Accredited face-to-face snake handling training for 12 saws employees in upington (RFQ 4408b/26)

Closing

• Date: 03 November 2026
• Time: 11:00

Briefing session

• None scheduled; date, time and venue are not applicable.

Bid validity

• 60 calendar days after the closing date.

Enquiries

• Department: SCM Acquisition Department
• Organisation: South African Weather Service
• Email: [email protected]

Submission

• Method: email
• Submission email: [email protected]

Service delivery

• Upington, Northern Cape
• Training is delivered face-to-face at the service provider's premises in Upington, on a date agreed between the parties.

Submission method

• Electronic submission by email only.
• Submission email: [email protected]
• Closing: 03 November 2026 at 11:00.
• Bids received after the closing time are not accepted.
• Bid validity: 60 calendar days from the closing date.

Format

• Use the official forms supplied; retyped versions are not accepted.
• Initial every page of the bid.
• The successful bidder signs a written contract form (SBD 7) on award.

Returnable documents

• Annexure A (Invitation to Bid): completed and signed supplier information and declaration.
• SBD 3.3 (Pricing Schedule for Services): completed pricing.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): discloses state employment or relationships with the procuring institution.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form): completed and signed only where preference points are claimed.
• Annexure i (POPIA Supplier Notice and Consent): consent to processing of personal information.
• Proof of CSD registration, with the CSD registration number.
• SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN, or a printed TCS certificate, or a CSD number where no PIN is available.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate, or a certified copy of a sworn affidavit, for points claimed.
• Valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing.
• Valid Performing Animals Protection Act (PAPA) permit.
• Signed teaming agreement where the bid is a joint venture, consortium, trust or partnership.
• Proof of the subcontracting arrangement where subcontracting is used.

Disqualification risks

• Late submission.
• Incomplete or unsigned standard bidding documents.
• Failure to evidence any mandatory requirement.
• Tax matters not in order with SARS.
• Bidder, directors or members in the service of the state.
• Listing on the Register for Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers.
• Any attempt to influence the award decision.

Four-phase evaluation

1. Phase 1 — SCM compliance: completeness and correctness of the returnable documents.
2. Phase 2 — Mandatory requirements: COIDA Letter of Good Standing and PAPA permit. Bidders who do not evidence compliance are not evaluated further.
3. Phase 3 — Functional evaluation: scored out of 100.
4. Phase 4 — Price and specific goals: 80/20 preference point system.

Functional scoring (100 points)

• Facilitator CV, years of experience as a snake handling handler: 40 points (0 = none; 10 = 1–2 years; 20 = 3–4 years; 30 = 5–6 years; 40 = 7–8 years).
• Contactable references from clients previously trained in snake handling: 30 points (0 = none; 15 = one detailed reference letter; 30 = two or more detailed reference letters).
• Training programme / course content: 30 points (0 = none; 30 = programme submitted).
• Minimum qualifying score: 70/100 to proceed to Phase 4.

Reference letters

• Must be on the previous client's letterhead and state the company or institution name, contact person, contact details, a brief description of the snake handling training provided, and be signed and dated.

Preference points (Phase 4)

• Price: 80 points.
• Specific goals (B-BBEE status level): 20 points.
• Total: 100 points.
• Award goes to the bidder scoring the highest points.
• B-BBEE points: Level 1 = 20; Level 2 = 18; Level 3 = 14; Level 4 = 12; Level 5 = 8; Level 6 = 6; Level 7 = 4; Level 8 = 2; non-compliant = 0.
• Points for specific goals are forfeited if the supporting proof is not submitted with the bid.

Due diligence

• SAWS may conduct site visits, reference checks and request further information before award or at any time during the contract.

Scope

• One (1) day of face-to-face snake handling training for 12 SAWS employees.
• Venue: the service provider's premises in Upington; the provider supplies the training venue.
• The provider supplies refreshments, including lunch.
• Focus on safety procedures and best practice to prevent accidents and ensure safe operation.
• Required outcome: participants identify snakes and safely handle or relocate snakes away from the workplace to a place of safety.

Programme content

• Introduction to snake handling: purpose of the training, importance of handling safety, types of snakes likely to be encountered.
• Basic biology and behaviour: snake anatomy, behaviour of different species, recognising aggression or stress.
• Safety protocols: protective clothing (gloves, long pants, closed-toe shoes), safe approach and handling procedures, emergency procedures for snakebite.
• Tools and equipment: snake hooks, tongs and tubes; maintenance and storage of foldable tongs, foldable hook, snake bag or bucket, safety glasses, snake poster and a canvas bag for the tools.
• Hands-on training: supervised handling of non-venomous snakes, gradual introduction to venomous snakes for experienced handlers, simulation of emergency scenarios.
• Venomous snake identification: identifying local venomous species and distinguishing them from non-venomous snakes.
• Continued education and support: access to experienced handlers for guidance, and encouragement of regular practice.
• Certification: assessment by written test and practical demonstration, with a certificate of competency issued on successful completion showing issue date and validity.
• Documentation: records of attendance, assessments and incidents, plus training manuals or handbooks for participants.

Delivery summary

• Location: Upington
• Service: snake handling training
• Quantity: 12 candidates

Facilitator experience (40 points)

• A CV for the facilitator must be submitted, showing years of experience as a snake handling handler.
• 0 = none; 10 = 1–2 years; 20 = 3–4 years; 30 = 5–6 years; 40 = 7–8 years.

Contactable references (30 points)

• Reference letters from companies where the bidder has delivered snake handling training.
• 0 = none provided; 15 = one detailed reference letter; 30 = two or more detailed reference letters.
• Each letter must be on the previous client's letterhead and state the company or institution name, the contact person, contact details, a brief description of the snake handling training provided, and must be signed and dated.

