Panel appointment for installation and maintenance of local and international leased lines and services (ethernet, dark fibre, best effort layer 2) – SENTECH, 5-year term

Closing date: 05 November 2026 at 12:00 PM.

Briefing session: Non-compulsory, held on Microsoft Teams on 21 October 2026 at 10:00 AM. Bidders wishing to attend must email [email protected] before end of business on 20 October 2026. Microsoft Teams app must be downloaded.

Questions raised post-briefing will be consolidated and shared with all bidders at least 7 calendar days before closing.

Bidding procedure enquiries:

• Contact: Norman / Amukelani
• Telephone: +27 11 471 4579 / 4443
• Email: [email protected]

Technical enquiries:

• Contact: Norman / Amukelani
• Telephone: +27 11 471 4443 / 4579
• Email: [email protected]

Submission address (tender box): Sentech SOC Ltd, Sender Technology Park, Radiokop Ext 3, Honeydew, Johannesburg.

Submission method: electronic via the Sentech eTender Portal (30MB file size limit) or by hand into the tender box at Sentech Offices, Octave Road, Radiokop Ext 3, Honeydew, Johannesburg (working hours 08:30–15:30).

Closing time: 05 November 2026 at 12:00 PM.

Late, telegraphic, telephonic, telex, facsimile or email bids will not be accepted.

Two-envelope system: Envelope One (Technical Proposal) and Envelope Two (Financial Proposal) must be sealed separately, then placed together in one outer sealed envelope marked with: For Attention: HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Bid Reference No, TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS, closing date and time, bidder's name and address.

Envelope One: Original Technical Proposal plus a soft copy (PDF on USB or similar) containing the complete response. No financial information allowed in Envelope One.

Envelope Two: Original Financial Proposal (pricing schedule/schedule of rates) plus one copy and a soft copy (PDF on CD or USB).

Combining technical and financial information in one envelope leads to automatic disqualification.

Bidders must complete and sign all returnable documents, initial every page, and include a table of contents with verified page numbers.

Returnable documents (all mandatory, must be completed and returned):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid) – cover page and bidder details.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) – discloses any state employment or connection.
• SBD 5 (National Industrial Participation Programme) – NIP obligations.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form) – claims B-BBEE points.
• SBD 6.2 (Declaration for Local Production and Content) – if applicable.
• Resolution of Board of Directors for bid participation.
• Resolution of Board of Directors to enter into consortia or joint ventures (if applicable).
• Certificate of Authority for Joint Ventures (if applicable).
• Record of addenda to tender documents.
• Valid original tax clearance certificate.
• B-BBEE certificate.
• Completed and signed Tender Data.
• Completed and signed Service Level Agreement (in Envelope Two).
• Proof of compliance with tender specifications.

Bids must be submitted on official forms only; photocopying permitted, but retyping or redrafting is prohibited.

Bid validity: 90 days from closing.

Evaluation stages:

1. Administrative responsiveness – all returnable documents must be complete and signed.
2. Technical evaluation – mandatory criteria (must comply with all) and functional criteria per section.
3. Risk assessment – bidders may be disqualified based on identified risks.
4. Appointment onto panel – bidders achieving minimum functional scores and passing risk assessment are appointed.

Minimum qualifying scores (functional):

• Section A (Ethernet): 17 out of 23 points.
• Section B (Dark Fibre): 18 out of 24 points.
• Section C (Best Effort Layer 2): 35 out of 46 points.

Bidders failing to achieve the minimum score for a section will not be evaluated further.

Preference point system: PPPFA applies (80/20 or 90/10 as per regulations).

Automatic disqualification: failure to submit a financial proposal (if required), or involvement in corruption, fraud, bribery, collusion, or attempting to influence Sentech employees.

Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers, in whole or in part, or not appoint any supplier at all, at its sole discretion.

Sentech SOC Ltd (a Schedule 3B State-Owned Company and licensed Electronic Communications Network Service provider) seeks to appoint a panel of service providers for the installation and maintenance of local and international leased lines and services, on an as-and-when-required basis, for a period of five (5) years.

The bid is structured into three sections; bidders may bid for one, multiple, or all sections, with separate submissions for each:

• Section A: Ethernet (including Layer 2 Ethernet, Metro Ethernet, and related solutions)
• Section B: Dark Fibre
• Section C: Best Effort Layer 2

Services include planning, supply, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of connectivity between Sentech's identified locations.

Capacities generally range from 2 Mbps to 10 Gbps, but not limited to this range.

Ability to provide connectivity to rural areas is required.

Solutions may include multi-data transmission services such as microwave links.

No guarantee of work or minimum volume is implied; work is quotation-based.

Pricing format: schedule of rates / pricing schedule as per Envelope Two.

Performance security: required within 30 days of contract award, amount as specified in Special Conditions of Contract (SCC).

Payment terms: payments made within 30 days of invoice submission, in Rand.

Bid validity: 90 days.

No bid security mentioned.

No financial capacity or turnover thresholds stated.

Tax compliance: bidders must submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or a printed TCS certificate. If no PIN, a Central Supplier Database (CSD) number must be provided. For consortia/joint ventures/subcontractors, each party must submit a separate TCS PIN or CSD number.

No bids will be considered from persons in the service of the state, or companies/close corporations with directors/members who are in the service of the state.

B-BBEE: bidders must submit a valid B-BBEE certificate (or sworn affidavit for EMEs/QSEs as applicable) to claim preference points. Sentech complies with the DTI codes of good practice.

Local production and content: if the bid falls under a designated sector, bidders must complete SBD 6.2 and meet the stipulated minimum threshold (threshold not specified in the document).

CIDB grading: not required for this bid (no construction works).

Objective criteria: Sentech may not award to bidders who, in the preceding five years, failed to perform satisfactorily on a previous project with Sentech or any organ of state, wilfully neglected or failed to comply with a public sector contract, or have been blacklisted or charged with tax non-compliance, fraud, corruption, or dishonesty.

Transformation plan: Sentech may request a B-BBEE transformation plan with timelines and milestones; must be submitted within 10 working days of the written request, failing which appointment may be withdrawn.

Evaluation stages: administrative responsiveness, technical evaluation (mandatory and functional criteria), risk assessment, and appointment onto panel.

Minimum functional scores: Section A – 17/23, Section B – 18/24, Section C – 35/46.

Bidders failing to meet mandatory criteria or minimum functional scores will not be evaluated further.

Risk assessment may disqualify bidders based on identified risks.

Automatic disqualification for combining technical and financial proposals, or for corruption/fraud/collusion.

Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers, in whole or in part, or not appoint any supplier at all.