Development of three recognition of prior learning (rpl) toolkits for cathsseta's etqa unit (cook, food handler and kitchen hand)

Closing: 06 November 2026 at 11:00

Publication: 16 October 2026

Enquiry deadline: written enquiries by 30 October 2026

Briefing session: none — no briefing or site visit will be held

Bid validity period: 120 days

No briefing session or site visit will be held for this bid.

Bidding procedure and technical enquiries

• Contact person: Zanele Hlatshwayo
• Email: [email protected]
• Written enquiries must reach CATHSSETA by 30 October 2026.
• Answers to queries are published in a bid clarification register on the CATHSSETA website.

Submission

• Method: online only via the CATHSSETA Tender Portal
• Portal: https://www.cathsseta.org.za/tenders

Submission method

• Online only, via the CATHSSETA Tender Portal: https://www.cathsseta.org.za/tenders
• Physical, hand-delivered, couriered, emailed and faxed bids will not be accepted.
• Bidders must be registered on the portal before attempting to submit.
• Start the upload at least 24 hours before closing to allow for file size and connectivity.
• The portal closes automatically at 11:00 on 06 November 2026; the portal's electronic timestamp is the official timekeeper.
• No late or further submissions are permitted; bidders are responsible for ensuring their submission uploads successfully.
• A bid is only received once the system issues an electronic submission confirmation email.
• The company profile must be completed in full, including the CSD number.

File requirements

• Upload unlocked PDF files, unless a specific template such as an Excel pricing schedule is requested.
• Files must not be corrupted, password-protected or virus-infected; any file that cannot be opened during evaluation is disqualified.
• Label and cross-reference every file to the relevant evaluation section (Technical Proposal, Pricing, Mandatory Documents).

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): completed and signed cover offer.
• SBD 3.3: ceiling price, plus a detailed pricing proposal on the bidder's corporate letterhead showing all costs including VAT.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): discloses state employment and conflicts of interest.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims specific-goal preference points.
• SBD 7.2 Part 1 (Contract Form – Rendering of Services).
• General Conditions of Contract (GCC).
• Valid tax compliance certificate with PIN.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate.
• Company registration documents.
• CSD summary report.

Disqualification risks

• Late or incomplete uploads; unopenable, password-protected or corrupted files.
• Missing or unsigned returnable forms.
• Failure to provide the required tax compliance PIN or CSD number.

Submission

• Bids must be submitted electronically via the CATHSSETA Tender Portal at https://www.cathsseta.org.za/tenders.
• The portal closes automatically at 11:00 on 06 November 2026; its electronic timestamp is the official timekeeper.
• No late or further submissions are permitted; bidders are responsible for ensuring their submission uploads successfully.
• Bidders must be registered on the portal before submitting and are advised to start uploading at least 24 hours before closing.

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), SBD 3.3 (ceiling price plus detailed pricing proposal), SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure), SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim), SBD 7.2 Part 1 (Contract Form – Rendering of Services) and the GCC.
• Valid tax compliance certificate with PIN, valid B-BBEE certificate, company registration documents, and a CSD summary report.

Stage 1 — Functionality (minimum 70/100)

• Bidders scoring below 70 are disqualified from further evaluation.
• Methodology, approach and implementation plan (20 points): fully responsive to all 3 scope elements scores 20; responsive to 2 elements scores 10; responsive to 1 element scores 5; non-responsive scores 0.
• Proof of ETDP SETA RPL Advisor statement of results or OD ETD qualification (40 points); non-submission scores 0.
• Reference letters (40 points): 5 or more qualifying letters scores 40; 3 to 4 scores 20; 1 to 2 scores 10; none or irrelevant letters score 0.

Stage 2 — Price and specific goals (80/20 system)

• Price: 80 points.
• Specific goals: 20 points.
• Award goes to the bidder with the highest overall points.

Specific goals points

• Black People ownership of 51% or more: 8 points.
• Black Women ownership of 30% or more: 4 points.
• Black Youth ownership of 30% or more: 4 points.
• People with Disability ownership of 20% or more: 4 points.
• Points not claimed with the required proof are forfeited.

