Appointment of a panel of service providers for the manufacture of csir-designed digital monitoring devices (as-and-when basis, three years)

Non-compulsory briefing/clarification session: Friday, 21 August 2026, 12h30–13h00, via Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 396 515 514 170 269, Passcode: j8qT32JU). Attendees must state the company they represent and provide contact details; POPI Act compliance applies.

Last date for submission of enquiries/clarifications: Tuesday, 25 August 2026 at 16h30.

Closing date and time: Tuesday, 01 September 2026 at 16h30.

Non-compulsory briefing/clarification session: Friday, 21 August 2026, 12h30–13h00, via Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 396 515 514 170 269, Passcode: j8qT32JU).

Attendees must indicate the company they represent and provide contact details for record purposes. POPI Act compliance applies.

Enquiries: Strategic Procurement Unit, email [email protected]. Use EOI No 8130/01/09/2026 and the EOI description as the subject reference.

Bidding procedure enquiries: P Rikhotso, email [email protected].

Technical enquiries: Dr C Van Reenen, email [email protected].

CSIR business hours: 08h00–16h30.

Submission channel: proposals must be sent electronically to [email protected]. Cloud sharing services (WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox) are not accepted. Submissions over 25MB may be split across multiple emails.

Email subject: must carry the EOI number (8130/01/09/2026) and the EOI description. Files must be named simply and briefly.

Two-part submission: Part 1 (Technical Proposal) and Part 2 (Pricing Proposal plus Specific Goals claim documentation) must each be sent in a separate email, with the EOI number marked on each file or folder.

Signing: proposals must be signed by a person or persons duly authorised, with proof of authority (e.g. company resolution) submitted.

Disqualification risks: late submissions, submissions to the wrong address, submissions via cloud services, unsigned proposals, and any counter-conditions or amendments to the EOI conditions will invalidate the bid.

Returnable forms (all must be completed and submitted):

• Annexure A (SBD 1): signed as the offer cover page.
• Annexure D: Proposal Form and List of Returnable Documents.
• Annexure E: Certificate of Acquaintance with the EOI.
• Annexure F: Preference Points Award Form.
• Annexure G (SBD 4): Declaration of Interest.
• Annexure H: EOI Declaration and Breach of Law Form.
• Annexure I: Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement.

All documentation must be in English.

Mandatory returnable documents (failure to submit results in disqualification):

• Annexure A (SBD 1 Form)
• Annexure D (Proposal Form and List of Returnable Documents)
• Annexure E (Certificate of Acquaintance with EOI Terms & Conditions)
• Annexure F (Preference Points Award Form)
• Annexure G (SBD 4 Form)
• Annexure H (EOI Declaration and Breach of Law Form)
• Annexure I (Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement)

Essential returnable documents (non-submission results in zero score for the applicable criterion): Annexure F with a valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit; for unincorporated trusts, consortia or joint ventures, a consolidated B-BBEE scorecard with individual certificates; for sub-contracting, both parties must submit valid B-BBEE certificates.

Also required where applicable: joint venture agreement, tax compliance status (TCS) or CSD report for each JV partner, proof of ownership/shareholder certificates, and company registration certificates.

Three-phase evaluation:

Phase 1 – Elimination: bids are eliminated if submitted late or to the wrong address, if the bidder is on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers, or if mandatory returnable documents are missing.

Phase 2 – Technical/functional evaluation out of 100 points, with minimum thresholds of 70% overall and 50% on each individual criterion. Criteria and weights:

• Demonstrated experience in manufacture of electronic/IoT/digital devices: 25%
• Manufacturing capability and production capacity: 25%
• Quality management and quality assurance systems: 20%
• Supply chain and component sourcing capability: 15%
• Technical resources, facilities and equipment: 15%

Phase 3 – Preference points evaluation out of 20 points for Specific Goals/Preference Points, per Annexure F.

The CSIR may award to a bidder that did not score the highest total points only in accordance with Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA, provided the bidder's directors, shareholders or officers are not formally charged with fraudulent or illegal conduct that could harm the CSIR's reputation.

Scope: appointment of a panel of service providers to manufacture digital monitoring devices designed by the CSIR, on an 'as and when' required basis for three (3) years.

The devices are deployable Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring devices supporting indoor environmental monitoring. The CSIR provides the design; the manufacturer sources specified components and device housing, and performs assembly, quality control, testing, packaging and preparation for delivery.

Market potential: nearly 3,000 facilities identified as potential deployment sites, each requiring between 3 and 10 devices depending on size.

Manufacturing service providers must demonstrate design-for-manufacture, prototyping, production, assembly, quality assurance and batch production capabilities, and operate under an ISO 9001 certified or equivalent quality management system.

The CSIR retains responsibility for device design, data management platform, analytics and reporting; appointed providers are responsible only for manufacturing-related services.

Bidders must submit a company profile and a detailed technical proposal.

Technical proposal must include a company profile and a detailed technical proposal.

The technical proposal should demonstrate design-for-manufacture, prototyping, production, assembly, quality assurance and batch production capabilities, and the capacity to manufacture to the CSIR's specifications, source approved components and housings, and maintain consistent product quality.

Demonstrated experience in manufacture of electronic/IoT/digital devices (25% weight): evidence via letters of reference or client confirmation of project completion. Scoring: 10 for 5 or more comparable projects; 8 for 4; 5 for 3; 3 for 2; 2 for 1; 0 for none.

