Strictly Confidential
SOUTH AFRICAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION SOC LIMITED
TENDERERS ARE REQUIRED TO TREAT THE DETAILS OF THIS RFI
ENQUIRY AS CONFIDENTIAL.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
RFI NUMBER: RFI/RAN/14/03
RFI TITLE: REPLACEMENT OF SABC TV BROADCAST AUTOMATION
FOR REACTIVE AND NON-REACTIVE SERVICES
Address:
SABC Auckland Park
Cnr Henley and Artillery Road
Auckland Park
2006
Telephone:
011 714 2089
Contact Person:
Mukondeleli Netshikulwe
Sourcing Analyst: Demand Management
E-mail: NetshikulweML@sabc.co.za
1
Strictly Confidential
EXPECTED TIMEFRAME
TENDER PROCESS
EXPECTED DATES
RFI Issue Date
01 July 2014
Available on SABC Internet
02 July 2014
Briefing Session
N/A
Tender Closing Date
31 July 2014 @ 12h00
The SABC retains the right to change the timeframe whenever necessary and for whatever
reason it deems fit.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
1) Valid Tax Clearance Certificate
2) Valid TV Licence (Company’s and all Directors)
3) Valid BBBEE certificate (from SANAS approved agency)
4) Company Registration Documents
5) Shareholder’s certificates
CONTACT DETAILS OF THE BIDDER:
SUPPLIER: ____________________________________________________________
NAME: ____________________________________________________________
POSTAL ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NO: __________________________________________________________
FAX NO: ____________________________________________________________
E MAIL ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
CONTACT PERSON: ________________________________________________________
CELL NO: ____________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF BIDDER: ____________________________________________________
2
Strictly Confidential
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION / PROPOSAL
USER REQUIREMENT / SPECIFICATION FOR:
REPLACEMENT OF SABC TV BROADCAST AUTOMATION FOR REACTIVE AND
NON-REACTIVE SERVICES.
1.
BACKGROUND
The SABC is South Africa’s National public broadcaster. Its objectives are to provide a
comprehensive range of distinctive programmes and services with the view to inform, educate,
entertain, support and develop culture in all 11 official languages.
Currently, its principal activities comprise of television and radio broadcasting utilising 18 radio
stations and 4 television channels.
The SABC channels on the DTT/DTH platform is a strategically critical project for the SABC as it
not only announces that SABC is a multi-channel multi-platform content provider operating in the
digital domain but, it also provides consumers with more choice and free-to-air services thus
providing an opportunity to aggregate revenue through advertising and sponsorships.
The SABC, with the largest audience share, is a key stakeholder in the DTT/DTH process and as
such is to play a critical role in defining the success of the DTT/DTH platform.
For the SABC to effectively launch the proposed offering; it needs to invest in digital infrastructure
to upgrade its broadcast play-out automation and Ingest facilities.
2.
THE SABC REQUIREMENTS AND SCOPE OF SERVICES
The purpose of this document is to represent the SABC’s user requirements for broadcast play-out
automation.
These requirements are presented in such a way to allow assessment by broadcast technologies
specialists, with the aim of generating appropriate technology solution designs and implementation
plans.
The scope of the document is restricted to the user requirements required to design the Broadcast
Facilities of the Technology Work stream for the DTT/DTH project.
2.1 General Architecture Overview of Current Play-out infrastructure
1. 5 x SD/HD Capable FCC’s playing out a total of 8 channels (5 reactive/3 non-reactive)
2. 5 x SD/HD Capable Ingest areas, tape and file based ingest
3. Miranda Colossus based ingest and play-out automation
4. Miranda presentation switchers
5. Pixel Power Character generator
6. Snell Cygnus router
7. Harmonic Spectrum SD/HD ingest and play-out servers
8. Harmonic MediaGrid Storage Server
9. Pilat TVBMS scheduling system
10. Quantel sQ based TV News production system
11. AVID based post production system
12. EVS based sport production system
3
Strictly Confidential
13. Sony IMX based tape ingest and playout
2.2 The Reactive vs Non-Reactive Final Control Centre (FCC) (for clarification purposes)
REACTIVE FCC
NON-REACTIVE FCC
Manual Interventions for Live Programming
Extensive Graphic Capabilities
No Live Events
Basic Graphic Capabilities i.e. Logo
Manually Scheduled Events
All events pre-programmed in TVBMS
Changes to play-out schedule possible
Play-out schedule fixed
Single service play-out per FCC
Multi Service play-out per SD FCC
High Operator interaction with broadcast
Operator only fulfils monitoring role
High staffing complement per broadcast per
channel (Currently 3 per channel per shift)
Low staffing complement per broadcast per
channel (1 per 3 channels per shift)
Reactive channels are:
 SABC 1
 SABC 2
 SABC 3
 FCC4
 SABC News
Non-Reactive Channels on the DTT platform are:
 SABC 5 - SABC 8
2.3 Requirements
The following are the major requirements of the system and may not be either definitive or
complete.
1. Channel Automation for 5 reactive and 5 non-reactive Channel.
2. SD/HD Ingest and Play-out Channels
3. Aspect Ratio Conversion.
 The ARCing capability of the DTT/DTH STB must be kept in mind when performing
ARCing on 4:3 materials. Reference Sect 4.4.2.2 & 4.4.2.3 on attached SABS DTT
STB spec
4. AFD insertion
5. Loudness levelling/control/monitoring
