CURRENT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS RFP - CORP 3024 GENERAL 1.1 Question Answer(s) 1.2. Question Answer(s) 1.3 Question Answer(s) I would like to find out how to apply to be an electricity vendor and please forward me an application form, if there is any. I am based in Cape Town and would not be able to attend meeting on the 3 rd of December, in Midrand. There is no need to apply to be a Vendor, we only register suppliers during the awarding stage. Please feel free to attend the clarification meeting, just send me the Acknowledgement form indicating your interest. TECHNICAL QUESTION Are the specifications of this tender Corp 3024 the same as the specifications of that online vending tender that was cancelled early this year? The technical specifications are the same and can be downloaded from the Eskom Prepayment website link: www.prepayment.eskom.co.za/default.asp TECHNICAL QUESTION Where do we find the latest API of d XML Vend? There is not any API for XMLVend. The closest thing to an application programmers interface, is the.war file for the Client on the prepayment web site. (It is called: "Client zipped War file".) This file is an archive file in the RAR format. It contains all the definitions to compile and read the XMLVend messages. But you will have to build a system around it to handle credit, compile the messages, interpret faults, produce receipts & tokens etc. Read the instructions on the web site of how to install it in the Tomcat server as a start. (note it also requires Java JDK which is also on the web site.) You will probably also want to install the Server.war file on a different computer along with the message interceptor so that you can test the full communication with the request and response messages between the two systems. 1.4 Question I want to confirm if all aspects of functionality requirements drafted I think 2010 still applicable for this RFP? Yes, all aspect of the functionality are still applicable. 1.5 Question Answer(s) How many Eskom digital prepaid meter boxes in use at the moment and does Eskom still install new magnet card prepaid meter boxes? Approximately 4million numeric/digital meter boxes installed, the mag-card meters are around 500K and are no longer being installed. 1.6 Question Can a vender choose to present only a number only based vending & customer driven device solution if so are there any specific important points to note?
1.7 Question Vending Agents are expected to demonstrate compliance with both Numeric and Magnetic Use Cases during the evaluation session. The agent may opt to focus mainly on deploying customer driven devices after the contract is awarded, however if need be, should still have the capability to service the magnetic-card meters Please define the contract duration period. 1.8 Question Three (3) years, with an option to extend for one (1) year Please advise where Appendixes A-G are as I cannot find them anywhere on the Eskom website where the documents are posted. The Annexures are available in Tender Bulletin in the folder called FORMS TO COMPLETE, I also attached the documents for you.. COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) 1.9 Question Please advice where D.1 IRP 30 SARS PAY supplier evaluation pack. I cannot locate this document. These documents are available in Tender Bulletin in the folder called FORMS TO COMPLETE. I have also attached for you. 1.10 Question Following the briefing on Wednesday, we are trying to test our client with the test suite server. I have deployed the xmlvend-server application on the cloud and we would now like to try and test our client. In our solution I am struggling to add a proxy to this server. Is there any additional configuration that one must do to be able to use the xmlvend-server. Is it mandatory to configure the SSL for the xmlvend-server to work? Answer Please can you advise how we may use the server to test with our client which is a C# application. (a) Configuring the server correctly in the cloud may be complex. It is recommended that you first install the server and the message interceptor on a local machine to confirm its correct operation, (including the intercept of the request and response messages to confirm their formats are valid). Also note that the server requires the Java JDK (Java development kit) installed as stated on the web site. It will be easiest to use the Java JDK version 5 from the web site. (b) The SSL security will be mandatory before any field rollout but it will not be tested in this evaluation. 1.11 Question (c) The particular development application / platform of the Client is not important and most combinations should work. The only criteria is that the Client can communicate correctly with the server (via the XMLVend protocol), to send the request message and interpret the response correctly. Pages 10 to 13 of Appendix G Technical Submission Evaluation Criteria in the above attachment
1.12 Question makes reference to Section 15 E.g. 15.1.1 of the RFP Section. There is no Section 15.1.1 in the RFP document (View attachment) Please note that Appendix G Technical Submission Evaluation Criteria part is no longer available for this tender, it was part of the Technical Theory which is now the special condition of tender, no longer the Threshold criteria. I have attached the schedule excluding G. COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) I have downloaded the docs and skimmed through them, the solution and technical requirements are possible to achieve with our product. However this seems to be a turnkey RFP, since ESKOM does not only want the vendor to deploy the solution, hardware and manage it but also sign up merchants/agents to use it to perform different functions listed. We can manage the solutioning, interfacing and deployment part of the solution. Is it at all possible to obtain