Appointment of a Service Provider to Provide Wide Area Network (wan) and Hosting Services for the Public Protector South Africa (ppsa) for a Period of 5 Years.

security service that comprises of all required security measures including encryption,

PPSA network, the service must be able to provide the end-user with secure remote

3.3.7. The service provider will be required to submit monthly performance and utilization reports

3.3.8. The service provider will be required to provide a project plan and a project team with a

line with PPSA security policies and will be required to sign-nondisclosure agreements.

3.3.10. The service provider must Protect information from unauthorised, accidental or malicious

3.3.11. The service provider must Adhere to government’s Minimum Information Security

3.3.12. The service provider must sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA)/Contract and allocate

implementation such as installation, configuration and support of the required services

3.3.14. The service provider must establish and maintain incident, problem and change

3.3.15. The service provider must establish and maintain a backup and disaster recovery

functionality and processes for all required PPSA services.

3.3.16. The service provider must train PPSA ICT team on network management tools and

3.3.17. The service provider must provide maintenance and support service for all required

3.4. In summary, the required PPSA services can be broken down as follows:

4.1 The service provider must :

routers. The links and routers must be configured to achieve high availability, responsiveness,

4.1.6 Ceate a network diagram of the solution and update whenever required by PPSA.

4.1.7 In areas where fibre is not available, install two wireless links. This must however be negotiated

OFFICE PHYSICAL ADDRESS REQUIRED WAN NETWORK

5.1.1. Be required to set up, manage, support and maintain the Internet Gateway and the Internet

5.1.3. Be required to provide an internet content filtering system where PPSA can filter content and be

5.2. 2 x Internet breakout line that will provide Internet services to all PPSA offices is required as

6.4 The WAN remote service must use secure protocols such as VPN, tunnelling and encryption.

7.1 The service provider must :

7.2 The service provider must design, develop and support a secure, dynamic and intelligent new

7.4 The website must have a function to upload and download reports.

7.5 The website must have Google analytics and SEO.

7.8 The website must achieve 98% availability.

7.12 The website must incorporate artificial intelligence such as a chatbot.

7.15 The PPSA Communications team must have permanent remote access to the website for the

7.16 The website must achieve the following critical design principles:

7.16.11 The website must have a video player and intergrate youtube

8.1 Phase 1 evaluation: Mandatory requirements

Failure to submit the mandatory requirements will result in automatic disqualification of the

8.1.1 SD-WAN Hosting Platform Infrastructure Ownership - The service provider must provide a

Bidders must ensure that they complete and sign SBD documents as indicated below, and

the documents must be submitted as part of the bid document by the closing date and time:

8.2.5 The bidder must be registered on Central Supplier Database (CSD): (attach the CSD report

Specific goals requirements Required Proof (Copies)

The service provider must score at least 60 points out of 100 points on functionality to

The bidder must demonstrate SD-WAN 3 or more 15

Bidders must submit a project project

Bidders must provide three (3) Submitted

WAN services. (1) separate required service

compliant required service

Each reference letter must

Each reference letter must

The bidder must demonstrate Submitted

separate required service,

reports for each required minimum 99%

The required services are: separate required

• WAN Remote Access report required

Bidders must submit availability

each required service is

Comprehensive Fully addresses 15

The bidder must submit a

QoS proposal all seven (7)

detailed Quality of Service (QoS)

requirements,

proposal describing how QoS demonstrates

will be configured and managed clear

for Wide Area Network (WAN) prioritisation for

and Internet Line services. PPSA

applications,

The proposed QoS solution and provides a

must explicitly prioritise, classify, robust,

and manage network traffic for technically

all PPSA technical and business sound QoS

applications and systems, configuration

approach ensuring optimal performance,

reliability, and availability. Adequate QoS Addresses 5 to 10

Maximum score for Quality of proposal 6 requirements

Service = 15 points. with acceptable

technical detail

and application

Submission Requirements prioritisation

(Substantiation)

Basic QoS Addresses 4 5 The QoS proposal must, at a

proposal and below

minimum, address the following:

requirements,

Network traffic

generic

classification and approach, or

marking (e.g. partial coverage

applications, protocols, of PPSA

ports) applications

Traffic prioritisation and

No QoS No evidence 0 queuing mechanisms

proposal submitted for critical PPSA

submitted systems

Bandwidth allocation

and congestion

management

Latency, jitter, and

packet loss

management

Integration with SD-

WAN and Internet

services

Monitoring, reporting,

and continuous

optimisation of QoS

policies

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

Governance, change

management, and

escalation procedures.

