Intercal-Inforcomm, a joint venture between two Gauteng-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has landed a multimillion-rand maintenance and calibration contract from the Armaments Corporation of SA (Armscor).
Intercal, an accredited maintenance and calibration provider, partnered with black-owned Inforcomm for the tender, which was issued in November.
None of the parties would disclose the full value of the tender. However, Inforcomm MD Andile Tlhoa'ele says it is one of the largest maintenance and calibration contracts from Armscor.
Intercal-Inforcomm will maintain the equipment that is used to provide to repair and maintain national defence electronics and the private communication system, he says.
This ensures quick turnaround times and accuracy of systems for the army when doing repairs and maintenance of electronic systems, he says.
He adds that Inala Technologies previously held the contract. It goes into effect immediately, and will be valid for three years, he says.
Growth boost
Armscor programme manager Geraard Rudolph says Intercal-Inforcomm won the contract based on price and a proven track record.
Intercal was previously a subcontractor for the same contract, while Tlhoa'ele was employed as a technician for the same contract 10 years ago.
Paul Haarhoff, co-owner of Intercal, says the contract will have a big growth impact on the SMEs, and result in the hiring of engineers. "This is the largest contract that Intercal or Inforcomm have ever landed," he says.
Tlhoa'ele argues that the partnership with Intercal was not conceived solely as a black economic empowerment (BEE) deal.
"Our companies bring complementary skills to the 50:50 venture and we already have business dealings in Angola where BEE is not really a factor."
Rudolph says the empowerment criterion, which accounted for 20% of points awarded in the judging of the tender, worked in the companies' favour. "It is unlikely they would have landed the contract individually."
Price accounted for 40% of points, and discriminating criteria, which include ability, accounted for 40%, he says.
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