Process

• The Bid Evaluation Committee evaluates; the Bid Adjudication Committee reviews for compliance and recommends to the Approval Authority.
• CATHSSETA may negotiate price, award part of the contract, reject all bids, or cancel the tender.
• In exceptional, justified cases an award may go to a lower-scoring bidder, provided this complies with the PPPFA and is motivated in the adjudication record.

Scope

• Develop three Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) toolkits for the Occupational Certificates: Cook, Food Handler and Kitchen Hand.
• Toolkits must align with the QCTO curriculum documents for each qualification; the bidder obtains these from the QCTO website.
• Toolkits must be ready for immediate implementation by CATHSSETA and its QCTO-accredited providers.
• The work supports CATHSSETA's QCTO-delegated quality assurance functions.

Toolkit content requirements

• Roles and responsibilities of the RPL Advisor and Evidence Facilitator per qualification.
• Minimum qualifications and competencies for RPL practitioners, per QCTO RPL policy.
• Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) guidelines covering preparation and planning, evidence gathering, and cross-referencing of evidence.
• Types of evidence required per qualification.
• Guidelines on the appeals process for RPL candidates.
• Assessment strategy covering competency assessment procedures and additional evidence for gap training.
• RPL interview and observation instruments.
• RPL templates for providers and candidates.

Deliverables

• Inception meeting with the CATHSSETA ETQA team, a revised project plan and an implementation project report.
• Three complete toolkits, each containing: candidate application form templates; a self-assessment questionnaire aligned to learning outcomes; a Gap Implementation Plan template; PoE guidelines; assessment plan templates; practical, theoretical and workplace experience assessment tools; feedback templates; remediation templates; a mentor report template; an assessment matrix; and a mapping matrix linking assessment tools to curriculum outcomes.
• Three final toolkits in editable electronic format (Microsoft Word and PDF).
• A project close-out report covering activities, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations.
• Workshop reports on capacity-building sessions with QCTO-accredited providers and CATHSSETA Learning Programme Staff, including attendance registers and feedback summaries.

Stakeholder engagement

• Attend an inception meeting with the CATHSSETA ETQA team.
• Engage QCTO-accredited providers during development and validation.
• Submit progress reports in CATHSSETA's prescribed format and intervals.

Timeline

• Submit a detailed project plan (methodology, work breakdown, timelines) within 10 working days of contract award.
• Sign a CATHSSETA confidentiality agreement before starting work.
• Contract period: 12 months from contract signature, covering inception to final acceptance.

Proposal requirements

• Submit a detailed project proposal and implementation plan.
• Provide a proposed methodology covering all activities, work breakdown, costing and timelines.
• Submit CVs of all key personnel assigned to the project.
• The methodology is scored under functionality: fully responsive to all three scope elements (General Requirements, Technical Requirements for RPL Toolkit Development, Stakeholder Engagements) scores 20; two elements 10; one element 5; non-responsive 0.

Project team

• Project Manager/Lead with at least 5 years' experience in project management and RPL-related work.
• RPL Advisor or Assessor with relevant experience in RPL toolkit development.
• Proof of an ETDP SETA RPL Advisor statement of results or an Occupational Certificate: Education, Training and Development Practices (OD ETD) qualification for the lead RPL practitioner.

Reference letters

• At least 5 signed reference letters from current or previous clients for whom the bidder developed curriculum, assessment instruments, RPL tools or similar work.
• Each letter must be on the client's official letterhead, include contact details, be signed and dated, and specify the scope of work, duration and the client's feedback on performance.
• Each letter must be accompanied by the relevant Purchase Order; a letter without its Purchase Order is invalid.
• Reference letters are scored: 5 or more = 40 points; 3 to 4 = 20; 1 to 2 = 10; none or irrelevant = 0.

Personnel

• CVs of all key personnel assigned to the project must be submitted.

