The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has invited service providers to submit proposals for the development of an investment and portfolio management system for a business-enablement infrastructure platform it was creating.

The TIA, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, was mandated to enable and support technological innovation across all sectors of the economy to achieve socioeconomic benefits for South Africa and enhance its global competitiveness.

The agency indicated that the investment and portfolio management system would enable its core business processes to be delivered effectively across the investment management value chain.

Proposals would have to include specifications in regards to architecture, technical aspects, interfaces/integrations, management change, software and hardware requirements, as well as implementation.

The TIA indicated that, depending on the proposals received and the prototype chosen, full project implementation planning would start in April.

The agency emphasised that cognisance would be given to the people, process and technology aspects to ensure seamless migration to the new system with minimal disruption to business.

“An aggressive change management and communication plan will be devised to address the cultural, behavioural and end-user training needs for full adoption of the system,” the TIA told Engineering News Online.

To ensure the required technical training was ascertained for the TIA to sustain the system, the necessary capacity requirements would be assessed and gaps identified during the change management process.

During the implementation phase, skills transfer would be offered to the experts that were knowledgeable on all aspects and processes within a particular area in the business units.

Post-implementation support needs were to be determined based on the TIA’s skills and competencies level and, if need be, a post-support and maintenance agreement would be signed while ensuring gradual takeover by the TIA.

The TIA further stated that system maintenance would be attributed to any system enhancements or changes and would be outsourced to the winning vendor.

Interested parties had until February 19 to submit their proposals. This would be followed by an evaluation process to select three shortlisted vendors, who would be called on to deliver presentations prior to a final recommendation to the adjudication committee.

The TIA planned to finalise the bidding process by March 15.