5 Reasons Tenders Get Disqualified (And How to Fix Them)

1. The Expired Tax Pin

This is number one. You printed your Tax Compliance Status (TCS) Pin last month. Since then, you missed a PAYE payment. Your status on SARS eFiling changed to 'Non-Compliant'. The Supply Chain Management (SCM) official checks your pin on the closing date, sees red, and puts your bid in the bin.

2. The Unsigned Declaration (SBD 4)

The SBD 4 form is a legal declaration. If it is not signed by a commissioner of oaths (where required) or the director, it is invalid. An invalid declaration means the state cannot do business with you.

3. Late Submission

Closing time is 11:00 AM. Unlike university assignments, there is no grace period. If you arrive at 11:05 AM, the box is sealed. Traffic is not an excuse. Plan to be there an hour early.

4. Missing Pricing Schedule

Sometimes bidders get so caught up in the technical proposal, they forget to fill in the actual pricing schedule. Or they fill it in but don't sign it. A bid without a fixed price cannot be evaluated.

5. Invalid BBBEE Certificate

Submitting a copy of a copy of an expired sworn affidavit. Or an affidavit that wasn't signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. If your BBBEE claim is invalid, you lose the 20 preference points. You might not be disqualified, but you will almost certainly lose on points.

The Fix

Create a 'Compliance File' for every tender. Use our Compliance Checker

to electronically verify you have all the required documents before you seal the envelope.