SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT

14 MAY 2007

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CONTAINER CARGO SCANNER INITIATIVE (RFT12/2006) AND ICT INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES (RFT06/2006) TENDERS

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce the outcome of the tender process for its Container Cargo Scanner Initiative (RFT12/2006) as well as for the tender process of the ICT Infrastructure Services (RFT 06/2006).

The CCSI Tender, published in November 2006 invited service providers to become preferred bidders for the provision of seven types of container scanners and related services as well as the immediate provision of a scanner for the Port of Durban. The seven scanner types required are:

• Fixed scanners;
• Re-locatable scanners;
• Mobile scanners;
• Compact mobile scanners;
• Rail scanner;
• Airport baggage scanners; and
• Airport cargo scanners.

The acquisition of scanners and identified scanner-related services is part of SARS's drive to secure trade into and out of South Africa, and indeed Southern Africa, and to improve SARS's customs control capabilities.

After a thorough evaluation process over many months, the Bid Selection Committee has short listed the three companies as the preferred bidders for each of the seven types of scanners:

Bytes Document Solutions has been appointed as preferred bidder and Fujitsu-Siemens as reserve bidder for Tower 7 (Workgroup Printing Services)

The tender objectives and scope sought to:

• Establish one or more sources of supply that would allow SARS to procure Scanners for five years and services for ten years under pre-agreed conditions;
• Be able to procure scanners and services from preferred suppliers as and when SARS business requirements dictate, without any commitment to procure a fixed amount of Scanners or services over the term of any agreement;
• Have pre-determined prices for scanners and charges for services throughout the term of an arrangement with a supplier;
• Achieve economically-viable approaches to updating or changing scanners in order to maximise SARS?s flexibility in keeping abreast of evolving technology for the purpose of countering emerging threats; and
• Identify the specific supplier that was best able to supply, commission and maintain the first scanner at the Port of Durban.

SARS will now determine the precise timing and quantities of scanners to be acquired over time. 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.

The ICT Infrastructure Services (RFT 06/2006) Tender

SARS also today informed bidders of the outcome of the tender process for the provision of ICT Services. This tender was published on 13 September 2006. The scope of RFT 06/2006 was subdivided into 7 segments or towers, each a separately awardable element of the tender. The scope is as follows:

1. Managed Network Services
2. Data Carrier Services
3. Voice Carrier Services
4. ISP Services
5. Workstation Services
6. Server Services
7. Workgroup Printing Services

SARS received a total of 21 bids from 10 separate companies.

Our objectives included:

• To achieve significant cost savings without any degradation in services;
• To use the savings to upgrade ICT Infrastructure at SARS, including SARS's network.

SARS has completed its evaluation of the responses to RFT 06/2006 and is pleased to announce the:

• Selection of preferred and reserve bidders for three (3) of the 7 Towers;
• Selection of a preferred bidder for one (1) of the Towers; and
• Selection of bidders to receive invitations to participate in a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) process in three (3) of the Towers

Announcements by Tower

1. Dimension Data and Business Connexion are invited to participate in a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) process for Tower 1( Managed Network Services)
2. Dimension Data and Telkom are invited to participate in a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) process for Tower 2 (Data Carrier Services)
3. Dimension Data and Telkom are invited to participate in a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) process for Tower 3 (Voice Carrier Services)
4. Dimension Data has been appointed as preferred bidder for Tower 4 (ISP Services)
5. GijimaAST has been appointed as preferred bidder and Fujitsu-Siemens as reserve bidder for Tower 5 (Workstation Services)
6. GijimaAST has been appointed as preferred bidder and Mthombo IT Services as reserve bidder. For Tower 6 (Server Services)
7. Bytes Document Solutions has been appointed as preferred bidder and Fujitsu-Siemens as reserve bidder for Tower 7 (Workgroup Printing Services)

We will immediately engage with the bidders involved in the Best and Final Offer process to secure a speedy finalisation.

The SARS wishes to thank all the bidders who submitted proposals.

ENDS

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA