The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has issued Auction 0010556467 for the supply of seventy (70) new server units to enhance data centre capacity ahead of the 2026/27 Local Government Elections. This strategic procurement targets accredited technology partners capable of delivering Intel-based, Windows Server-certified infrastructure with long-term operational reliability.
Tender Overview and Strategic Purpose
The IEC seeks to strengthen its ICT environment to support free, fair, and transparent electoral processes. The appointed service provider will supply fully assembled, rack-mountable servers with:
- Minimum 5-year OEM warranty and 10-year product lifespan
- Intel Xeon Scalable or AMD EPYC processors
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 certification
- Redundant power supplies and cooling systems
- TPM 2.0 security chipsets and SANS IEC 60950 compliance
Technical Specifications by Server Category
Bidders must quote for three standardized categories using a single brand:
- Category 5 (30 units): 2×16-core 4.0GHz processors, 4TB RAM (upgradeable to 8TB), 480GB SSD RAID 5, 14x10Gb Ethernet ports
- Category 3 (24 units): 2×8-core 3.5GHz processors, 2TB RAM (upgradeable to 4TB), 480GB SSD, 4x10Gb Ethernet ports
- Category 2 (16 units): 2x Quad-core 3GHz processors, 512GB RAM (upgradeable to 1TB), 480GB SSD, 2x10Gb Ethernet ports
Mandatory Compliance and Accreditation
Proposals must include:
- Active OEM reseller authorization letter with distributor proof if applicable
- Technical Bid Response Sheet (Appendix A) completed in full
- Pricing Schedule (Appendix B) with VAT-inclusive, firm pricing for 180 days
- Five contactable references for similar server delivery projects
- Product lifecycle documentation confirming 10-year availability
- OEM delivery lead time confirmation for 8-week delivery window
Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Framework
Bids undergo multi-stage assessment:
- Stage 1: SBD4 disclosure, CSD registration, tax compliance verification
- Stage 2: Key qualifying criteria including technical response, pricing, and warranty documentation
- Stage 3: Technical scoring (minimum 75% threshold) covering references, experience, datasheets, and lifespan
- Stage 4: 90/10 preference point system for B-BBEE status level allocation
Submission Requirements and Platform Access
All bids must be submitted exclusively via the VotaQuotes eProcurement portal: https://votaquotes.elections.org.za. No email, postal, or hand-delivered submissions will be accepted. Bidders must register and be approved on the platform before submitting. The two-envelope system applies: technical and commercial proposals submitted separately with all supporting documentation uploaded before closing.
Related opportunity: EHC Seeks Three Kiosk Computers and Two Laptops in Germiston
Contact Information and Document Access
For enquiries, contact Bridget Ndlovu at 012-622-5700 or ndlovub@elections.org.za. All queries must be submitted through the VotaQuotes platform; responses will be published publicly. Virtual briefing session: Wednesday, 08 April 2026 at 11:00. Download the full tender document: Auction 0010556467 – Server Capacity
Delivery address: Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157. Payment within 30 days per PFMA regulations upon invoice approval.
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