2.4 Specific Requirements: Final Control Centre
1. The proposal must integrate seamlessly with the existing Pilat Television Broadcast
Management System (TVBMS) and Harmonic Omneon Spectrum play-out and ingest servers.
2. 10 x HD play-out automation Channels
3. 1 x 36TB Expansion of existing Harmonic Media Grid Storage Server (Usable Storage).
4. Logo Inserter per service
5. Character Generator per services
6. 15 x HD automated Ingest. Tape and file based ingest.
7. Low Resolution Browse Server to browse content on the Harmonic Media Grid server.
8. 5 channels Transcoding Farm
9. Automated Play-out File based Quality Control
4
Strictly Confidential
10. Installation
11. Operational and Technical Training
2.5 General Requirements: Reactive and Non-Reactive Channels
1. All video channels must be SD/HD capable
2. Each channel must be capable of transmitting 1 (one) extra language track simultaneously
initially, but the design must cater for expansion of these services.
3. Digital ingest and play-out areas are interdependent and require the ability to communicate
effectively. Any solution should provide the ability to do this, noting that these areas may not be
co-sited.
4. Ability to insert on-screen branding / logos if required by the broadcaster
5. Ability to provide live on-screen graphics (e.g. to notify the audience of a major news event)
6. Ability to provide “as-run” logs back to the scheduling system
7. The play-out automation must have the ability to schedule and play out closed captioning files
synchronized with the primary video/ audio file as scheduled via Pilat TVBMS, with the primary
closed caption file being keyed in the analog transmission for open transmission on the analog
transmitter network
8. Ability to retain content at playout for the purpose of repeating the broadcast of the content
within specified time frames
9. Play out solutions must be scalable to allow for additional video and audio channels
10. The play out automation must be able to automatically receive or “pull” scheduling data from
the Pilat TVBMS scheduling system
11. The solution should provide a cost-effective way of managing repeated content
12. Ability to manage multiple incoming lines of content and deliver them to their appropriate
destinations (live output on channel, local record onto file or tape, remote record onto file or
tape)
13. Ability to broadcast multiple live language tracks with associated M&E and video. Language
tracks to be selectable by the audience.
14. Ability to “loop” content across day parts (for example, to take a 6-hour block of originated
content and loop it three times to make a 24-hour schedule)
15. Ability to provide monitoring services of output and line feeds for Playout, and business units.
16. Ability to reconcile content and associated metadata with the data provided by the channel
scheduling system
17. Ability to raise alarms for unavailable content from the point where agreed delivery is missed.
18. Ability to provide automated quality checking of content against pre-defined parameters
19. Ability to raise alarms for content that has failed any automated quality checking
20. Ability to manage late changes to the schedule (for example, caused by the overrunning of live
events or to cover breaking news)
21. Ability to receive and play out content files from the Quantel sQ based TV News production
system, EVS, AVID and the MediaGrid Storage Server.
22. Ability to schedule and play out content to an IP streaming service
23. Ability to control and monitor multiple playout schedules from a single FCC operator station
2.6 Requirement from Respondents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Information regarding a possible solution to the above user requirements.
A high level logical flow diagram
Technical specifications of the proposed solution
A budgetary cost and time to install estimation of the proposed solution
A cost estimation for the supply and installation of the above system, as well as the estimated
time required for the installation of the solution
Rack space requirements
Power requirements
Heat load of the proposed solution
Technical architecture of the solution
5
Strictly Confidential
TRAFFIC SYSTEM (Scheduling)
Sport FCC
Sport
FCC 9
News
FCC 4
FCC 1
REM 2
DTT 3
DTT 4
TX / Backup
Tx
Backup
Backup
Backup
Backup
Backup
REM 2
Tx
Backup
(SABC1 and DDT 1)
REM 1
DTT 2
REM 2
Tx
DTT 1
(Playout and Channel Branding)
REM 1
SABC 1
(Playout and Channel Branding)
REM 1
SABC 2
FCC 2
SABC 3
FCC 3
Backup
Backup
DTT
C
Tx 2
3 FCC
Presentation
Areas
2 x VTR
FCC’s
ROUTER
6
Strictly Confidential
3.
BRIEFING SESSION
No briefing session required for this project.
4. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
A detailed project plan and high-level timeline is required.
5. COSTING
Please gather the costing of the different elements within your proposed solution to help the
SABC get an accurate costing and assist us by including the following as well:
5.1 The envisaged breakdown of the costing is required.
5.2 The cost of possible options.
5.3 Cost of possible replacement plus hours.
5.4 Indirect costs associated with the delivery of the service
6. EVALUATION CRITERIA
The RFI evaluation is based on the information received. The detailed evaluation criteria will be
applicable in the RFQ / RFP should SABC decide to go this route.
The following evaluation criteria will be used on next phase of the tender process
Evaluation of responses will be done in three major categories, each consisting of several minor
categories and is based on predetermined weightings as follows:
7.

