Banking services for the city of mbombela – 5-Year contract (COM81/2026) – open to registered banks only

Closing date: 11 September 2026 at 11:00.

No compulsory briefing session is scheduled.

Tender validity period: 30 days from the closing date.

No compulsory briefing session will be held. Technical enquiries may be directed to the designated Project Manager using the contact details provided.

Technical enquiries: Sabelo Dlamini, [email protected].

Procurement (SCM) enquiries: Christopher Nkambule, [email protected], Tel: 013 759 2358.

Employer: City of Mbombela, City Manager – Wiseman J Khumalo, P.O. Box 45, Mbombela, 1200.

Bid documents are available free from www.etenders.gov.za and www.mbombela.gov.za.

Bids must be submitted in duplicate: one original hard copy and one complete duplicate copy.

Deliver to the tender box at Mbombela Civic Centre, 1 Nel Street, Mbombela, 1200, next to the main entrance, before 11:00 on the closing date.

Envelope must be sealed and clearly marked with the bid number, full project description, and closing date.

Only physical submissions are accepted; telegram, fax, and email bids are rejected.

Use the official tender forms provided; do not retype them. Complete in non-erasable black ink; corrections must be initialled and dated. Correction fluid, pencil, and erasable ink are prohibited.

The MBD 1 form serves as the Form of Offer and must be fully completed and signed by an authorised signatory.

Bids must remain valid for 30 days from the closing date and may not be withdrawn or amended without the City's written consent.

Proof of posting is not accepted as proof of delivery. Bids are opened publicly immediately after closing.

Returnable forms include MBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), MBD 5 (Declaration for procurement above R10 million), MBD 7 (Contract Form), MBD 8 (Past SCM Practices), MBD 9 (Independent Bid Determination), and the Authority to Sign. Each must be completed and signed as required.

Bids that are incomplete, unsigned, or fail to meet mandatory requirements will be rejected as non-responsive.

Compulsory documents: valid TCS PIN; proof of company registration; certified copies of directors' IDs; full CSD registration report not older than 30 days from closing (summary reports not accepted); most recent audited financial statements for three consecutive years; management organogram; financial services charter (scorecard and labour report); BANKSETA workplace skills plan; PASA member confirmation; SARB certificate of registration as a bank and annual business licence; FSB licensed financial service provider and FAIS licence. Municipal rates and taxes: current statements for the business and all directors, or proof of residence from a tribal authority, or lease agreements with lessor's up-to-date statements. Certified copies must not be older than three months; copies of certified copies are not accepted. Failure to comply results in immediate disqualification.

Evaluation uses the 80/20 preference point system: 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals under the PPPFA and 2022 Regulations.

The City is not obliged to accept the lowest bid and may cancel the process at any stage.

Bidders must meet mandatory eligibility and compliance requirements to be considered responsive.

Scope: Provision of comprehensive banking services to the City of Mbombela for a five-year contract period.

Services include general and commercial banking products: accounts, cheques, electronic funds transfer, investments, loans, and short-term overdraft facilities.

Bidders must be registered banks under the Banks Act and National Credit Act, with an established local branch or agency network.

Detailed service requirements cover cash, cheque and card handling; electronic banking with multi-layered security; cash management; cheque verification and fraud detection; and online enquiry and transfer capabilities.

Bidders must support the City's enterprise-wide risk management, including fraud prevention and early detection systems.

Support for short-term overdraft facilities of R50 million to R100 million must be confirmed by a letter from the bank's Credit Committee, including terms and interest rate indication.

A draft Service Level Agreement must be submitted covering service standards, turnaround times, query resolution, penalties, warranties, security, performance measurement, and review mechanisms.

Bidders must provide details of professional indemnity and fidelity guarantee insurance, including underwriter, limits, deductibles, and maturity dates.

Bidders must provide bank information: responsible branch, addresses, contact details, tax and VAT numbers, and the structure of the division servicing the City.

Bidders must provide details of professional indemnity and fidelity guarantee insurance (underwriter, limits, deductible, maturity dates, retrospective cover). Attach audited financial statements for three years. Provide details of similar local government portfolios with contactable references. Confirm membership of professional bodies such as PASA. Provide B-BBEE status and empowerment policy. Provide bank information: responsible branch, addresses, contact details, tax and VAT numbers, senior management, division structure, and administrative support staff. Describe banking products and services including cash, cheque, card handling, and electronic banking.

