Supply and support of comware-based ethernet switches for SENTECH (3-Year contract with 2-Year option)

Closing date: 25 August 2026 at 12:00pm. Non-compulsory briefing session: 10 August 2026 at 10:00am via Microsoft Teams. Bidders wishing to attend must email [email protected] before end of business on 06 August 2026. Questions raised post-briefing will be consolidated and shared with all bidders at least 7 calendar days prior to closing.

Bidding procedure and technical enquiries: Contact persons Norman / Amukelani / Nosipho. Telephone: 011 471 4443 / 4522. Email: [email protected]. Submission address: Sentech SOC Ltd, Octave Street, Radiokop Ext. 3, Honeydew 2024 (bid box) or eTender portal at www.tenders.sentech.co.za. For attention: Head of Supply Chain Management.

Submit bids electronically via the Sentech eTender Portal (www.tenders.sentech.co.za) or by hand into the bid box at Sentech SOC Ltd, Octave Street, Radiokop Ext. 3, Honeydew 2024, before the closing date and time (25 August 2026, 12:00pm). Late bids will not be accepted. Use the two-envelope system: Envelope 1 must contain the original Technical Proposal (with a single PDF soft copy on USB/CD) and all required returnable documents; Envelope 2 must contain the original Financial Proposal (Contract Data and Pricing schedule) with one copy and a single PDF soft copy. Place both sealed envelopes into one outer envelope marked with: 'HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT', bid reference SENT/018/2026-27, 'TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSALS', closing date/time, and bidder's name and address. Do not include any financial information in Envelope 1 – combining envelopes will lead to automatic disqualification. Complete and sign all returnable documents, initial every page, use black ink, do not use correction fluid, and do not retype official forms. Bids must remain valid for 90 days. The eTender Portal has a 30MB file size limit – upload timeously. Telegraphic, telephonic, telex, facsimile, e-mail and late bids will not be accepted.

Evaluation follows a three-stage process: Stage 1 – Administrative Responsiveness: all returnable documents must be completed and returned; all correspondence in English; black ink; no corrections with fluid; all pages initialled; attendance at compulsory briefings (if any); separation of technical and financial proposals. Stage 2 – Technical Evaluation: mandatory eligibility criteria must be met – (a) certified or official partner/agent/reseller of the OEM (confirmation on OEM letterhead); (b) confirmation that offered switches use ComWare network operating system (on bidder's letterhead); (c) confirmation that all equipment will be supported for a minimum of 5 years from purchase (on bidder's letterhead); (d) at least one customer reference where the equipment was successfully implemented (reference letter on customer's letterhead). Bidders failing any mandatory criterion will not be evaluated further. Functional criteria are marked N/A with no minimum qualifying score stated. Stage 3 – Price and Preference: financial proposals of technically responsive bidders are opened and scored using either the 80/20 or 90/10 preference point system. Preference points are awarded for black ownership (up to 8 points under 80/20), women ownership (up to 10 points), and disability (up to 2 points), with evidence required via a valid BBBEE certificate or doctor's note/EEA1 form. Price points are calculated using the formula Ps = 80 or 90

• (1 - (Pt - Pmin)/Pmin). Sentech may also conduct a risk assessment and disqualify bidders based on dishonesty, poor past performance, or financial/operational sustainability concerns.

Supply and support of ComWare-based ethernet switches for a period of 3 years with an option to extend by 2 years. Sentech does not guarantee any procurement – equipment will be acquired on an as-needed basis. Support is required nationally for 8X5XNBD or 24X7X365 in major centres (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban). All equipment must be provided with AC power unless otherwise indicated. The equipment list in the pricing data is for comparative purposes only. The successful bidder must notify Sentech if it requests quotations for equipment with published end-of-sale dates. Pricing schedule includes: 8-port, 24-port, and 48-port Layer-3 ethernet switches with 2x 1/10 Gbps SFP/SFP+ uplinks; 24-port SFP+ Layer-3 switch with 4x QFSP28 uplinks; 1 Gbit/s multimode fibre SFP (qty 50); 1 Gbit/s copper SFP (qty 50); 1 Gbit/s single mode fibre SFP (qty 100); 100 Gbit/s multimode fibre QFSP28 (qty 50); and annual 8X5XNBD support for the switches.

Prices must be quoted inclusive of VAT and all costs, in ZAR, and remain fixed for the full contract duration – no escalation unless provided for in Special Conditions of Contract. Foreign currency quotations are fixed and Sentech is indemnified against currency fluctuations. Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of a valid tax invoice, subject to proper performance, invoice compliance, and PFMA cash flow availability. The successful bidder must furnish a performance security within 30 days of contract award, in the form of a bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit, or cashier's/certified cheque, as specified in the Special Conditions of Contract. The bidder must also provide proof of public liability insurance and professional indemnity (if applicable) before commencement. The bidder must complete the pricing schedule in Part C2 and the Contract Data in Part C1. The bidder must also comply with the National Industrial Participation (NIP) Programme if the contract value exceeds R10 million – submit details to the DTI within 5 working days of award.

Bidders must be tax compliant – submit a valid Tax Clearance Certificate (original, not certified copy) or a SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN, or a CSD number if registered on the Central Supplier Database. Each party in a consortium/joint venture must submit a separate tax clearance. Bidders must not be persons in the service of the state, nor have directors who are. Bidders must not be listed on the National Treasury Database of Restricted Suppliers or the Register for Tender Defaulters. Bidders must complete and submit SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), SBD 5 (NIP Programme), SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form), and SBD 2 (Tax Clearance Certificate application). Bidders must provide a valid BBBEE certificate (in both envelopes). Bidders must complete the Resolution of Board of Directors for bid participation, and if bidding as a consortium/JV, also the Resolution to enter into consortia/JV and the Certificate of Authority for Joint Ventures. Bidders must complete and sign the Contract Data. Bidders must confirm compliance with the PPPFA, PFMA, and all applicable legislation. Bidders must not have been blacklisted by any organ of state or charged with fraud, corruption, or tax non-compliance in the preceding 5 years.