BBBEE Information - (provide BBBEE certificate or a letter from the auditor confirming
your annual turnover)

Price Information - (Detailed Cost Breakdown to be submitted)

Technical Information – (Detailed Technical Solution to be provided)
CONSORTIUMS, JOINT VENTURES AND SUB-CONTRACTING REGULATIONS
7.1 SUB-CONTRACTING
7.1.1 A tenderer will not be awarded points for B-BBEE status if it is indicated in the tender
documents that such a tenderer intends sub-contracting more than 25% of the value of the contract
to any other enterprise that does not qualify for at least the points the tenderer qualifies for, unless
the intended sub-contractor is an exempted micro enterprise that has the capacity and ability to
execute the sub-contract.
7.1.2 A tenderer awarded a contract may not sub-contract more than 25% of the value of the
contract to any other enterprise that does not have an equal or higher B-BBEE status level than the
tenderer concerned, unless the contract is sub-contracted to an exempted micro enterprise that
has the capabilityand ability to execute the sub-contract.
7
Strictly Confidential
7.1.3 A tenderer awarded a contract in relation to a designated sector, may not sub-contract in
such a manner that the local production and content of the overall value of the contract is reduced
to below the stipulated minimum threshold.
7.2 DECLARATION OF SUB-CONTRACTING
7.2.1 Will any portion of the contract be sub-contracted?
YES / NO
7.2.2 If yes indicate:

What percentage of the contract will be sub-contracted....................%

The name of the sub-contractor............................................................

The B-BBEE status level of the sub-contractor.....................................

