Invitation to Bid: COR8027 / 2025D — Provision of Prepaid Internet Services

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the opportunity, scope, preparation guidance, and tips for a competitive submission.

Key Tender Details

• Tender / Reference: COR8027 / 2025D

• Department / Entity: Department of Correctional Services (DCS)

• Bid Description: Provision of Prepaid Internet Services

• Place of Work / Deployment: Correctional facilities under DCS jurisdiction across South Africa

• Publication / Opening Date: 10 October 2025

• Closing / Submission Deadline: 10 November 2025, 10:00 AM

• Contact / Enquiries:
    Name: Supply Chain Management
    Email: supplychain@dcs.gov.za
    (or as specified in the tender documents)

• Compulsory Briefing / Site Visits: (Check the tender docs; not explicitly listed)

• Special Conditions: None listed (N/A)

• Documents Available: Full tender package with service specifications, network requirements, terms and conditions

Why This Tender Matters

1. Mandatory Communication Infrastructure
   Prepaid Internet services may be essential for correctional facilities — for inmate communication systems, facility operations, administration, or controlled access systems.

2. Scale and Network Reach
   Because DCS operates nationwide, providers must have broad network footprint and capability to serve remote locations.

3. Controlled / Prepaid Model
   The “prepaid” aspect implies strict bandwidth control, usage monitoring, payment mechanisms, and possible technical throttling or quotas.

4. Long-Term Network Partnering
   Winning this contract may position your company for other DCS or governmental network services in prisons or secure environments.

5. Technical and Security Sensitivity
   Internet services in correctional environments must comply with high levels of security, content filtering, monitoring, and reliability — raising the bar for technical competence.

Scope of Work & Key Deliverables

While the full specification resides in the tender documents, the scope is expected to involve:

• Provision of prepaid Internet connectivity (mobile, fixed, or hybrid) to DCS facilities

• Bandwidth allocation, quotas, and management

• Content filtering, access controls, and security (firewalls, filtering, monitoring)

• Network uptime and service level guarantees (SLAs)

• Installation, configuration, and on-site connectivity

• User management, reporting, and usage logs

• Support and maintenance services over the contract period

• Payment / voucher / credit system to manage prepaid usage

• Training for DCS staff on user management and system controls

• Compliance with government ICT, cybersecurity, and data protection policies

Because this is an open tender, DCS likely wants proposals covering all technical, logistical, and commercial elements of the service.

Who Should Bid / Eligibility Criteria

Potential bidders should ideally:

• Be licensed ISPs or network service providers with wide coverage

• Demonstrate capability in prepaid or controlled-access Internet systems

• Show track record in deploying secure, monitored network services (perhaps in institutions or government)

• Have infrastructure to handle multiple remote sites (backhaul, redundancy)

• Offer robust security, filtering, logging, and monitoring capabilities

• Provide strong support, maintenance, and escalation services

• Be financially stable to invest in multiple site roll-outs

• Have compliance with governmental ICT standards, data security, and possibly BEE credentials

Likely Evaluation / Selection Criteria

Although the tender’s annexures will define final criteria, these are probable areas of evaluation:

Your proposal should address each area with clarity and evidence.

Steps to Prepare a Strong Bid

Here’s a structured approach to preparing your tender response:

1. Download & Review the Full Tender Documents

Ensure access to all annexures, technical specifications, forms, and terms & conditions.

2. Attend Any Briefing / Site Visit

If a briefing is compulsory, attend to clarify site conditions, network challenges, and technical constraints.

3. Survey or Assess Facility Needs

If possible, gather data about the DCS sites: distances, existing infrastructure, power, backhaul availability.

4. Design Network & Prepaid System Proposal

Define your approach:

• Connectivity technology (fiber, wireless, LTE, satellite, hybrid)

• Prepaid voucher / credit system mechanics

• Bandwidth allocation, shaping, throttling strategies

• Content filtering, firewalling, logging

• Control dashboards, administration interfaces

• Reporting, alerts, and usage tracking

5. Implementation & Rollout Plan

Phased deployment, installation methodology, site coordination, testing procedures, fallback plans.

6. Support, Maintenance & SLA Proposal

Define tiers of support, response times, escalation paths, downtime allowances, replacement strategies.

7. Compliance, Security & Data Protection

Include cybersecurity plans, encryption, user control, data privacy safeguards, compliance with local laws like POPIA.

8. Pricing / Commercial Model

Provide transparent pricing: base connectivity, cost per unit bandwidth, voucher system costs, maintenance costs, margin definitions.

9. Corporate Credentials & Experience

Include case studies, staff qualifications, network ownership or partnership details, references.

10. Returnables / Compliance Forms

Fill in all required declarations, tax documents, BEE certificates, company registration papers, etc.

11. Review & Submission

Use the compliance checklist in the tender, ensure formatting, and submit by 10 November 2025, 10:00 AM by the method required (portal or physical).

Potential Risks & Mitigation

Value-Added Ideas to Enhance Your Bid

• Propose adaptive bandwidth upgrades as facility demand grows

• Include a self-service portal for DCS to manage vouchers, monitor usage, and allocate credits

• Offer offline caching or local content servers to reduce backhaul load

• Provide fault-tolerant or redundant links for critical sites

• Present analytics & insights dashboards on usage trends and optimization

• Suggest training modules for DCS staff on network management

• Offer cost-sharing or volume discounting over extended contract durations

These innovations convey forward-thinking and partner-alignment, which can impress evaluators.

Closing Thoughts & Call to Action

The COR8027 / 2025D tender is a strategic, high-responsibility opportunity for ISPs or network service providers capable of deploying prepaid, secure, controlled connectivity across correctional facilities. It combines technical challenge, scale, and security sensitivity — ideal for firms that can deliver robust, reliable, and managed Internet solutions.

Key to success:

• Demonstrate deep technical competence and scalability

• Present a prepaid model that’s transparent, manageable, and secure

• Show strong delivery, support, and security credentials

• Value-add through usability, training, dashboards, redundancy

• Be realistic in pricing and risk margin