Training programme (30 points)

• The bidder must attach the training programme or course content.
• 0 = none provided; 30 = programme or course content submitted.

Qualifying threshold

• Bidders must score 70 or more out of 100 on the functional criteria to proceed to price and specific goals evaluation.

Form

• SBD 3.3, Pricing Schedule for Services (Annexure G), must be completed.
• All prices in South African rand and inclusive of VAT.

Required entries

• Ceiling price for the total estimated time to complete all phases, covering all expenses and VAT inclusive.
• Confirmation of whether any costs fall outside that ceiling price, with details if so.
• Cost breakdown of the ceiling price by cost component, VAT inclusive.
• Period required to commence the project after acceptance of the bid.
• Confirmation of whether quoted rates are firm for the full project period; if not, the basis of adjustment (for example CPI).

Payment

• Settlement within 30 days of receipt of invoice, unless otherwise stated or agreed before award.

Pricing

• Prices in South African rand and inclusive of VAT.
• SBD 3.3 (Pricing Schedule for Services) must be completed.
• A ceiling price covering the total estimated time for all phases and all expenses, VAT inclusive, must be indicated.
• A cost breakdown of the ceiling price by cost component (VAT inclusive) must be provided.
• Bidders state any costs not included in the ceiling price.
• Bidders state the period required to commence the project after acceptance of the bid.
• Bidders confirm whether rates are firm for the full project period; if not, the basis of adjustment (for example CPI) must be given.

Payment

• Invoices are settled within 30 days of receipt, unless otherwise stated or agreed by both parties before award.

Financial standing

• SAWS may request the bidder's latest audited financial statements before award to confirm financial stability; failure to provide them may result in rejection of the bid.

Registration and tax

• Registered on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database (CSD); the CSD registration number must be provided.
• SARS tax matters in order: a Tax Compliance Status PIN, or a printed TCS certificate, or a CSD number where no PIN is available.
• Consortia, joint ventures and subcontractors each submit their own TCS certificate, PIN or CSD number.
• Foreign suppliers with no South African tax obligations complete the foreign supplier questionnaire in Annexure A.

B-bbee

• A valid B-BBEE certificate, or a certified copy of a sworn affidavit for EMEs and QSEs, must be submitted to claim preference points.
• Points claimed without supporting proof are forfeited.

Mandatory

• Valid Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Employment and Labour (COIDA).
• Valid Performing Animals Protection Act (PAPA) permit.

Exclusions

• No bid is considered from a person in the service of the state, or from a company whose directors or members are in the service of the state.
• Listing on the Register for Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers disqualifies the bidder.

Accreditation and premises

• The service provider must be accredited by the relevant body and must have approved operational premises with the infrastructure to deliver the training; a due diligence site visit is carried out before award.

Statutory basis

• Section 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the employer to provide a safe working environment and to eliminate hazards where possible.
• Snakes at SAWS offices and infrastructure sites present a serious hazard and a high risk of snakebite; training is the primary mitigation.

Training content on safety

• Protective attire for handling: gloves, long pants and closed-toe shoes.
• Procedures for approaching and handling snakes safely.
• Emergency procedures to follow in the event of a snakebite, including correct first aid.
• Simulation exercises for emergency scenarios.
• Supervised handling of non-venomous snakes, with gradual introduction to venomous snakes only for experienced handlers.
• Ability to describe a snake accurately to medical staff so the correct treatment can be given.

Compliance evidence

• Valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Employment and Labour.
• Valid Performing Animals Protection Act (PAPA) permit.

Governing conditions

• The RFQ and any resulting contract are subject to the National Treasury General Conditions of Contract (GCC, revised July 2010) and to the Special Conditions of Contract.
• Where the Special Conditions conflict with the GCC, the Special Conditions prevail.
• SAWS may exclude bidders who do not comply with the Special Conditions.

Service delivery

• Services are rendered face-to-face at the service provider's premises in Upington, on a date agreed by both parties.

Service level agreement

• On written notification of award, the successful bidder must conclude an SLA with SAWS, forming part of the supply agreement.
• The bidder must provide a scorecard showing how its service offering is measured against the SLA objectives.

Subcontracting

• Proof of the subcontracting arrangement between the main bidder and the subcontractor must be submitted.

Payment

• Invoices are settled within 30 days of receipt, unless otherwise stated or agreed before award.

SAWS rights

• SAWS is not bound to accept any offer and may reject bids that do not meet the specifications or that carry incomplete standard bidding documents.
• SAWS may request further information after closing, conduct site inspections, decline to award where the price is not market related, decline award where tax matters are not in order, reject a bidder with a proven corrupt or fraudulent act, award in whole or in part, and run reference or background checks.
• SAWS may cancel the bid before award where the need falls away, funds are no longer available, no acceptable bids are received, or there are material irregularities in the process.
• Bidders bear their own costs of attending briefings, site visits or presentations and of preparing and submitting bids; proposals become the property of SAWS and are not returned.
• Bidders indemnify SAWS against third-party claims of patent, trademark or industrial design infringement.
• Personal information in submissions is processed in line with POPIA and the SAWS POPIA policy.

Preference point system

• 80/20 system applies (price 80 points, specific goals 20 points, total 100).
• Points are awarded for price and for specific goals.
• Award goes to the bidder with the highest points.

B-BBEE status level points

• Level 1: 20
• Level 2: 18
• Level 3: 14
• Level 4: 12
• Level 5: 8
• Level 6: 6
• Level 7: 4
• Level 8: 2
• Non-compliant contributor: 0

Claiming

• Points for specific goals must be claimed on SBD 6.1 and supported by proof submitted with the bid; without proof the points are not claimed.
• SAWS may require a bidder to substantiate any preference claim before adjudication or afterwards.