Support contract for ESKOM telecommunications bme equipment install base, spares holding and network management system

The extracted document is a Quality Control Plan / Inspection Test Plan (QCP/ITP) template, not the bid submission pack. It contains no submission method, address, closing time, or returnable forms list.

• QCP/ITP template fields: contract/order number, subcontractor order number, QCP number, scope of work, item/plant/material description, revision number and date.
• Approval block: signatures required from the contractor/supplier, subcontractor (where applicable), Eskom, and the Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) where applicable.
• Intervention point legend used in the plan: Hold Point, Witness Point, Surveillance (S), Verification (V), Document Review, AP (document requires approval), IN (information only), T1/T2 (100% or sample testing), A1/A2 (100% or sample inspection), W1/W2 (100% or sample witness), R1/R2 (100% or sample document review).
• Plan rows require: activity number, description/requirement, date, supplier and Eskom intervention points, statutory/non-statutory category, inspection and test method, controlling document, acceptance criteria, AIA/NOBO and internal/TPI inspection columns, and records.

The QCP/ITP must be approved by the contractor/supplier, the subcontractor where applicable, Eskom, and the Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) where applicable.

• Each activity must be classified as statutory (S) or non-statutory (N).
• Where an Approved Inspection Authority or Notification Body (NOBO) is involved, its inspection and verification role must be reflected in the plan.
• Third Party Inspection (TPI) and internal inspection responsibilities must be distinguished for both supplier and Eskom.

The agreement covers information relating to the supply of network equipment on an as-and-when-required basis, supporting the establishment of a support contract for the Eskom Telecomms BME equipment install base, spares holding and Network Management System (the Project).

Closing

• Closing date and time: 5 November 2026 at 10:00 (SAST).
• Time is determined by the Telkom telephone time signal and strictly enforced.
• Late tenders are returned unopened.

Compulsory site visit / clarification meeting

• A site visit and/or clarification meeting may be stipulated as compulsory in the Tender Data.
• Date, time and venue: as stated in the Tender Data.
• Attendance is compulsory; failure to attend results in disqualification.

Clarification requests

• Written queries must be sent to the NTCSA Representative before the closing date.
• Responses are published on the platforms where the enquiry was advertised.
• Bidders must allow NTCSA reasonable time to respond and reasonable time for consequential adjustments.

Addenda and extensions

• Addenda are published in the same media as the enquiry; bidders must monitor the NTCSA Tender Bulletin and NT e-Tender Portal for changes to the closing date and time.
• Extensions requested to accommodate addenda may be granted and will be published.

Enquiries

• Contact: the NTCSA Representative named in the enquiry documents
• Role: sole channel for all tender communication
• Email: as stated in the Tender Data
• Telephone: as stated in the Tender Data

Communication rules

• All communication must be in writing, in English, and in a format that can be read, copied and recorded.
• Queries may not be directed to any NTCSA official other than the NTCSA Representative.
• NTCSA accepts no responsibility for non-receipt of communications.

Submission address

• As stated in the Tender Data (tender box at the designated tender office).

Submission channel

• Paper submission only: the complete original tender plus one complete hard copy must reach NTCSA by the closing date and time.
• Facsimile or email submission is not accepted unless the Tender Data states otherwise.
• Delivery point, tender box location and any permitted alternative channel are given in the Tender Data.
• Time is South African Standard Time (GMT+2); the closing time is set by the Telkom telephone time signal and is strictly enforced.
• Proof of posting or courier delivery does not prove delivery; NTCSA accepts no responsibility for postal, courier or transit delays, or for tenders delivered to the wrong location.
• NTCSA staff may not place a tender in the tender box on a bidder's behalf.

Packaging and marking

• Submit the original and the copy as separate sealed packages marked "ORIGINAL" and "COPY"; if an electronic copy is requested, package it separately and mark it "ELECTRONIC COPY".
• Seal the packages together in an outer package marked "Confidential".
• Each package must show on the outside: the NTCSA submission address, the Invitation to Tender number, the bidder's name and physical address, and the email address and telephone number of the authorised signatory.
• Tenders must be in English, completed in ink (not pencil), and signed by a duly authorised person.
• Corrections must be initialled by all signatories; correction fluid or tape may not be used.

Returnables

• Acknowledgement Form: confirms receipt of the enquiry documents and states whether the bid covers the whole or part of the works, services or supply.
• Mandatory tender returnables: must be submitted by the closing date and time; returnables required for contract award must be in place before award.
• All returned documents, forms, data and schedules must be fully completed, and certificates, registrations and proofs must be valid and current for the whole tender validity period.
• Authority to act as agent: an authenticated copy is required where an agent bids for a principal.