Manufacturing capability and production capacity (25% weight): evidence via letters of reference, client confirmation of scope, or a director's letter. Scoring: 10 for capacity above 500 units/month with surge capacity; 8 for 200–500 units/month; 5 for 100–199; 3 for below 100; 2 for not clearly demonstrated; 0 for no evidence.

Technical resources, facilities and equipment (15% weight): detailed description of facilities, technical resources and relevant equipment. Scoring: 10 for fully equipped electronic manufacturing facilities with dedicated testing and QA capabilities; 8 for well-equipped with minor gaps; 5 for adequate but limited; 3 for limited with insufficient resources; 0 for not meeting minimum requirements.

Quality management and quality assurance systems carry a 20% weight in the technical evaluation.

Bidders must demonstrate quality management capabilities, with evidence such as ISO 9001 certification or an equivalent certified quality system, quality manuals, procedures, quality plans, or documented QA practices.

Scoring: 10 points for ISO 9001 certified with documented manufacturing QA processes; 8 for a certified equivalent quality system; 5 for a formal internal QA system; 3 for partial QA processes; 2 for an informal QA approach; 0 for no evidence.

Pricing proposal must be submitted as Part 2 in a separate email, with the subject 'Pricing Proposal, Specific Goals claim documentation: EOI No. 8130/01/09/2026'.

Prices and rates must cover all work/items specified in the EOI and all obligations under any resulting contract. Mistakes in prices or calculations are at the bidder's own risk.

Pricing proposal: Part 2 of the submission must include the pricing proposal and Specific Goals claim documentation, sent in a separate email.

Prices and rates quoted must cover all work/items specified in the EOI and all obligations under any resulting contract. Mistakes in prices or calculations are at the bidder's own risk.

Validity period: 90 calendar days from the closing date. Bidders may be asked to extend validity at the same terms if evaluation is not finalised.

CSD registration: bidders must be registered on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database and provide their CSD registration number. Foreign suppliers with no local registered entity are exempt.

Tax compliance: bidders must be tax compliant and provide a SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or a printed TCS certificate. Where no TCS PIN is available, a CSD number must be provided. Each joint venture partner must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number.

State employees: bids from persons in the service of the state, companies with directors who are state employees, or close corporations with members who are state employees will not be considered.

Restricted suppliers: bidders on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers will not be considered.

Joint ventures: a signed joint venture agreement (naming the lead partner and split of work), a consolidated B-BBEE scorecard, TCS or CSD report for each partner, proof of ownership/shareholder certificates, and company registration certificates must be submitted.

Fronting: the CSIR will investigate suspected fronting; failure to prove fronting does not exist within 14 days of notification may invalidate the bid and lead to restriction from public-sector business for up to ten years.

Contract term: three (3) years, 'as and when' required basis.

Indemnity: the bidder indemnifies the CSIR against costs or damages arising from breach of bid conditions.

Precedence: the EOI document prevails over any information given at briefing sessions unless expressly amended in writing.

Tax compliance: no award to a bidder who is not tax compliant; the CSIR may withdraw an award or cancel a contract if the bidder is later found non-compliant or submitted a fraudulent tax certificate.

Tender defaulters: no award to bidders on the Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers.

Governing law: South African law; bidders submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of South African courts.

Confidentiality: no disclosure of bid information except as required by law; bid documents remain proprietary to the CSIR and must be returned on request; written CSIR approval is required before releasing any information about the work or process.

Availability of funds: the CSIR may terminate or suspend the agreement if funds are no longer available, with payment for services delivered up to cancellation or suspension.

Personal information: both parties consent to processing of personal information under the POPI Act; each party must comply with the POPI Act and CSIR governance requirements; the CSIR may audit compliance.

Disclaimer: this EOI is an expression of interest only, not an offer; submission does not imply a contract; bidders accept all terms and conditions.

Penalty clause: the bidder agrees to a penalty clause for non-compliance with material terms, including delayed delivery due to non-performance.

The CSIR reserves the right to: extend the closing date; correct mistakes before closing; verify any information in a submission; request documentary proof; carry out site inspections, product evaluations or explanatory meetings; award to a bidder that did not score the highest total points only under Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA; request audited financial statements for due diligence; award the EOI as a whole or in part; award to multiple bidders; cancel or terminate the process at any stage; post-tender negotiate on any elements; and not award to a bidder associated with a security breach or with directors/officers formally charged with fraudulent or illegal conduct.

Elimination criteria: late bids, submissions to the wrong address, bidders on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers, and missing mandatory returnable documents all result in elimination.

CSD registration is required; business may not be awarded to a bidder not registered on the CSD. Foreign suppliers with no local registered entity are exempt.

Tax compliance is mandatory; no award to a non-compliant bidder.

Bids from persons in the service of the state, or companies/close corporations with directors/members in the service of the state, will not be considered.

Three-phase evaluation: Phase 1 elimination; Phase 2 technical/functional evaluation out of 100 points with minimum thresholds of 70% overall and 50% on each individual criterion; Phase 3 preference points evaluation out of 20 points.

Technical criteria and weights: demonstrated experience in manufacture of electronic/IoT/digital devices (25%); manufacturing capability and production capacity (25%); quality management and quality assurance systems (20%); supply chain and component sourcing capability (15%); technical resources, facilities and equipment (15%).

The CSIR may award to a bidder that did not score the highest total points only under Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA, provided the bidder's directors, shareholders or officers are not formally charged with fraudulent or illegal conduct.