1.5 Security: (30)

Requirement: WAN Service Detailed and relevant 10

The bidder must submit a redundancy

service-specific security information

proposal detailing how the

Fair level of 5

following services will be

relevance

secured to protect PPSA

systems and information: Not submitted 0

WAN Service

WAN Remote Detailed and relevant 10 2. WAN Remote Access

Access redundancy

Service

Service information

Firewall Services

The proposal must clearly Fair level of 5

describe the security controls, relevance

technologies, and processes

Not submitted 0

that will be implemented for each

service. Firewall Detailed and relevant 10

Maximum score for Security = Services redundancy

30 points information

Fair level of 5

relevance

Submission Requirements

(Substantiation) Not submitted 0

For each service listed above,

the security proposal must

include:

Description of security

measures and controls

implemented.

Access control and

authentication mechanisms.

Data protection measures

(e.g. encryption, secure

access).

Monitoring, logging, and

incident response approach.

TOTAL 100

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

8.4 Phase 4 evaluation: Pricing and Specific goals

The applicable preference point system for this RFQ is the 80/20 and shall be awarded for:

(a) Price (80)

(b) Specific Goals (20)

8.4.1 The points scored for the specific goal will be added to the points scored for price and

the total will be rounded off to the nearest two decimal places.

8.4.2 The contract will be awarded to the tenderer scoring the highest points.

8.4.3 If two or more tenders score an equal total number of points, the contract will be

awarded to the tenderer that scored the highest points. for specific goals, and if two

or more tenderers score equal total points in all respects, the award must be decided

by the drawing of lots.

NB: Bidders quotations and proposal must address the entire terms of reference for this RFB.

The PPSA may at its discretion request written clarification on quoted products. Failure to

provide the requested clarification within stipulated time may result in disqualification.

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

PART B

9 General conditions of contracts

9.1 The General Conditions of Contracts (GCC) as set out by the National Treasury will be

applicable in all instances

10 Other bid requirements

10.1 The PPSA reserves the right to disqualify any bidder who does not comply with any one or

more of the required information as indicated below:

10.2 If the bidder/s submit their bids without all the data and information requested.

10.3 Proposal that did not submit mandatory documents stipulated in the RFP document;

10.4 Proposal that fails to comply with the specification.

10.5 Proposal that contains any information that is found to be incorrect or misleading in anyway or

Bidders who submit information that is fraudulent, factually untrue or inaccurate information.

10.6 Bidders who submit incomplete information and documentation according to the requirements

of this RFP document.

10.7 Bidders who receive information not available to other potential bidders through fraudulent

means.

10.8 Service providers must declare any interest it has in an assignment.

10.9 In the event that any conflict of interest is discovered during the assignment, PPSA reserves

the right to summarily cancel the agreement and demand that all information, documents and

property of PPSA be returned forthwith.

10.10 Price quoted on specific assignments should include VAT and disbursements.

11 PPSA reserve the right:

11.1 Not to award or cancel this bid at any time

11.2 To negotiate with one or more Preferred or Reserved Bidders identified in the evaluation

process, regarding any terms and conditions, including price without offering the same

opportunity to any other Bidder who has not been awarded the status of the Preferred or

Reserved Bidder.

11.3 To award in part or in full.

11.4 To award this bid to one or more bidders.

11.5 To negotiate prices of items that are contracted and should these items be available at a

competitive price than the contracted price, PPSA will request the current bidder to reduce

their price to be inline failing which; these will be purchase out of contract.

11.6 To cancel and/or terminate the bid process at any stage, including after the Closing Date and/or

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

after presentations have been made, and/or after bids have been evaluated and/or after the

Preferred Bidders have been notified of their status as such.

