically disadvantaged women
• 5 points: enterprise at least 51% owned by historically disadvantaged youth

Enterprises not owned by historically disadvantaged persons receive 0 points.

To claim points, submit CIPC document, valid share certificate (showing % shareholding), and certified ID copies of directors (not older than six months). Failure to submit proof means points are not claimed.

Award to the bidder with the highest total points.

The MICT SETA requires a full humanoid robot for research, education, and 4IR demonstration. Key specifications:

Structure: Full humanoid (head, torso, two arms, two legs). Must stand upright independently and maintain dynamic balance.

Dimensions: Height 1.2–1.5 m; weight 30–55 kg; modular, durable design.

Mobility: Bipedal walking (forward, backward, turning). Speed: minimum 0.3 m/s, target up to 1.0 m/s. Real-time dynamic balancing with fall detection and recovery.

Degrees of Freedom (DOF): Head 2–3; arms minimum 5–7 each; legs minimum 6 each; total minimum 18–25.

Movement capabilities: Walking and turning, arm gestures, head tracking, sit/stand transitions.

Materials: External – industrial-grade ABS/polycarbonate; internal – aluminium or steel frame; high-strength actuator joints.

Actuators: High-torque smart servos or brushless actuators with precision feedback.

Power: Lithium-ion battery, 2–4 hours active walking, 2–3 hours charging via direct plug-in.

Processing: CPU quad-core (Intel i5 equivalent or higher); RAM minimum 8 GB (16 GB preferred); storage 256 GB SSD; OS Linux/ROS-compatible.

Sensors: IMU (gyroscope + accelerometer), joint encoders, HD camera, depth sensor (preferred), proximity sensors, foot pressure sensors.

Audio: Integrated stereo speakers, minimum 2×5W output, clear voice projection for 20–50 people indoors. Multi-array microphone system (2–4 mics) with noise reduction and echo cancellation, voice detection range 2–5 m.

Human interaction: Text-to-speech, speech recognition, visual recognition (camera-based). Ability to greet users, deliver presentations, and respond to commands.

Control: Autonomous AI mode, remote control capability, manual override.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB/Ethernet ports.

Developer SDK: Full SDK with motion control, speech, and sensor data APIs. Supported languages: Python, C++. Must support ROS/ROS2 and simulation environments. Full programmability and custom application development.

Design reference: Robot must closely resemble the H7-type humanoid (at least 80% structural similarity) including bipedal locomotion, articulated limbs, and human-like interaction posture.

Warranty and support: Minimum 12-month warranty covering hardware, sensors, and actuators. Must include technical support and staff training.

The proposed robot must closely resemble the H7-type design (at least 80% structural similarity) with bipedal locomotion, articulated limbs, and human-like interaction posture.

Bidders must provide a cost breakdown for each line item, sub-total, and total price.

Pricing schedule: Provide a cost breakdown for each line item, sub-total, VAT at 15%, and total price including VAT. The quotation is for one H7-type humanoid robot and a 12-month warranty package.

Validity: Quotation must remain valid for 90 days from the closing date.

Delivery address: MICT SETA Head Office, Level 3 West Wing, Gallagher House, 19 Richards Drive, Halfway House, Midrand.

Bidders must indicate delivery period after order receipt, whether the delivery period is fixed, whether prices are fixed, and whether the quote is strictly to specification.

Bidder bears all costs of preparing and submitting the quotation.

CSD registration: Register on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database before submitting the bid.

Tax compliance: Submit a valid tax clearance certificate or SARS-issued verification PIN.

SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): Declare if any director, shareholder, or controlling person is employed by the state or has a relationship with the procuring institution.

SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form): Claim points for specific goals; must be completed and signed.

Bidder's Eligibility Form A: Declare that the bidder is not under procurement prohibition, not bankrupt, not engaged in corrupt practices, and that all information is true.

Certified copies of directors' ID (not older than six months), CIPC document, and shareholding certificate (showing % shareholding) are required to claim specific goals.

The bidder must be an OEM, authorised distributor, or authorised by the OEM to supply, configure, and support the robot. Submit documentary proof (ownership certificate, authorisation letter, or chain of authorisation letters as applicable).

Preference points for specific goals: 10 points for 51% historically disadvantaged person ownership, 5 points for 51% historically disadvantaged women ownership, 5 points for 51% historically disadvantaged youth ownership. Proof required via CIPC document, share certificate, and certified ID copies of directors.

Minimum 12-month warranty covering hardware, sensors, and actuators. Includes technical support and staff training. Quotation valid for 90 days from closing. Contract formalised only when a letter of intent or formal contract is executed. MICT SETA reserves the right to cancel, withdraw, or negotiate with preferred bidders.

Bidder must be an OEM, authorised distributor, or authorised by the OEM/distributor to supply, configure, and support the solution. Documentary proof of accreditation or authorisation is required.

Stage 2: Only bidders meeting Stage 1 qualify for price and specific goals evaluation using the 80/20 preference point system.