National panel of nine external quality assurance assessors for cathsseta, 36 months

• Closing: 06 November 2026 at 11:00 (the portal closes automatically).
• Publication: 16 October 2026.
• Bid validity period: 120 days.
• Written enquiries deadline: 30 October 2026, to [email protected].
• Clarification register: answers to queries published on the CATHSSETA website.
• Briefing session: none will be held.

Bid enquiries

• Contact: Zanele Hlatshwayo
• Email: [email protected]
• Written enquiries close 30 October 2026.

Submission

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

Fraud and corruption reporting

• Toll-free: 0800 222 376
• WhatsApp: 0860 004 004
• Sms: 49017
• Email: [email protected]
• Online chat: www.behonest.co.za

Submission method

• Online only, via the CATHSSETA Tender Portal: https://www.cathsseta.org.za/tenders
• Physical, hand-delivered, couriered, emailed and faxed bids are rejected and discarded unopened.
• Bidders must be registered on the portal before attempting to submit.
• Closing: 06 November 2026 at 11:00. The portal timestamp is the official timekeeper and no late submissions are permitted.
• Upload at least 24 hours before closing to allow for file sizes and connectivity problems.
• A bid is only received once the portal issues an electronic submission confirmation email.

File requirements

• Unlocked PDF only, except where a template such as an Excel pricing schedule is expressly required.
• Files must be labelled and cross-referenced to the relevant evaluation criteria: Technical Proposal, Pricing Proposal and Mandatory Documents.
• The pricing schedule must be uploaded under the file name "Pricing Proposal".
• Corrupted, password-protected or virus-infected files, or any file that cannot be opened during evaluation, are disqualified.
• Company profile details must be completed in full, including the CSD number.

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): completed and signed offer cover page.
• SBD 3.3: ceiling price completed, plus a detailed pricing proposal on the bidder's corporate letterhead covering the 36-month scope.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): discloses state employment or relationships involving directors, members or shareholders.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims specific-goals points.
• SBD 7.2 Part 1 (Contract Form – Rendering of Services): signed by the successful bidder.
• General Conditions of Contract (GCC).
• Proof of ETDP SETA Assessor and Moderator statement of results, or an OD ETD qualification, for all nine quality assurance assessors — non-submission disqualifies the bid.
• Valid tax compliance certificate with PIN.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• Company registration documents.
• CSD summary report.

Disqualification risks

• Any mandatory document omitted, unsigned or mislabelled.
• Missing assessor and moderator qualification proof for the nine assessors.
• Reference letters submitted without their accompanying purchase orders.
• Files that cannot be opened, or submissions received after the portal closes.

Stages

1. Functionality: minimum qualifying score 70 out of 100. Bids scoring below 70 are disqualified.
2. Price and specific goals: 80/20 preference point system (price 80 points, specific goals 20 points). The highest total points wins.

Functionality scoring (100 points)

• Methodology and implementation plan: 10 points where the plan responds to all ten scope elements; 5 points where it responds to five to nine; 0 points where it responds to fewer than five or is non-responsive.
• CVs of the nine External Quality Assurance Assessors: 30 points where all nine have certified qualifications and at least three years' SETA experience with learning-programme experience; 15 points where six to eight meet this; 5 points where five meet it; 0 points where fewer than five meet it.
• CV of the Project Manager/Lead: 30 points for ten or more years managing ETQA-related projects; 15 points for seven to nine years; 5 points for five to six years; 0 points for less than five years.
• Signed reference letters with purchase orders: 30 points for five or more; 15 points for three or four; 5 points for one or two; 0 points for none or irrelevant references.

Specific goals (20 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.
• Ownership by people with disabilities of 20% or more: 4 points.

Adjudication

• The Bid Adjudication Committee reviews the Bid Evaluation Committee's work and recommends award to the Approval Authority.
• CATHSSETA may negotiate price, award to one or more bidders, or reject all bids.
• Unsuccessful bidders are notified on www.cathsseta.org.za/procurement.

Purpose

• Appoint one service provider with a panel of nine External Quality Assurance Assessors, led by an experienced Project Manager/Lead, to deliver quality assurance services nationally for CATHSSETA over 36 months.

Scope of work

• Site validation visits to confirm that a site exists.
• Site visits to confirm that a site is conducive to learning.
• Monitoring visits to promote compliance with QCTO and CATHSSETA requirements.
• Review of internal assessment and moderation by sampling candidates' work.
• Monitoring of Skills Development Provider processes and decisions against accreditation and assessment requirements.
• Advice, guidance and support to applicants on accreditation processes.
• Notification to CATHSSETA of changes affecting a provider's accreditation status.
• Risk assessment with reporting of risks or delays to CATHSSETA within one working day.
• Completion of 100% of allocated site visits, attended on scheduled dates unless the SETA approves otherwise.
• Support to CATHSSETA during audits, appeals and investigations where assessor reports are under review.

Deliverables

• Comprehensive QCTO-aligned report on findings, submitted to the ETQA Manager within five working days using approved QCTO templates, with a QCTO-signed attendance register.
• Corrected and resubmitted reports within two working days where amendments are required.
• Changes and identified risks reported on the CATHSSETA reporting template.
• Monthly progress reports.
• Photographic evidence of sites and equipment.
• CATHSSETA external moderation report.
• Monthly site visits as and when required.

Proposal content

• Detailed project proposal and implementation plan.
• Methodology covering all activities, work breakdown, costing and timelines.
• CVs of the nine assessors showing site visit, external moderation and monitoring experience with SETAs, ETQAs, Quality Councils, Department of Basic Education inspectors, government training institutions or academies.
• CV of the Project Manager/Lead with ten years' experience managing ETQA-related projects.
• Signed client reference letters with purchase orders.