Bidders currently dealing with similar local government portfolios must provide full details, including contactable references. By providing this information, approval is granted for the City to contact these clients for reference purposes.

The City has implemented enterprise-wide risk management. Bidders must describe their ability to support this, including fraud prevention and early detection intervention systems.

All fees are inclusive of VAT. Fees quoted for the first 12 months after contract signing and annually thereafter. Proposed increases after the first 12 months must be indicated as a percentage. Service charges payable monthly with proof provided before the 10th day of the month or within 5 days of month-end. No tender considered unless detailed information on proposed services and fees for the first 12 months is provided. Bidders may submit alternative proposals such as fixed fees. Variations from minimum requirements must be clearly indicated.

All prices must be quoted in South African Rand and be firm and fixed for the contract duration.

Prices must be inclusive of VAT, delivery, and all associated costs; VAT must be shown as a separate lump sum in the tender summary.

Fees must be quoted for the first 12 months after contract signing and annually thereafter; any proposed increases must be indicated as a percentage.

Service charges are payable monthly, with detailed proof provided before the 10th day of the month or within 5 days of month-end.

Bidders must include all applicable taxes, duties, and levies; no additional claims will be entertained.

Bidders may submit alternative service proposals, such as fixed fees, if economically or technically advantageous to the City.

Eligibility: Only banking institutions registered and licensed in South Africa under the Banks Act, 1990, and compliant with the National Credit Act, 2005, may bid.

Tax compliance: Submit a valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or CSD number; foreign suppliers must complete the pre-award questionnaire.

B-BBEE: Submit a certified B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) to claim preference points.

Company registration: Provide a valid company registration certificate.

CSD: Submit a full CSD registration report not older than 30 days from closing; summary reports are not accepted.

Municipal rates and taxes: Provide current statements for the business and all directors, or proof of residence/lease agreements with up-to-date statements. Accounts must not be in arrears for more than three months.

Financial statements: Provide most recent audited financial statements for three consecutive years.

Registrations: Provide proof of registration with SARB (bank certificate and annual licence), PASA, FSB/FAIS, and BANKSETA (workplace skills plan).

Key personnel: Submit certified copies of qualifications and IDs, not older than three months; copies of certified copies are not accepted.

Joint ventures/consortia: Lead partner must hold at least 51% shares; each party must submit separate required documents and a consolidated B-BBEE certificate.

Bidders must not be listed on the Register of Bid Defaulters or have abused any state SCM process.

Bidders must provide a copy of their B-BBEE status and a statement on their policy regarding empowerment of previously disadvantaged sectors and SMMEs.

If the bidder fails to arrange banking services timeously or the City suffers damage from non-performance, the bidder must pay liquidated damages determined by the Municipal Manager: (i) any additional costs incurred to arrange alternative banking services, or (ii) actual damages and costs sustained. The City Manager determines the manner and time of payment, and the decision is final and binding.

Tenders must be completed on the attached form, fully priced, extended, totalled, and signed. Submit in duplicate (one original, one copy). Late tenders are rejected. Tenders remain valid for the contract period and may not be withdrawn without consent. Proof of posting is not accepted. Tenders are opened publicly after closing. Information is handled per POPIA. Documents are free to download. The City may cancel the process. The 80/20 preference system applies. No alterations to the bid document except by written instruction. Complete in black ink; corrections initialled and dated. Non-compliance renders the bid non-responsive. Bids rejected if municipal rates/taxes arrears exceed three months, if listed on the Register of Bid Defaulters, or if the bidder abused SCM processes. MBD 1 must be fully completed and signed. Prices include VAT and all taxes. The City may terminate summarily for failure to perform, with the bidder liable for additional costs. Amendments communicated via Notices to Bidders. Tenders valid for 30 days from closing. Prices firm and fixed in ZAR. No cession or assignment without written consent. Successful bidder must enter into an SLA.

Only banking institutions registered and licensed in South Africa under the Banks Act, 1990, and compliant with the National Credit Act, 2005, are eligible. Bidders must demonstrate an established local branch or agency network with the infrastructure, systems, and facilities to meet the City's banking, transactional, and service delivery requirements.

Evaluation follows the PPPFA, 2022 Regulations, and the City's Preferential Procurement Policy. The 80/20 preference point system applies: 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals.