Internet service provider (ISP) tender for data lines, voip, and mimecast services

• Background: The IPP Office, established by the Department of Electricity and Energy, National Treasury, and DBSA, manages the procurement of new electricity generation capacity.
• Current need: DBSA, supporting the IPP Office, seeks an ISP to provide enterprise-grade data lines, 3CX VoIP, and Mimecast Email Archiving services for 36 months.
• Service location: IPP Office operates independently from DBSA at Bylsbridge Office Park, Centurion. Services will be contracted by DBSA but delivered directly to and managed by IPP Office.
• Objective: Appoint an ISP for fully managed, end-to-end services ensuring high availability and resilience.

• Closing date and time: 31 July 2026 at 23:55 (Telkom time).
• Compulsory briefing session: Online via Microsoft Teams on 17 July 2026 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Registration link required.
• Clarification deadline: Queries must be submitted to [email protected] at least three working days before submission day.
• OneDrive link request deadline: 30 July 2026 at 16:00 Johannesburg time.
• Bid validity period: 120 calendar days from closing time.

• For tender queries and submission link requests: Email [email protected].
• No telephonic questions will be answered.
• All communications must be directed to the DBSA Supply Chain Management Unit via the specified email.

• Submission method: Electronic submission only via a OneDrive link provided by DBSA. No physical, faxed, or emailed bids accepted.
• How to get the link: Request the submission link by email to [email protected], quoting the RFP number. Requests accepted until 30 July 2026 at 16:00 Johannesburg time.
• Deadline: Bids must be submitted by 31 July 2026 at 23:55 (Telkom time). Late bids will not be considered.
• Required forms: All bids must be submitted on the official forms provided – not to be re-typed.
• Returnable documents: Must include all compulsory schedules and documents listed in Part C (e.g., SBD forms, B-BBEE certificate, CSD report, tax compliance proof). Failure to include may result in disqualification.
• Disqualification risks: Bids will be disqualified if late, incomplete, not on official forms, or if mandatory documents (CSD registration, tax compliance, B-BBEE proof) are missing.
• Bid validity: Bids must remain open for acceptance for 120 calendar days from closing time.

1. Must attend compulsory briefing session, 2) Must be registered on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database (CSD), 3) Must have valid Tax Compliance Status PIN from SARS, 4) Must submit a B-BBEE status level verification certificate or sworn affidavit, 5) Must demonstrate at least 1 year of relevant ISP service experience, 6) Must achieve minimum 70% score in functionality evaluation, 7) Must not be listed on Register of Tender Defaulters, 8) Must not have had a DBSA contract terminated for non-performance in last 18 months.

Scope: Appointment of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to supply fully managed services to the IPP Office for 36 months.

• Services Required:

• Data Lines: 2x 200Mb enterprise-grade fibre data lines with Internet breakout via different routes for redundancy. Requires failover solution, MPLS breakout, monthly utilisation/uptime reporting, minimum 99.8% uptime, and 6 static public IP addresses.
• Mimecast Archived Email Services: Upgrade from Mimecast A1 to Premium, including advanced email security, cloud archive, DLP, threat intelligence, monthly reporting, and bi-annual reviews with IPPO ICT team.
• 3CX Professional Edition Hosted Solution: Upgrade if required, hosting on ISP VM, supply of 5 Polycom desk phones with configuration/installation.

• Support and SLA:

• 24/7/365 monitoring, maintenance, and support.
• Access to 24/7 call centre with defined response/resolution times: Priority 1 (Critical) – 30 min response, 4 hr resolution.
• SMS/email notifications for faults.

• Location: IPP Office at Bylsbridge Office Park, Building 9, Centurion.
• The ISP must ensure uninterrupted service continuity, high availability, and resilience.

• Bidders must submit a detailed plan demonstrating alignment with the scope covering Data Lines, Mimecast Archived Email, and 3CX VOIP.
• Scoring: 20 points for comprehensive coverage of all three elements; partial coverage scores lower.

• Company experience: Must demonstrate experience in providing ISP services. Minimum 1 year required; more years score higher (up to 10 points for 3+ years).
• Track record: Submit contactable reference letters for similar services within last 5 years. More references score higher.
• Resource experience: Provide CVs for proposed team members showing experience in Voice and Data Connectivity. Average years of experience scored.
• Qualifications: Submit relevant qualifications for at least three team members.

• Bidders must promptly notify DBSA in writing of any discrepancies, ambiguities, errors, or inconsistencies found in the RFP.
• DBSA will correct such issues and provide updates to all bidders without attribution.

• Pricing must be submitted in a separate folder (Folder 2).
• Refer to Annexure A1 for the detailed pricing schedule.
• Bidders must notify DBSA promptly of any pricing errors discovered after submission.

• Pricing submission: Submit pricing in Folder 2 (Pricing proposal). Refer to Annexure A1 for pricing schedule.
• Evaluation: Price carries 80 points under the 80/20 principle. The bidder with the lowest overall price in Stage 3 is recommended, subject to compliance.
• Errors: Bidders must promptly notify DBSA of any pricing errors discovered after submission (excluding clerical errors).
• Currency: All costing must be in South African Rand (ZAR).

Mandatory for South African bidders:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD): Must be registered and provide summary report. If not registered, must submit business registration, directorship/membership/identity numbers, and tax compliance status with bid.
• Tax Compliance: Must submit Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN issued by SARS or a printed TCS. Can apply via SARS e-filing.
• B-BBEE: Must submit a valid B-BBEE status level verification certificate or sworn affidavit. EMEs (annual revenue ≤ ZAR10 million) require certificate from independent auditor/accredited agency.
• For consortia/joint ventures: Each party must submit separate proof of tax compliance/CSD number.
• Foreign suppliers: Must answer questionnaire; if no South African presence/income, tax compliance from SARS not required.
• General compliance: Bidders must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and tender conditions. Non-compliance may result in disqualification.

• No specific health and safety requirements are stated in the extracted text.

• General Conditions of Contract (GCC) apply, as set out in Part C.
• Bidder responsibilities: Examine RFP fully, ensure bid accuracy, comply with laws, submit all compulsory documents.
• B-BBEE requirements: EMEs must submit certificate from independent auditor; others must submit B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• Intellectual property: Bidders retain IP rights in their bids but grant DBSA license to reproduce for evaluation.
• DBSA rights: Reserves right to disqualify bidders, cancel process, negotiate, reject non-compliant bids, and vary terms.
• Governing law: South African law applies; bids must be in English and priced in ZAR.

• The evaluation criteria are defined in clause 26 and include Qualifying Criteria, Functional Criteria, and Price and Preferential Points Assessment.
• The process uses the 80/20 principle (80 points for price, 20 for B-BBEE) as per PPPFA 2022.
• Detailed functionality scoring is provided in the standard evaluationCriteria section.