information on existing quality suppliers (even if it is just one) in order to meet the requirement in addition to managing it ourselves as an additional option. We do have one supplier however finalising the due diligence. (might take longer in respect of timing) (Your assistance will really be appreciated) 1.13 Question 1.14 Question 1.15 Question Will appreciate clarity on this to move forward alternatively we would have to manage it ourselves. Unfortunately it is unethical rules to recommend certain suppliers for assistance. It would be unfair for those who are in the similar situation. COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) Please just confirm to me how many file we should submit for this tender. Is it one original plus copies and how many copies. The tender shall be submitted as an original hard copy plus 1 copy (identical to the original). Additional soft copy (CD / USB) containing the prices only in both PDF and excel format (See Price Schedule) should be submitted. The soft copy is not a substitute for hardcopy which must still be provided. Refer pg. 14 of the RFP Refer pg. 16 of the RFP. COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) I need assistance please with the tender for Eskom For the returnables when submitting do i attach a section at the end of all the docs required also do i add the subcontractor bbee with the tenderers bbee for example? Please refer to the list of returnables from the RFP document and the clarification slides, the required forms are available in the folder called Forms to Complete. QUALITY QUESTION (s) Quality Assessment Criteria documents required Section A we do not have an actual QM system certificate. What do we do in this case? PQA Response: Section A consist of two (2) options. Option 1 is for suppliers/ organisations that are ISO 9001 certified. And Option 2 is for suppliers/ organisation that are not ISO 9001 certified. A supplier must submit the following objective evidence of a documented QMS that is not certified but complies with ISO 9001 standard (Option 2):
A.1 Quality Manual (including ISO 9001 mandatory procedures) A.2 Copy of Quality Policy signed by top management. Mandatory Procedure A.3 Procedure for Control of Documents A.4 Procedure for Control of Records A.5 Internal Audits Procedure A.6 Procedures for Control of Nonconforming product or services A.7 Corrective Action Procedure A.8 Preventive Action Procedure. 1.16 Question QUALITY QUESTION (s) What is the requirements for a service based supplier in terms of quality management if you do not subscribe to iso9001? PQA Response: Section A consists of two (2) options. Option 1 is for suppliers/ organisations that are ISO 9001 certified. And Option 2 is for suppliers/ organisation that are not ISO 9001 certified. A supplier must submit the following objective evidence of a documented QMS that is not certified but complies with ISO 9001 standard (Option 2): A.1 Quality Manual (including ISO 9001 mandatory procedures) A.2 Copy of Quality Policy signed by top management. Mandatory Procedure A.3 Procedure for Control of Documents A.4 Procedure for Control of Records A.5 Internal Audits Procedure A.6 Procedures for Control of Nonconforming product or services A.7 Corrective Action Procedure A.8 Preventive Action Procedure. 1.17 Question 1.18 Question... COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) What is the PAYE supplier evaluation pack? Where will I find this? These are in the FORMS TO COMPLETE folder. I have attached for you COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) Do we need to submit company registration documents for this tender? It does not stipulate if we should? Only return the returnables as stipulated in the RFP and the Clarification slides. 1.19 Question Can you please indicate if there are documents available on how sub-agents can be used, and what requirements need to be fulfilled by sub-agents? Eskom only signs contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) with Principal Agents and does not get involved in the business relations with sub-contractors. It is the prerogative of the Principal Agent to determine the terms and conditions for sub-contracting, however the expectation is that these terms should be reflective of the key aspects in the main Eskom contract and SLA (such as the scope of work and all related mandatory functional requirements)..commercial QUESTION (s)
1.20 Question For the Online Vending Agency Tender due on the 18-12-2014, which forms must be completed and handed in, is only the ones under the heading Forms to complete? Read and understand the list of returnables, it will guide you on which forms must be filled in. Most forms are available in Forms to Complete, some you must provide us. 1.21 Question Is there perhaps any update on the resolving the technical problem I was experiencing to get the xmlvend server up and running on my local machine? It looks like you are running the test suite using Tomcat 7. The test suite has been set up using Tomcat 5, try getting version 5 and run your test suite on that version. See the test suite set up instruction from the prepayment website for software required. COMMERCIAL QUESTION (s) 1.22 Question Please advice, for the original file... Do we need a original tax clearance certificate? Do we need original or certified financial statements? Is there a need for i.d documents of the Directors / shareholders? Yes we require the original tax certificate. Yes we require original statements No need for ID Document, only submit names, ID numbers and percentages of the Directors and shareholders as requested in Form A.7 in the Forms to Complete. 1.23 Question The "Online Vendor Functionality document" (Online_Vendor_functionality.pdf) has a table indication Functionality required per Device. Do we have support "Customer Support (PSG)" devices (non vending devices)? 