The National Research Foundation seeks a supplier to supply, deliver, rack and stack 8 high-performance 2U rack servers and 2 SAN64B fibre channel switches, with 3-year warranty and support. Bidders must be top-tier authorised resellers, with proven server and SAN installation experience.
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has invited bids for the appointment of a service provider to supply, deliver, install and configure a new server cluster and storage area network (SAN) infrastructure at its head office in Brummeria, Pretoria. The existing server infrastructure has reached end of life and requires replacement. The scope comprises eight 2U rack-mount servers, each equipped with two Intel Xeon Gold 6544Y processors (minimum 16 cores and 3.6 GHz per processor), 768 GB DDR5 RAM (12 x 64 GB at 5600 MHz), an M.2 RAID 1 controller, two 240 GB minimum hard drives, four dual-port 10/25GbE SFP NICs with SR transceivers, and two dual-port 32Gb PCIe Fibre Channel HBAs, together with power cables, cabling and cable management arms. Two SAN64B switches, each with 32 Gb Fibre Channel ports, are required for compatibility with the NRF's existing IBM storage, along with OM4 LC/LC cabling, rack-and-stack services, and configuration of LUNs and pathing within the existing SAN solution.
The successful bidder will be responsible for supplying and physically rack-and-stacking all hardware, and for configuring the SAN switches and LUNs. Hypervisor installation and server migration will be carried out by NRF IT staff. The supplier must provide 24/7 same-day warranty and maintenance on the hardware, a three-year support period covering the latest firmware and security updates, and a three-year warranty on the servers. Installation must meet agreed deadlines, with penalties applicable under GCC clause 22 for late delivery or installation. Bidders must submit a manufacturer letter confirming top-tier authorised reseller status, manufacturer hardware warranty evidence, and two written references for similar projects completed within the past 60 months, stating contract values. Technical staff must provide CVs demonstrating prior installation of the proposed server and SAN brands, along with relevant qualifications.
The contract runs for three years from signature of the SBD 7.1 contract form. Evaluation follows a two-envelope system: mandatory compliance and functionality criteria are assessed first, followed by price and preference scoring on an 80/20 basis. Bidders must be registered on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database, be tax compliant, hold valid B-BBEE documentation to claim preference points, and provide insurance of at least 5% of contract value or R2 million. Bids are submitted via the National Treasury eTenders portal by 13 November 2026 at 11:00, and the bid remains valid for 120 days. Successful delivery offers the NRF a modernised, high-capacity compute and storage platform supporting its research and digital services.
This tender is suited to ICT hardware suppliers and authorised resellers of enterprise server and storage brands who hold top-tier manufacturer accreditation. Bidders should have a proven track record of supplying and installing enterprise servers and Fibre Channel SAN infrastructure, with two referenceable projects of similar scale in the past five years, and technical staff experienced in the proposed brands. Companies must be CSD registered, tax compliant, and able to provide the required insurance and B-BBEE documentation. Large systems integrators and specialist data centre infrastructure providers are most likely to meet the requirements, though qualifying small and medium enterprises with the necessary accreditations and experience may also be competitive.
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