11.7 To carry out explanatory meetings in order to verify the nature and quality of the services bided

for, whether before or after adjudication of the bid at bidder’s corporate offices and / or at client

sites if so required.

11.8 To correct any mistakes at any stage of the bid that may have been in the bid documents or

occurred at any stage of the bid process.

11.9 The PPSA is entitled to amend any bid conditions, bid validity period, RFP specifications, or

extend the bid closing date, all before the bid closing date. All bidders, to whom the RFP

documents have been issued and where the PPSA have record of such bidders, may be

advised in writing of such amendments in good time and any such changes will also be posted

on the PPSA’s website under the relevant tender information. All prospective bidders should

therefore ensure that they visit the website regularly and before they submit their bid response

to ensure that they are kept updated on any amendments in this regard.

11.10 The PPSA reserves the right not to accept the lowest priced bid or any bid in part or in whole.

It normally awards the contract to the bidder who proves to be fully capable of handling the

contract and whose bid is functionally acceptable and/or financially advantageous to the PPSA.

11.11 The PPSA reserves the right to request all relevant information, agreements and other

documents to verify information supplied in the bid response.

11.12 The bidder hereby gives consent to the PPSA to conduct background checks, including FICA

verification, on the bidding entity and any of its directors / trustees / shareholders / members.

11.13 No attempt may be made, whether directly or indirectly, to canvass any member of PPSA

employees before the award of the contract.

11.14 Any enquiries must be referred, in writing, to the specified persons.

12 Undertakings by the Bidder

12.1 By submitting a bid in response to the RFP, the bidder will be taken to offer to render all or any

of the services described in the bid response submitted by it to the PPSA on the terms and

conditions and in accordance with the specifications stipulated in this RFP document.

12.2 The bidder shall prepare for a possible presentation should PPSA require such and the bidder

shall be notified before the actual presentation date. Such presentation may include a practical

demonstration of services as called for in this RFP.

12.3 The bidder agrees that the offer contained in its bid shall remain binding upon him/her and

receptive for acceptance by the PPSA during the bid validity period indicated in the RFP and

calculated from the bid closing hour and date such offer and its acceptance shall be subject to

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

the terms and conditions contained in this RFP document read with the bid.

12.4 The bidder furthermore confirms that he/she has satisfied himself/herself as to the correctness

and validity of his/her bid response; that the price(s) and rate(s) quoted cover all the

work/item(s) specified in the bid response documents; and that the price(s) and rate(s) cover

all his/her obligations under a resulting contract for the services contemplated in this RFP; and

that he/she accepts that any mistakes regarding price(s) and calculations will be at his/her risk.

12.5 The successful bidder accepts full responsibility for the proper execution and fulfilment of all

obligations and conditions devolving on him/her under the supply agreement and SLA to be

concluded with PPSA, as the principal(s) liable for the due fulfilment of such contract.

12.6 The bidder accepts that all costs incurred in the preparation, presentation and demonstration

of the solution offered by it shall be for the account of the bidder. All supporting documentation

and manuals submitted with its bid will become PPSA property unless otherwise stated by the

bidder/s at the time of submission.

13 Contract period

13.1 The start date of the project implementation will be confirmed with the successful bidder upon

contract negotiations. The initiative is based on deliverables.

14 General terms and conditions of contract

14.1 Bidders must complete the attached the General Terms and Conditions of the contract.

15 Tax clearance certificate

15.1 Government is committed to reducing supply chain related fraud and ensuring that persons

conducting business with the State are not afforded any scope to abuse the supply chain

management system.

15.2 It is therefore essential to ensure that persons conducting business with the State are tax

compliant when participating in tenders or other bidding processes. On 18 April 2016, the

South African Revenue Service (SARS) introduced an enhanced TCS system aimed at

improving compliance and making it easier for taxpayers to manage their tax affairs.

15.3 Implementation of the tax compliance status system

15.3.1 In order to comply with the new TCS system and the condition of bids that a

successful bidder’s tax matters must be in order, Accounting Officers and

accounting authorities of all PFMA complaint institutions must:

15.3.2 Designated officials, preferably from Supply Chain Management Unit, whose

function will be to verify the tax compliance status of a bidder on the South African

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

Revenue Services’ Tax compliance status system housed on eFilling.