1.24 Question No. Customer Support (PSG) is only for Eskom internal use. This is also highlighted in clause 4.3 Customer Support (Eskom only PSG functionality) in the same document. Vendors must support all the use cases as highlighted for the Operator Driven Devices If we don't have to support Customer Support (PSG) devices does this imply that we don't have to support these use cases: Meter Credit Transfer Token Meter Specific Engineering Token Non-Meter Specific Engineering Token Meter Credit Transfer Token No do not support Meter Specific Engineering Token No do not support Non Meter Specific Eng. Token No do not support 1.25 Question Is generation of magnetic paper token cards mandatory? The Mandatory Requirements for Online Vending Clients and Gateways 1.5 Says that it s NOT (page 13). The document and clause referred to: Minimum Requirements for Acceptance lists the minimum requirements when a specific vending point is deployed in the field. But for the tender evaluation, all the stated use cases, as well as encoding of meter cards and magnetic tokens are required. 1.26 Question Can credit and FBE tokens be written to the plastic magnetic meter cards? Our understanding is that there are only 2 token technology codes. One for magnetic paper tokens and another for the 20 digit token that will be printed on paper. There are only numeric tokens and magnetic paper tokens. The plastic cards are referred to as Meter Cards and they only contain the meter configuration data on track 2. These cards are
swiped to identify a meter when vending and they are only updated with new configuration data as part of the Update Meter Key use case. 1.27 Question 1.28 Question QUALITY QUESTION (s) They do not make mention of this in - 8 Tender Response section (returnables) Therefore does this section need to be included in our response document? For Quality, u need to return : FORM A, FORM B and Quality Assessment Criteria. There is mention of a use case to "Convert numeric tokens to magnetic tokens". When will we be required to do this? This is typically used if a specific vending point cannot create a magnetic token, or the wrong token technology was selected by the vendor when vending a token with all data. All vending transactions also print the paper receipt containing the numeric number and the vendor that has the convert functionality, can then manually enter the numeric 20 digits to convert the token into a magnetic card token for the customer. 1.29 Question Irrespective of the way the Purchase Credit Token token is done (Serial Meter Only, Meter Card Swipe and all data) do we have to look at the TT (token technology) code that comes back to determine if we will be printing a magnetic meter card or printing the 20 digit token? So in other words a user can enter their Meter Serial number only but we may print a magnetic token (due to the TT in the response). 1.30 Question Correct. If a meter is registered in the Eskom database, the Eskom server will decide whether it must create a numeric or magnetic token. The plastic meter card also contains all this data to do a vend. QUALITY QUESTION (s) Question 1 on the Quality Assessment Criteria form where I have to answer 1 or 0 please advise if i need to attach the documents or just answer 1 for yes as the documents is so much The 1 or 0 on the Quality Assessment Criteria (QAC) stand for applicable (1) and not applicable (0). Meaning that if is 0, then the tenderer shouldn t respond to the requirements. 1.31 Question Please could you clarify the functional descriped when using the functionality type; Convert numeric to magnetic token Please describe the type of scenario where this would occur. Our understanding is that the client has a number on a piece of paper and then we need to create a magnetic token. This is not a encode meter card? This is typically used if a specific vending point cannot create a magnetic token, or the wrong token technology was selected by the vendor when vending a token with all data. All vending transactions also print the paper receipt containing the numeric number and the vendor that has the convert functionality, can then manually enter the numeric 20 digits to convert the token into a magnetic card token for the customer. 1.32 Question Do you have a document on how to setup XMLVEND on Linux servers?
The instructions on the web site to set up the test suite is only for Windows and works best with Windows XP, but that is only for testing purposes, not for production use. If your Client server is developed with the.wsdl files and.xsd files from the web sites, the process for an XML web programmer to develop the XMLVend interface, should be similar for Linux and Windows, (it may actually be easier to develop in Linux.) 1.33 Question Is there a clear documentation on what schemas to use when sending SOAP request to xmlvend and what kind of responses should the client expect. A clear API documentation to be exact The.xsd and.wsdl files are the closest thing to an API as they define all the data definitions and the schemas. Also as an example, also look how the.war files are used in the test suite server and client. The Message Interceptor from the test suite, provides the exact validation for all the XMLVend message validations (for request and respond messages). 1.34 Question Are there test values which we can use to test the client The test suite and message interceptor handle all sorts of test values, (valid and invalid). It is important that all developers use the message interceptor in the test suite to validate all their request messages and response processing, instead of developing only for a valid request. Vendors will be tested for invalid request and responses (exceptions) as part of the scoring. 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40
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