Disqualification risks

• Original tender or the copy not submitted in paper form; neither may be supplied after the closing date and time.
• Late receipt, or delivery outside the designated tender box or facsimile machine.
• Omission of mandatory documents or information by the required deadline.
• Failure to meet a stipulated requirement for designated materials and thresholds.
• Failure to attend a compulsory site visit or clarification meeting.
• Non-compliance with the basic compliance requirements, which makes the tender non-responsive.
• Refusal to accept NTCSA's correction of arithmetical errors.

Evaluation sequence

1. Basic compliance check: confirms the tender meets the enquiry's basic compliance requirements before detailed evaluation.
2. Mandatory returnables and designated materials: tenders missing mandatory documents or failing designated material thresholds are disqualified.
3. Functionality: where functionality applies, bidders are scored against the functionality criteria and must reach the minimum threshold stated in the Tender Data to proceed.
4. Financial analysis: NTCSA assesses the financial risk of contracting with the bidder; if mitigating factors are absent, insufficient, or the risk is too high, or the bidder rejects them, the bidder is not considered for award.
5. Price evaluation: assessed against the criteria in the Tender Data, taking into account factors such as CPA, FOREX, commodity increases, discounts, NPV and forecast invoicing rates.
6. Specific Goals: scored against supporting documentation submitted with the tender.

Scoring and ranking

• Preference points are allocated on the 90/10 or 80/20 Price and Preference point system.
• A bidder who does not meet the Specific Goals or does not submit the required proof by the closing date and time is not disqualified if otherwise acceptable, but scores zero for Specific Goals.
• Price score and Specific Goals score are added and bidders ranked highest to lowest.
• Minimum functionality threshold: as stated in the Tender Data.

Other evaluation rules

• Objective criteria under section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA may be applied; they must be stipulated in the enquiry, and functionality and B-BBEE scorecard elements may not be used as objective criteria.
• Reverse e-auction may be used in certain enquiries; where it applies, bidders submit a complete tender without prices and any prices included are disregarded.
• Arithmetical errors: the amount in words prevails over figures; the highest-ranked tender is checked for decimal point errors, incomplete pricing schedules or bills of quantities, incorrect unit rate × quantity totals, and incorrect addition. The bidder is asked to confirm or accept corrected prices, and the tender is rejected if the bidder does not correct or accept the correction.
• Award may be made to a bidder who did not score the highest points only in terms of section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA.
• NTCSA may negotiate with one or more selected bidders under its approved procurement policies.

SHEQ systems

• Bidders must prove to NTCSA's satisfaction that safety, health, environmental and quality systems, policies and capabilities are in place by the deadline stated in the enquiry.
• All costs and personnel associated with SHEQ must be reflected in the tender.

Documentation quality

• The Acknowledgement Form must be completed and submitted, stating whether the bid covers the whole or part of the works, services or supply.
• All returned documents, forms, data and schedules must be fully completed, and certificates, registrations and proofs must be valid and current for the entire tender validity period.
• Bidders must check the enquiry documents on receipt and report discrepancies or omitted documents to the NTCSA Representative.
• NTCSA does not compensate bidders for preparation, submission, testing or negotiation costs.

Pricing rules

• Rates, prices and the tendered total must include all duties, taxes (including VAT) and other levies payable by the successful bidder, applicable 14 days before the closing date and time.
• Prices must be in South African Rand unless the Invitation to Tender instructs otherwise; part payment in other currencies may be allowed under the selected conditions of contract, using the stipulated exchange rate and base date.
• Rates and prices are fixed for the contract duration with no contract price adjustment except as provided in the enquiry.
• Where cataloguing is required, the Pricing Schedule must include a cataloguing line item, which NTCSA pays for.

Price evaluation and corrections

• Price is evaluated against the Tender Data criteria, taking account of CPA, FOREX, commodity increases, discounts, NPV and forecast invoicing rates.
• The amount in words prevails over the amount in figures.
• The highest-ranked tender is checked for decimal point errors, incomplete pricing schedules or bills of quantities, incorrect unit rate × quantity totals, and incorrect addition.
• The bidder is asked to confirm the tendered prices or accept corrected prices; the tender is rejected if the bidder does not correct or accept the correction.
• Corrections follow the enquiry rules: a line-item total error from incorrect multiplication is corrected by adjusting the rate; a misplaced decimal point in a unit rate is corrected by keeping the quoted line-item total; an error in the total of prices is corrected by revising selected item prices and rates to reach the tendered total.
• A clarification requiring a price breakdown may not change prices or the substance of the tender, except to confirm correction of arithmetical errors; the corrected total is binding once accepted.
• Specific Goals are scored on supporting documentation; missing proof by closing scores zero points but does not disqualify an otherwise acceptable bid.
• Price and Specific Goals scores are added and bidders ranked highest to lowest.
• Objective criteria under PPPFA section 2(1)(f) may be applied only if stipulated in the enquiry; functionality and B-BBEE scorecard elements may not be used as objective criteria.