Quality assurance context

• The toolkits must align with the QCTO curriculum documents for each occupational qualification.
• The work supports CATHSSETA's QCTO-delegated quality assurance functions: accreditation, monitoring, verification, registration of ETD practitioners, certification, maintenance of the learner MIS through CIMS, uploading learner data to the National Learner Records Database, and management of the DQP and AQP functions.
• The assessment strategy must set out the procedure for assessing competency against all curriculum tasks and the additional evidence required for gap training.

Pricing submission

• Signed costing proposal on the bidder's company letterhead, with all prices inclusive of applicable taxes.
• The costing model must itemise professional fees, workshop venue, workshop facilitation, printing and reproduction, and any other direct or indirect project costs.
• The ceiling price is entered on SBD 3.3.
• Pricing must align with and reflect the scope of services to be rendered.

Pricing format

• Submit a signed costing proposal on the bidder's company letterhead.
• All prices must be inclusive of all applicable taxes.
• The costing model must show all costs, including professional fees, workshop venue, workshop facilitation, printing and reproduction, and any other direct or indirect project costs.
• The ceiling price is entered on SBD 3.3.
• Submitted pricing must align with and reflect the scope of services to be rendered.

Registration and tax

• Valid CSD registration; the CSD number must be provided and the company profile completed in full.
• Valid tax compliance status PIN, or a printed TCS certificate; where no PIN is available but the bidder is on the CSD, the CSD number must be provided.
• Consortia, joint ventures and subcontractors: each party submits its own TCS certificate/PIN and CSD number.
• No bids from persons in the service of the state, companies with directors in state service, or close corporations with such members.

B-bbee

• A valid B-BBEE status level verification certificate or a sworn affidavit (for EMEs and QSEs) must be submitted to claim preference points.

Company documents

• Company registration documents.

Returnable forms

• SBD 1, SBD 3.3, SBD 4, SBD 6.1 and SBD 7.2 Part 1, plus the GCC, must be completed and signed.
• Proof of authority to sign (e.g. a company resolution) must be submitted.

Preference point system

• 80/20 system applies (bid value not exceeding R50 000 000 including all applicable taxes): 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals.

Specific goals and points

• Black People ownership of 51% or more: 8 points.
• Black Women ownership of 30% or more: 4 points.
• Black Youth ownership of 30% or more: 4 points.
• People with Disability ownership of 20% or more: 4 points.

Evidence

• A valid B-BBEE status level verification certificate or a sworn affidavit (EMEs and QSEs) must be submitted to claim preference points.
• Points not claimed with the required proof are forfeited.

Contract period

• 12 months from the date of contract signature, covering inception through to final delivery and acceptance of all toolkits and deliverables.

Obligations

• Sign a CATHSSETA confidentiality agreement before commencing any work.
• Submit a detailed project plan within 10 working days of contract award.
• Submit progress reports in CATHSSETA's prescribed format and intervals.

CATHSSETA's rights

• Negotiate price with a prospective service provider.
• Award the contract or any part to one or more providers, or reject all bids.
• Consider or decline bids that do not conform to the bidding requirements.
• Request further administrative information after the closing date, and cancel the tender or any part at any time.

Fraud and corruption

• No SCM official, bid committee member or CATHSSETA representative may solicit or accept any payment, gift or favour for an award.
• Suspicious approaches must be reported to the CATHSSETA tip-off hotline: 0800 222 376 (toll-free), 0860 004 004 (WhatsApp), SMS 49017, email [email protected], or www.behonest.co.za.
• Participation in, or failure to report, fraudulent activity may lead to disqualification, blacklisting and legal action.

Bid rejection

• A bid is rejected where the recommended bidder has committed a proven corrupt or fraudulent act in competing for the contract.
• A bid is disregarded where the bidder or its directors have abused CATHSSETA's SCM systems, committed proven fraud or improper conduct in relation to those systems, or failed to perform on a previous contract where proof exists; National Treasury is informed.

Adjudication

• The Bid Adjudication Committee reviews the Bid Evaluation Committee's evaluation and award recommendations for legislative compliance, then recommends to the Approval Authority.
• The highest-scoring bidder is generally awarded, calculated under the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022.
• In exceptional, justified cases a lower-scoring bidder may be awarded, provided this complies with the PPPFA and is motivated in the adjudication record.