External audit services for the inkomati-usuthu catchment management agency — 36-Month contract

Closing

• Date: 24 November 2026
• Time: 11:00
• Venue: bid box, IUCMA Offices, 2nd Floor, ABSA Square Building, 20 Paul Kruger Street, Mbombela, 1200
• Bids are opened in public immediately after the closing time.

Bid validity

• 150 days from the closing date.

No compulsory briefing or site visit is scheduled.

Technical enquiries

• Contact: Ms T Sibiya
• Telephone: 068 0586152 (SBD 1 lists 082 765 3301)
• Email: [email protected] (SBD 1 lists [email protected])

Supply chain management enquiries

• Contact: Supply Chain Management
• Telephone: 013 753 9000
• Email: [email protected]

Enquiry hours

• Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 16:00

Bid submission address

IUCMA Offices

2nd Floor, ABSA Square Building

20 Paul Kruger Street

Mbombela

1200

Invoice address

Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency

20 Paul Kruger Street

Absa Square Building

Mbombela, 1200

Submission method

• Sealed bid deposited in the official bid box only; one original copy required.
• Bid box: IUCMA Offices, 2nd Floor, ABSA Square Building, 20 Paul Kruger Street, Mbombela, 1200.
• Box open Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 16:00.
• Envelope must be endorsed with the bid number, bid description, closing date and time, and the bidder's name and address on the back.
• Courier deliveries: bid description must appear on the delivery note/packaging and the courier must place the document in the bid box.

Not accepted

• Bids received after 11:00 on 24 November 2026.
• Bids sent by email, fax, mail or telegram.
• Bids deposited in the wrong box.

Document format

• Complete the original bid document by hand in non-erasable black ink; typed entries are not permitted.
• No correction fluid or tape; errors must be struck through, initialled and corrected alongside.
• The full original document must be returned — missing pages disqualify the bid.
• No unauthorised alterations to the issued document; any ambiguity must be raised with the contact person before closing.
• No alternative bids will be considered.
• Bind or file the document; separate bulky volumes by evaluation stage (recommended maximum thickness about 3 cm per file).

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder, contact and tax details, signed as the offer.
• Authority to Sign a Bid with a directors'/members' resolution: authorises the signatory to bind the bidder; failure to complete, sign and date it makes the bid non-responsive.
• POPI Act declaration: grants IUCMA permission to use the submitted information for procurement; incomplete or unsigned means disqualification.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): discloses interests of directors, members or shareholders.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form): claims preference points under the 80/20 system.
• Pricing Schedule: total price including VAT.
• Addenda/Notices schedule: confirms receipt of all notices issued, with copies attached.
• Administrative, Mandatory and Technical Responsiveness Checklist.
• CSD registration number and SARS tax compliance status PIN or printed TCS certificate.

Addenda

• Notices are published on www.etenders.treasury.gov.za and www.iucma.co.za; bidders must check both up to three days before closing and attach proof of receipt.

Preference point system

• 80/20 system under the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022 (PPPFA 5 of 2000).
• 80 points for price, 20 points for preference awarded on specific goals.

Evaluation stages

• Administrative and mandatory responsiveness check against the responsiveness checklist; non-responsive bids are not evaluated further.
• Technical responsiveness against the Terms of Reference and the project team requirement.
• Price and preference points scored on the 80/20 basis.
• IUCMA may shortlist bidders for presentations at the bidder's own cost, contact references, and conduct due diligence on the preferred bidder.

Reservation of rights

• IUCMA may award in whole or in part, cancel the bid, negotiate rates, decline the lowest bid, or award to the bid offering best value for money.
• Bids remain valid for 150 days from the closing date; prices must stay firm for that period.

Scope

• Appointment of a service provider to render external audit services to the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency.
• Contract period: 36 months.
• IUCMA is a Schedule 3A national public entity established under section 78(1) of the National Water Act and governed by the PFMA.

Bid content

• A project team must be proposed as part of the bid.
• Pricing must be submitted on the prescribed Pricing Schedule, showing the total price including VAT.
• Detailed terms of reference, evaluation criteria and the responsiveness checklist form part of the bid document and must be addressed in the submission.

Bid documents

• Available in electronic format only, from www.iucma.co.za/opportunities/tenders/ or https://www.etenders.gov.za.
• The full document must be printed on A4 and bound by the bidder.

Inspection and testing

• Pre-bid testing is at the bidder's cost.
• Where inspection is a bid condition, the bidder's premises must be open at reasonable hours for inspection by IUCMA or its representative.
• Inspection, test and analysis costs are borne by IUCMA where the service conforms, and by the supplier where it does not.
• Non-conforming work or supplies may be rejected and must be replaced at the supplier's cost and risk; IUCMA may procure replacements at the supplier's expense.