Contract period

• 36 months.

• The technical proposal must include a detailed methodology and implementation plan responding to the ten elements of the scope of work.
• The plan must cover all activities, a work breakdown, costing and timelines.
• Functionality scoring for the methodology: 10 points where all ten scope elements are addressed; 5 points where five to nine are addressed; 0 points where fewer than five are addressed or the plan is non-responsive.
• Bidders may propose changes to the General Conditions of Contract or special conditions; CATHSSETA will evaluate them and may include accepted changes as special conditions. If rejected, the standard conditions stand and the bidder must decide whether to continue.
• CATHSSETA may require a financial or physical inspection of the bidder's premises to verify capacity and ability.

• Panel: nine External Quality Assurance Assessors, each with at least three years' experience in the SETA environment and experience in learning programmes.
• Assessors must have certified qualifications and CVs showing experience in site visits, external moderation and monitoring visits with SETAs, ETQAs, Quality Councils, Department of Basic Education inspectors, government training institutions or academies.
• Proof of ETDP SETA Assessor and Moderator statement of results, or an OD ETD qualification, is required for all nine assessors; non-submission disqualifies the bid.
• Project Manager/Lead: ten years' experience managing ETQA-related projects, with a detailed CV and certified qualifications.
• Reference letters: at least three signed letters from current or previous clients that commissioned accreditation visits, on the client's letterhead with contact details, detailing the scope of work and duration.
• Each reference letter must be accompanied by the relevant purchase order; without it the reference letter is invalid.
• Scoring: five or more reference letters with purchase orders earn 30 points; three or four earn 15; one or two earn 5; none or irrelevant letters earn 0.

• Reports must align with QCTO requirements and standards and use the approved QCTO templates.
• A QCTO-signed attendance register between the assessor and the Skills Development Provider must accompany each report.
• Findings reports go to the ETQA Manager within five working days.
• Reports requiring amendment must be corrected and resubmitted within two working days.
• Changes and identified risks must be reported on the CATHSSETA reporting template.
• Monthly progress reports are required.
• Photographic evidence of the site and equipment must be provided.
• A CATHSSETA external moderation report must be compiled and submitted.
• Monthly site visits must be conducted as and when required.
• Risks or delays must be reported to CATHSSETA within one working day.

• Pricing must be submitted as a separate file named "Pricing Proposal" on the online portal.
• The ceiling price must be completed on SBD 3.3.
• A detailed pricing proposal must be compiled on the bidder's official corporate letterhead, covering the scope and the 36-month period.
• Pricing must align with and reflect the actual scope of services to be rendered.
• Documents must be uploaded in unlocked PDF format, except where a specific template such as an Excel pricing schedule is expressly requested.
• Files must be labelled and cross-referenced to the relevant evaluation criteria.

Pricing submission

• Pricing schedule uploaded under the file name "Pricing Proposal".
• Ceiling price completed on SBD 3.3.
• Detailed pricing proposal compiled on the bidder's official corporate letterhead, covering the full scope and the 36-month period.
• Pricing must align with and reflect the scope of services to be rendered.
• An Excel pricing template may be used where expressly required.
• Pricing must be uploaded as an unlocked PDF unless a specific template is requested.

Registration and tax

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration with CSD number; company profile details must be fully completed.
• Valid SARS tax compliance status PIN, or a printed TCS certificate.
• Consortia, joint ventures and subcontractors must each submit a separate TCS certificate, PIN and CSD number.

B-bbee

• Valid B-BBEE status level verification certificate, or a sworn affidavit for EMEs and QSEs, required to claim preference points.

Eligibility

• No bid will be considered from a person in the service of the state, a company with such a director, or a close corporation with such a member.
• Bidders listed on the Register for Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers are disqualified.

Mandatory documents

• Company registration documents.
• Proof of ETDP SETA Assessor and Moderator statement of results, or OD ETD qualification, for all nine assessors — non-submission disqualifies the bid.
• Signed reference letters with accompanying purchase orders; a reference letter without its purchase order is invalid.
• Completed and signed SBD 1, SBD 3.3, SBD 4, SBD 6.1 and SBD 7.2 Part 1, plus the GCC.

Functionality threshold: 70 out of 100; bids below this are disqualified.

Functionality scoring

• Methodology and implementation plan: 10 points for full responsiveness to all ten scope elements; 5 points for five to nine elements; 0 for fewer than five or a non-responsive plan.
• Nine assessor CVs with certified qualifications: 30 points where all nine have at least three years' SETA experience and learning-programme experience; 15 points where six to eight qualify; 5 points where five qualify; 0 where fewer than five qualify.
• Project Manager/Lead CV with certified qualifications: 30 points for ten or more years' ETQA project management experience; 15 points for seven to nine years; 5 points for five to six years; 0 for less than five years.
• Signed reference letters with purchase orders: 30 points for five or more; 15 points for three or four; 5 points for one or two; 0 for none or irrelevant references.

Preference points

• 80/20 system: price 80 points, specific goals 20 points.
• Specific goals: black people ownership 51%+ (8 points), black women ownership 30%+ (4 points), black youth ownership 30%+ (4 points), people with disabilities ownership 20%+ (4 points).

Award

• Highest total points wins; CATHSSETA may negotiate price, award to one or more bidders, or reject all bids.
• Unsuccessful bidders are notified on www.cathsseta.org.za/procurement.