Whether the sub-contractor is an EME
YES / NO
_________________________
SIGNATURE OF DECLARANT
_________________
RFI NUMBER
___________
__________________________
POSITION OF DECLARANT
___________________________________
NAME OF COMPANY OR TENDERER
DATE
8. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
8.1 Any legal or natural person, excluding any permanent employee of SABC, may make an offer
or offers in terms of this tender invitation. In view of possible allegations of favouritism, should the
resulting tenderer or part thereof be awarded to:
(a) any person employed by the SABC in the capacity of Tenderer, consultant or
service provider; or
(b) any person who acts on behalf of SABC; or
(c) any person having kinship, including a blood relationship, with a person employed
by, or who acts on behalf of SABC; or
(d) any legal person which is in any way connected to any person contemplated in
paragraph (a), (b) or (c),
It is required that:
The Tenderer or his/her authorised representative shall declare his/her position vis-à-vis SABC
and/or take an oath declaring his/her interest, where it is known that any such relationship exists
between the Tenderer and a person employed by SABC in any capacity.
Does such a relationship exist? [YES/NO]
If YES, state particulars of all such relationships (if necessary, please add additional pages
containing the required information):
NAME: …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
POSITION: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
8
Strictly Confidential
OFIFICE WHERE EMPLOYED: ………………………………………………………………………
TELEPHONE NUMBER: ……………………………………………………………………………….
RELATIONSHIP………………………………………………………………………………………
8.2 Failure on the part of a Tenderer to fill in and/or sign this certificate may be interpreted to mean
that an association as stipulated in paragraph 1, supra, exists.
8.3 In the event of a contract being awarded to a Tenderer with an association as stipulated in
paragraph 1, supra, and it subsequently becomes known that false information was provided in
response to the above question, SABC may, in addition to any other remedy it may have:
recover from the Tenderer all costs, losses or damages incurred or sustained by
SABC as a result of the award of the contract; and/or
cancel the contract and claim any damages, which SABC may suffer by having to
make less favourable arrangements after such cancellation.
_________________________
SIGNATURE OF DECLARANT
_________________
TENDER NUMBER
__________________________
POSITION OF DECLARANT
___________________________________
NAME OF COMPANY OR TENDERER
9.
___________
DATE
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS
9.1 The request for information will be used in preparation for the proposal; the SABC assumes no
responsibility for errors or misinterpretation resulting from the use of an incomplete RFI.
9.2 The request for information on the above terms is only for the purpose of obtaining information
for the project and does not confer permission for any other use.
10.
COMMUNICATION
10.1 All questions about the meaning or intent of the Request for Information shall be submitted in
writing to the SABC on the set closing date. Replies will be issued via Addenda through electronic
mail to all parties recorded by the SABC as having received the Request for Information response.
Questions received less than three (3) days prior to the submission date will not be answered. Only
questions answered by e-mail will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be
without legal effect.
10.2 Interested tenderers should promptly notify the SABC of any ambiguity, inconsistency, or errors
which they may discover upon examination of the Request for Information.
11.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURES
The Tenderer shall bear all costs and expenses associated with preparation and submission of its
RFI, and the Corporation shall under no circumstances be responsible or liable for any such costs,
regardless of, without limitation, the conduct or outcome of the bidding, evaluation, and selection
process.
Tenderers are requested to supply (in the tender response documentation) 1 (one) original
hardcopy, 1 (one) copy of the original and a soft copy of the tender document. The equipment list
9
Strictly Confidential
and pricing schedule within the electronic copy shall be a Microsoft Excel 2002 or later version
(editable) compatible (or importable alternative) spread sheet. Pricing submitted in Acrobat is not
acceptable. It must be submitted with the tender on CD ROM media as size demands.
The RFI must be submitted by hand and be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked distinctly with
the RFI number RFI/RAN/14/03. Tenders must be lodged in at the SABC’s reception, Main
Entrance Radio Park building, Cnr Artillery and Henley road, Auckland Park by no later than
12 (twelve) noon on the closing date specified.
END OF RFI DOCUMENT
10