Pricing form

• Pricing is submitted on the prescribed Pricing Schedule, expressed as a total price including VAT.
• Prices must remain firm for the 150-day validity period.
• No price escalation is allowed except adjustments authorised in the special conditions or on an IUCMA request to extend bid validity.
• Invoices must quote IUCMA's official order number and comply with SARS invoice requirements; payment is by electronic transfer within 30 days of a compliant invoice and monthly statement.

Pricing

• Total price including VAT must be entered on the Pricing Schedule.
• Prices must remain firm for the 150-day bid validity period; no variation except adjustments authorised in the special conditions or on an IUCMA request to extend validity.

Payment

• Electronic bank transfer only.
• Payment within 30 days of receipt of an invoice together with a monthly statement listing all invoices and the total due.
• Invoices must meet SARS VAT Act requirements; IUCMA VAT registration number 4210316156.
• Payment in Rand unless the special conditions state otherwise.

Disbursements and travel

• No costs or disbursements are reimbursed without IUCMA's prior written approval.
• Approved travel is refunded at actual reasonable cost under the IUCMA travel policy; private vehicle rates follow AA or SARS rates.
• Claims must be supported by receipts and kilometre logs.
• Bid and presentation costs are for the bidder's account.

Security and penalties

• Performance security, where required, may take the form of a bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit or certified cheque, and is released within 30 days of completion of obligations.
• Late delivery or non-performance attracts a penalty calculated at the prime interest rate for each day of delay, and may lead to termination.

Registration and tax

• Registration on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database is mandatory; the CSD master registration number must be submitted.
• SARS tax compliance status PIN, or a printed TCS certificate, must be submitted; tax status is verified on the CSD.
• Tax compliance must hold at submission, at award and for the full contract period; no award to a bidder whose tax affairs are not in order.
• Joint ventures, consortia and subcontractors: each party submits its own TCS certificate/PIN and CSD number, plus a signed Bidder's Disclosure.

Eligibility exclusions

• No bid from a person in the service of the state, a company with such a director, or a close corporation with such a member.
• No award to a bidder on National Treasury's Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers.
• Fronting is prohibited; a bidder must rebut fronting indicators within 14 days of notification, failing which the bid or contract may be invalidated and the bidder restricted from public sector business for up to 10 years.

Authority and declarations

• The bid must be signed by a duly authorised person, supported by a resolution; an incomplete or unsigned authority certificate makes the bid non-responsive.
• The POPI Act declaration must be completed and signed or the bidder is disqualified.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure) and SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim) must be completed and returned.
• Foreign suppliers with no South African tax obligations or trading history must complete the foreign supplier questionnaire in SBD 1.

B-bbee

• Preference points are claimed on SBD 6.1 under the 80/20 system; points are allocated against specific goals set by IUCMA.

Duration and framework

• Contract period: 36 months.
• Governed by the General Conditions of Contract (Treasury Regulations 16A), the PPPFA, IUCMA's SCM policy and the special conditions; special conditions prevail where they conflict with the general conditions.
• The successful bidder must sign a service level agreement with IUCMA.

Performance and penalties

• Delays must be reported in writing with the cause and expected duration; IUCMA may extend time with or without penalties.
• Late or non-performance attracts a penalty at the prime interest rate per day of delay, and IUCMA may procure substitute services at the bidder's cost.
• Persistent poor performance is notified in writing and can lead to review or cancellation of the contract.
• IUCMA may terminate for default, including corrupt or fraudulent conduct, and may restrict the bidder from public sector business for up to 10 years; the bidder has 14 days to object to a proposed restriction.

Other conditions

• Prices are fixed for the contract except for adjustments authorised in the special conditions.
• No assignment, cession or subcontracting without IUCMA's prior written consent; subcontractors must be disclosed.
• All records, documents and data produced become IUCMA property and may not be used or disclosed without written permission.
• Both parties must keep tender and contract information confidential; third-party consultants must sign confidentiality agreements returned with the bid.
• Contract variations only by written amendment signed by both parties.
• If the parties cannot agree on price or specification changes before contract conclusion, IUCMA may recall the award on 14 days' written notice and award to the next best bidder.
• Incorrect information used to win an award entitles IUCMA to recover all costs, losses and damages.

Preference points

• 80/20 system: 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals.
• Preference points are claimed on SBD 6.1.

Screening

• Bids are first tested against the administrative, mandatory and technical responsiveness checklist; a bid failing any mandatory item is non-responsive.
• IUCMA may request clarification, verify references, run due diligence on the preferred bidder, and call for presentations from shortlisted bidders at their own cost.