Supply of 2 000 cpe routers and 115 core routers for bss integration

Closing date: 17 September 2026. Closing time: 12:00 (noon). Non-compulsory briefing session: 2 September 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams. Bidders wishing to attend must email [email protected] by end of business 31 August 2026. All clarification questions raised after the briefing will be consolidated and shared with all bidders at least 7 calendar days before closing.

SCM and technical enquiries: Norman / Amukelani / Nosipho. Telephone: 011 471 4443 / 4522. Email: [email protected]. Submission address (manual): Sentech SOC Ltd, Octave Street, Radiokop Ext. 3, Honeydew 2024. Electronic submission portal: www.tenders.sentech.co.za.

Submission method: Two-envelope system. Envelope 1 (Technical Proposal) must contain the original technical proposal plus a soft copy on USB as a single PDF. Envelope 2 (Financial Proposal) must contain the original financial proposal (Contract Data and pricing schedule), one copy, and a soft copy on USB/CD as a single PDF. Both sealed envelopes must be placed inside one outer sealed envelope marked: For Attention: HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT; BID REFERENCE NO: SENT/024/2026-27; TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS; CLOSING DATE AND TIME; BIDDER'S NAME AND ADDRESS. Manual submissions: deposit in the tender box at Sentech SOC Ltd, Octave Street, Radiokop Ext. 3, Honeydew 2024 during working hours (08:30–15:30). Electronic submissions: via the Sentech eTender portal (www.tenders.sentech.co.za) with a 30 MB file-size limit. Late submissions will not be accepted regardless of reason. Telegraphic, telephonic, telex, facsimile, and e-mail submissions are not accepted. Bidders must complete and sign all returnable documents, initial every page, drawing and brochure, and include a table of contents with verified page numbers. Both original and electronic signatures are accepted. Combining technical and financial proposals in one envelope leads to automatic disqualification. The financial proposal will only be opened if the technical proposal is responsive. Bid validity: 90 days from closing date.

Three-stage evaluation using the 80/20 preference point system. Stage 1 – Administrative Responsiveness: bidders must submit all documents listed in the List of Returnable Documents, complete all sections in black ink, initial all corrections (no correction fluid), use only the issued bid documents (no retyping), and separate technical and financial proposals. Stage 2 – Technical Evaluation: mandatory compliance with detailed technical specifications for both Core Routers (23.1) and CPE Routers (23.2). Non-compliance with any mandatory criterion results in disqualification. Stage 3 – Price and Preference: financial proposals of technically compliant bidders are ranked by price and B-BBEE preference points (80/20). Risk assessment follows technical evaluation and may disqualify bidders based on dishonesty, adverse references, PEP/adverse media screening, or National Treasury restrictions. Sentech reserves the right not to award to bidders with unsatisfactory past performance (5 years), blacklisting, or convictions for tax non-compliance, fraud, corruption or dishonesty. Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers, in whole or in part, or cancel the bid entirely.

Supply of routers for Business Support System (BSS) integration across FWA and VSAT broadband networks. Quantities: 2 000 CPE routers; 115 Core routers. Core Router mandatory specifications: CPU – Marvell Armada 88F7040 quad-core 1.4 GHz (ARMv8 64-bit); Switch Chip – Marvell 88E6393; RAM – 1 GB DDR4; Storage – 1 GB NAND; Ports – 7 x 1G Ethernet, 1 x 2.5G Ethernet, 1 x 10G SFP+ cage, 1 x USB 3.0; Power – 3 input options (DC jack, PoE-in on port 1, 2-pin terminal), 24–57 V, max 25 W (14 W without attachments); Dimensions – not exceeding 225 x 125 x 22 mm. CPE Router mandatory specifications: CPU – IPQ quad-core 716 MHz; RAM – 128 MB; Storage – 16 MB Flash; Network – 5 x 10/100/1000 Mbps ports; Wi-Fi – 2.4 GHz dual-chain 802.11b/g/n up to 300 Mbps, 5 GHz dual-chain 802.11a/n/ac up to 867 Mbps; Antenna gain – 2.5 dBi (both bands); Power – 24 V 1.2 A adapter (included) or passive PoE 18–24 V on port 1, max 21 W; USB – 1 x USB 2.0 Type A; Dimensions – not exceeding 34 x 119 x 98 mm; OS – RouterOS License Level 4. Bidders must provide data sheets as proof of compliance for every mandatory criterion.

Pricing schedule (SBD 3.1/3.2/3.3 as applicable) must be submitted in Envelope 2. Payment terms: supplier furnishes invoice with delivery note; payment within 30 days of invoice submission; payment in Rand unless Special Conditions of Contract specify otherwise. Performance security: within 30 days of contract award, the successful bidder must furnish performance security of the amount specified in the Special Conditions of Contract, in the form of a bank guarantee/irrevocable letter of credit or a cashier's/certified cheque. Performance security discharged within 30 days after completion of all obligations including warranty. Warranty: 12 months after delivery/acceptance or 18 months after shipment, whichever ends first, unless SCC specifies otherwise. Prices quoted are firm for the contract duration except for adjustments authorised in the SCC. No bid preparation costs are reimbursable.

Mandatory returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and submitted): SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid); SBD 3.1/3.2/3.3 (Pricing Schedule); SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest); SBD 5 (National Industrial Participation Programme); SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim); SBD 6.2 (Local Production and Content – required even though designated sector is marked N/A); SBD 8 (Declaration of Past SCM Practices); SBD 9 (Certificate of Independent Bid Determination); Resolution of Board of Directors for Bid Participation; Resolution of Board of Directors to Enter into Consortia/Joint Ventures (if applicable); Certificate of Authority for Joint Ventures (if applicable); Record of Addenda; Completed and signed Contract Data; General Conditions of Contract (acknowledged). Tax compliance: valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or CSD number; each JV/consortium party must submit a separate TCS PIN/CSD number. CSD registration required. B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit for preference points. No subcontracting requirement (marked N/A). Transformation plan may be requested post-award if bidder does not meet Sentech's B-BBEE goals (submission within 10 working days). Bidders must not be persons in the service of the state, nor have directors/members in the service of the state. All correspondence in English; black ink only; no correction fluid; initial all corrections.

Three-stage evaluation (80/20 preference points). Stage 1 – Administrative Responsiveness: complete returnable documents list, black ink, initialled corrections, no retyping, separate technical/financial envelopes. Stage 2 – Technical Evaluation: mandatory compliance with Core Router specs (23.1) and CPE Router specs (23.2); data sheets required as proof. Non-compliance on any mandatory item = disqualification. Stage 3 – Price and Preference: financial offers and B-BBEE certificates ranked by points. Risk assessment after technical evaluation may disqualify based on dishonesty, adverse references, PEP/adverse media screening, National Treasury restrictions. Objective criteria: Sentech may reject bidders with unsatisfactory past performance (5 years), blacklisting, or convictions for tax non-compliance, fraud, corruption or dishonesty. Automatic disqualification for: failure to submit financial proposal; corruption, fraud, bribery, collusion, or attempts to influence Sentech employees. Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers, in whole or in part, or cancel the bid.