Pricing

• Rates and prices must include all duties, taxes (including VAT) and other levies payable by the successful bidder, as applicable 14 days before the closing date and time.
• Prices must be quoted in South African Rand unless the Invitation to Tender instructs otherwise; part payment in other currencies may be provided for in the selected conditions of contract, using the exchange rate and base date stipulated.
• Rates and prices are fixed for the contract duration and are not subject to contract price adjustment except as provided in the enquiry.
• Where cataloguing is required, the Pricing Schedule must include a cataloguing line item.

Security and insurance

• If a performance bond or demand guarantee is required, the bidder must nominate at least two financial institutions from NTCSA's list of approved institutions that it is likely to approach.
• Insurance provided by NTCSA may not cover the full requirements of the conditions of contract; bidders should obtain qualified insurance advice.

Payment and price adjustments

• Price evaluation takes account of CPA, FOREX, commodity increases, discounts, NPV and forecast invoicing rates.
• Arithmetical corrections follow the enquiry rules: the amount in words prevails over figures, and the corrected total of prices is binding once accepted by the bidder.

Eligibility

• Bidders must meet the eligibility criteria in the Tender Data and must not be restricted from doing business with NTCSA or any State-Owned Company; ineligible bidders are disqualified.
• Bidders must comply with applicable legislation and regulatory instruments, including National Treasury Instruction Notes, CIDB Regulations for construction works, dtic designated local content and production requirements, PPPFA Regulations, the Amended B-BBEE Codes, COIDA, the OHS Act, and NTCSA's SHEQ requirements.

Sheq

• Bidders must prove to NTCSA's satisfaction that safety, health, environmental and quality systems, policies and capabilities are in place by the deadline in the enquiry.
• All SHEQ costs and personnel must be reflected in the tender.

CIDB

• Where CIDB grading is a qualification criterion, bidders must be registered with the CIDB at the closing date and time, or be capable of registration within 21 working days after closing.

Integrity

• Misrepresentation or falsification of any information, certificate, affidavit or document may lead to disqualification.
• Fraud relating to a B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, or evidence of fronting under the B-BBEE Act, will be reported to the B-BBEE Commission.
• Tenders may be rejected where there is proof of influencing the tender process or award, collusion, bid rigging, or fraudulent activity.

Tender validity

• Tenders must remain valid for the period stated in the Tender Data; bidders must extend validity on request and may not modify their tender when doing so. A bidder who refuses to extend is excluded from further consideration.

Legislative compliance

• Bidders must comply with the OHS Act, COIDA, National Treasury Instruction Notes, CIDB Regulations for construction works, dtic designated local content and production requirements, PPPFA Regulations, the Amended B-BBEE Codes, and NTCSA's SHEQ requirements.
• Bidders must prove that safety, health, environmental and quality systems, policies and capabilities are in place by the deadline in the enquiry, with all SHEQ costs and personnel reflected in the tender.

Skills and participation obligations

• Contract Skills Development Goals apply to contracts or framework orders of 12 months or more that are professional service or service contracts of R5 million or more, or engineering and construction works or design and build contracts at CIDB grade 7 or higher.
• Contract Participation Goals for targeted enterprises apply to GB and CE construction works contracts of at least 6 months where at least 25% of the main contract could reasonably be subcontracted in the CE, EB, GB or ME classes.

Integrity

• Misrepresentation or falsification of information, certificates, affidavits or documents may lead to disqualification, and B-BBEE fraud or fronting is reported to the B-BBEE Commission.
• Tenders may be rejected for influencing the process or award, collusion, bid rigging or fraudulent activity.

Process

• Clarification requests must be in writing to the NTCSA Representative before closing and responses are published.
• Addenda are published in the same media as the enquiry and bidders must monitor the NTCSA Tender Bulletin and NT e-Tender Portal.
• Late tenders are returned unopened; tenders with a notice of withdrawal are not opened; bidder names are announced at the opening and prices may be announced if the Tender Data allows.
• NTCSA will not disclose evaluation, comparison or award recommendation information before award, unless required by law.

Tender validity

• Tenders must remain valid for the period stated in the Tender Data and be extended on NTCSA's request; a bidder who agrees may not modify its tender, and a bidder who refuses is excluded.
• If validity expires before contracts are concluded, the procurement is deemed concluded without award.

NTCSA rights

• NTCSA may accept or reject any variation, deviation or alternative tender, accept the whole or any part of a tender, and cancel the tender before contract conclusion with written reasons on request.
• NTCSA may negotiate with one or more selected bidders under its approved procurement policies.
• NTCSA, its subsidiaries, shareholders, advisers, directors, employees and representatives are not liable for losses, claims or damages arising from participation in the tender or from amendment, termination, suspension or exclusion from the process.

Confidentiality and documents

• All procurement matters must be treated as confidential, and NTCSA documents may be used only to prepare and submit this tender.
• NTCSA will not disclose evaluation, comparison or award recommendation information until after award, unless required by law.

Clarification and addenda

• Queries must be in writing to the NTCSA Representative before closing; responses are published without naming the bidder.
• Addenda are published in the same media as the enquiry, and bidders must monitor the NTCSA Tender Bulletin and NT e-Tender Portal.
• Late tenders are returned unopened; tenders with a notice of withdrawal are not opened.
• Tender opening takes place in the presence of attending bidder representatives; bidder names are announced and prices may be announced if the Tender Data allows.

Performance security

• Where a performance bond or demand guarantee is required, the bidder must nominate at least two NTCSA-approved financial institutions it may approach.

Contract conclusion

• NTCSA notifies the successful bidder before tender validity expires and publishes the award for open tenders.
• Contract documents are revised to reflect addenda, returnables, negotiated changes and other agreed revisions, and both parties sign the original and one copy of the Form of Agreement.

Evaluation stages

• Basic compliance screening before detailed evaluation; failure makes the tender non-responsive.
• Mandatory returnables and designated material thresholds checked; failure disqualifies.
• Functionality scoring against the criteria in the Tender Data, with a minimum threshold to proceed.
• Financial risk analysis of the bidder; unresolved or unmitigated risk removes the bidder from award consideration.
• Price evaluation against the Tender Data criteria, considering CPA, FOREX, commodity increases, discounts, NPV and forecast invoicing rates.
• Specific Goals scored on supporting documentation; failure to meet them or to submit proof by closing scores zero points but does not disqualify an otherwise acceptable bid.

Scoring

• Preference points use the 90/10 or 80/20 system.
• Price and Specific Goals scores are added and bidders ranked highest to lowest.
• Objective criteria under PPPFA section 2(1)(f) may be applied only if stipulated in the enquiry; functionality and B-BBEE scorecard elements may not be used as objective criteria.
• Reverse e-auction may apply; where it does, tenders are submitted without prices and any prices included are disregarded.

Returnable document

• Environmental Management Declaration (Environmental Requirements Proforma): the bidder accepts responsibility for complying with the project Environmental Management Plan/Programme or Environmental Authorisation, the Environmental Requirements for Organizations (240-18100134), all applicable environmental legislation, and Eskom's environmental standards, policies and procedures.

Obligations carried by the declaration

• Report all environmental incidents to Eskom within 24 hours of occurrence.
• Comply with Eskom's environmental transgressions fine system.
• Brief all staff on their environmental responsibilities on site.
• Address any non-conformance issued promptly.
• Apply environmental best practice throughout the contract period.

Records to be handed to the Eskom Project Manager on completion

• Approved project-specific Environmental File.
• Incident and complaint register.
• Herbicide and pesticide register.
• Hazardous substance and solvent registers.

The declaration must be signed by the contractor's authorised representative and countersigned by the Eskom Project Manager, with designation, contact number and date completed.

Scope

• Establishment of a support contract for the Eskom Telecomms BME equipment install base.
• Spares holding for the BME equipment install base.
• Network Management System support.

Environmental performance requirements

• Work must be carried out in line with the project Environmental Management Plan/Programme or Environmental Authorisation.
• Eskom's Environmental Requirements for Organizations (240-18100134) apply to the contractor.
• Site records must be maintained for incidents and complaints, herbicides and pesticides, and hazardous substances including solvents.
• The approved project-specific Environmental File must be kept on site and submitted to the Eskom Project Manager at project completion.

Environmental compliance

• Compliance with all applicable environmental legal and other requirements.
• Compliance with Eskom's environmental standards, policies and procedures where applicable.
• Compliance with the project Environmental Management Plan/Programme or Environmental Authorisation.
• Compliance with Environmental Requirements for Organizations, document 240-18100134.
• Acceptance of Eskom's environmental transgressions fine system.
• Environmental incidents reported within 24 hours.
• Non-conformances remedied promptly.

Returnable form

• Environmental Management Declaration (Environmental Requirements Proforma) — signed acceptance of the environmental obligations above.