Supply of Ten (10) Bonding Devices

Sentech, South Africa's state-owned broadcasting and telecommunications infrastructure company, has issued Request for Quotation RFX 6000003808 for the appointment of a service provider to supply ten (10) bonding devices. Issued on 3 November 2026, the RFQ closes on 10 November 2026 at 12:00 and quotations must remain valid for 90 days. Although the tender is categorised under professional services, the substance of the requirement is the supply of networking hardware, as defined in the Scope of Work document. Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers, in whole or in part, or make no appointment at all.

The bonding devices must meet twelve mandatory technical criteria, and bidders that fail to comply with all of them will not be evaluated further. The devices must offer simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and a WAN interface of 1 x 2.5G Multi-Gig Ethernet plus 1 x 1G Ethernet, along with a 1G LAN port. Antenna connectivity must include two RP-SMA Wi-Fi connectors and one SMA GPS connector. Router throughput must reach at least 1 Gbps. The devices must support Docker-based edge computing with 8 GB of internal storage, serve up to 150 recommended users, and include an AP and switch controller (standard, max. 30/50). Power input must cover 100 V to 240 V AC, with a 12 V DC output and consumption of 9 W nominal and 11 W maximum. VPN throughput (SpeedFusion) must be 400 Mbps without encryption and 200 Mbps with 256-bit AES. The devices must also support hot failover, smoothing, bandwidth bonding and SpeedFusion Boost, and carry FCC, CE, RoHS, REACH and TAA certifications. Compliance must be evidenced through manufacturer data sheets, with page references provided in the submission.

Bidders must first pass administrative responsiveness requirements: tax compliance, registration on the Sentech Supplier Database, a quotation on company letterhead, full completion and signature in black ink, and submission by email or the method specified in the RFQ before the closing deadline. Prices must be quoted in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT, and remain fixed for the contract term. Any currency risk must be managed within the bid price. Evaluation follows the 80/20 preference point system, with 80 points for price and 20 for preference, including a functionality component. Preference points are available only to bidders with a valid B-BBEE certificate, scored by black ownership, women ownership and disability status. Bidders must also complete the SBD 4 declaration of interest, which covers any employment by an organ of state, and the Sentech Supplier Consent Form for processing personal information. Sentech reserves the right to negotiate market-related prices and to cancel the bid if agreement is not reached. The total minimum qualifying functional score is not stated in the document, so bidders should seek clarification from the Quotations Administrator before submitting.