15.3.3 Utilise the SBD1 issued by National Treasury when inviting bids,

15.3.4 As a bid condition, accounting officer or accounting authorities must request

bidders to register on Government’s Central Supplier Database and to include in

their bid their Master Registration Number (Supplier Number) in order to enable the

institution to verify the supplier’s tax status on the Central Supplier Database.

15.4 The CSD and tax compliance status PIN are the approved methods to be used to prove tax

compliance as the South African Revenue Services (SARS) no longer issues Tax Clearance

Certificates but has made provision online, via e-Filing, for bidders to print their own Tax

Clearance Certificates which they can submit with their bids or price quotations.

15.5 Accounting Officers are therefore required to accept printed or copies of Tax Clearance

Certificates submitted by bidders and verify their authenticity on e-Filing. The verification result

will be filed for audit purposes.

15.6 Where a bidder does not submit a tax compliance status PIN but provides a Central Supplier

Database (CSD) number, the accounting officer and accounting authority must utilise the CSD

number via its website www.csd.gov.za to access the supplier records and to verify the bidder’s

tax compliance status. A printed screen view at the time of verification should then be attached

to the supplier’s records for audit purposes.

16 Counter Conditions

16.1 Bidder’s attention is drawn to the fact that amendments to any of this condition of bid by bidders

may results in the invalidation of the bids.

17 Fronting

17.1 The PPSA support the Broad Black Based Economic Empowerment and recognizes that the

real empowerment can only be achieved through individuals and businesses conducting

themselves in accordance with the Constitution and in an honest, fair, equitable, transparent

and legally compliant manner. Based on the above (PPSA) condemns any form of fronting.

17.2 The PPSA, in ensuring that bidders conduct themselves in an honest manner will, as part of

the bid evaluation processes, conduct or initiate the necessary enquiries/investigations to

determine the accuracy of the representation made in the bid documents. Should any of the

fronting indicators as contained in the Guidelines on Complex Structures and Transactions and

Fronting, issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, be established during such enquiry

/investigation, the onus will be on the bidder / contractor to prove that fronting does not exist.

Failure to do so within a period of 14 days from date of notification may invalidate the

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB

bid/contract and may also result in the restriction of the bidder /contractor to conduct business

with the public sector for a period not exceeding ten years. The matter may be reported for

criminal investigation and charges in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt

Activities Act No or any other applicable legislation.

18 Supplier Performance Management

18.1 Supplier Performance Management is viewed by the PPSA as a critical component in ensuring

value for money acquisition and good supplier relations between the PPSA and all its suppliers.

18.2 The contract management framework for the subsequent engagement of service providers on

the panel for the provisioning or rendering of legal services required by the PPSA, comprises

the delivery partner (service provider) appointment letter, the relevant Service Level

Agreement, PPSA Litigation Protocols and Litigation Strategy, as well as the PPSA Supply

Chain Management Procedure Manual.

18.3 The successful bidder shall upon receipt of written notification of an award, be required to

conclude a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the PPSA, which will form an integral part of

the supply agreement. The SLA will serve as a tool to measure, monitor and assess the

supplier‘s performance and ensure effective delivery of service, quality and value-add to

PPSA’s business.

18.4 Successful bidders will be required to comply with the above-mentioned conditions, and also

provide a scorecard on how their product / service offering is being measured to achieve the

objectives of these conditions.

19 Screening

19.1 Acceptance of this bid may be subject to the condition that the successful bidder must be

cleared by the appropriate authorities to render the service within the organ of the state.

20 Conflict of interest, corruption and fraud

20.1 PPSA reserves its right to disqualify any bidder who either itself or any of whose members

(save for such members who hold a minority interest in the bidder through shares listed on any

recognised stock exchange), indirect members (being any person or entity who indirectly holds

at least a 15% interest in the bidder other than in the context of shares listed on a recognised

stock exchange), directors or members of senior management, whether in respect of PPSA or

any other government organ or entity and whether from the Republic of South Africa or

otherwise ("Government Entity")

20.2 Engages in any collusive tendering, anti-competitive conduct, or any other similar conduct,

WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN) AND HOSTING SERVICES - RFB