The Supplier Selection Authority (SSA) is expected to complete its selection process for the government seat management tender by the end of this month.
This was announced yesterday by State IT Agency (SITA) CEO Mavuso Msimang, who says the tender will involve in excess of R2 billion worth of work in the public sector.
This update follows the re-issue of the seat management tender (RFT285/1). It was reissued after controversy surrounding the first tender, in which SITA called for bids from original equipment manufacturers only. Local companies argued that this excluded certain black economic empowerment companies and small and medium enterprises.
The evaluation of both the RFT285 (for outright purchase of ICT equipment) and RFT285/1 (for leasing of the equipment) has since been completed.
According to Msimang, SITA recently completed testing the equipment on the offer for RFT285/1 as per the client`s requirement. To date, this is the largest amount of equipment tested in the SITA R&D technology laboratory, he says.
Although he declined to confirm it, he hinted that government departments might initially opt for the outright purchase option, but later on they would probably opt for leasing the equipment.
"This will be motivated by the fact that the departments will soon realise the logistical and financial advantages that come with the leasing model," says Msimang.
Meanwhile, the final SSA recommendations for both tenders are at an advanced stage and are due for completion and sign off next Tuesday. The team handling the evaluations also included SITA and GITOC representatives.
Following the SSA award, SITA will require board approval before the end of August. The next step will be to negotiate with preferred suppliers, followed by the signing of the contracts.
The interim agreement for procurement expires on 30 August, and SITA says it will communicate the measures to be taken between the date of expiry and conclusion of new procurement contracts on the SITA Web site as soon as the information becomes available.
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