SARS awards multibillion-rand tenders

Johannesburg, 14 May 2007

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) this afternoon announced the outcome of the tender process for its container cargo scanner initiative, as well as ICT infrastructure services (also referred to as the voice and data networks tender).

SARS spokespeople previously estimated the value of the two tenders to be at about R750 million and R1.5 billion, respectively.

Today's announcement follows a series of delays and re-issuing of tenders dating back to early last year, with many industry players unhappy with the changing criteria of the tenders, coinciding with Barry Hore's arrival as CIO, and Ken Jarvis' departure.

Scanner tender winners

The acquisition of scanners and identified scanner-related services is part of SARS's drive to secure trade into and out of SA, and southern Africa, and to improve SARS's customs control capabilities, says the service.

The tender consists of seven components, or "towers". Nuctech Company won the fixed, re-locatable, mobile and rail scanners components. American Science and Engineering (ASE) won the compact mobile scanner section.

ASE, together with L3 Communications Security and Detection, won the air baggage scanner and air cargo scanner contract.

Ready to go

The number of scanners, each a multimillion-rand machine, to be procured is not yet known. However, ITWeb previously learned it should be in the region of 12 to 20 units.

SARS will now determine the precise timing and quantities of scanners to be acquired over time, says communications GM Logan Wort.

"We are pleased with the outcome of the tender process and will proceed with the conclusion of contracts and agreements, including the immediate acquisition of the mobile scanner for the Port of Durban."

ICT infrastructure services tender

<B>Announcements by tower for the ICT infrastructure service tender</B>

* Dimension Data and Business Connexion are invited to participate in a best and final offer (BAFO) process for tower one (managed network services).
* Dimension Data and Telkom are invited to participate in a BAFO process for tower two (data carrier services).
* Dimension Data and Telkom are invited to participate in a BAFO process for tower three (voice carrier services).
* Dimension Data has been appointed as preferred bidder for tower four (ISP services).
* GijimaAst has been appointed as preferred bidder and Fujitsu-Siemens as reserve bidder for tower five (workstation services).
* GijimaAst has been appointed as preferred bidder and Mthombo IT Services as reserve bidder for tower six (server services).
* Bytes Document Solutions has been appointed as preferred bidder and Fujitsu-Siemens as reserve bidder for tower seven (workgroup printing services).

The winner of the ICT infrastructure services tender, for the replacement of voice and data networks at the service (re-issued to the industry on 13 September 2006) was also announced this afternoon.

It was also broken into seven towers: managed network services, data carrier services, voice carrier services, ISP services, workstation services, server services, and workgroup printing services.

SARS received 21 bids from 10 separate companies for this tender.

"We will immediately engage with the bidders involved in the best and final offer process to secure a speedy finalisation," states Wort.