Csir tailored research ethics training course – 5-Year as-needed contract

• Closing date for submission: Thursday, 30 July 2026 at 16h30.
• Last date for enquiries/clarifications: Monday, 27 July 2026 at 16h30.
• No briefing sessions, site visits, or compulsory meetings are mentioned in the document.

• Supply Chain Management enquiries: Email [email protected].
• Telephone number: 012 841 2911.
• All tender submissions must be emailed to [email protected].
• No other contact with CSIR personnel involved in the tender is permitted during the RFP process.

• Submit proposals electronically only to [email protected]. No late submissions accepted.
• Use the RFP number and description as the email subject line.
• Submit in two separate emails: Part 1 for Technical Proposal, Part 2 for Pricing Proposal and Specific Goals documentation.
• Ensure proposals are signed by an authorised person.
• Do not submit via cloud solutions like WeTransfer, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
• File naming must be short and simple.
• Submissions to incorrect addresses or after the closing time will be rejected and may be returned unopened.
• All dates and times are South African Standard Time. CSIR business hours are 08h00 to 16h30.
• CSIR reserves the right to extend the closing date or correct mistakes in the bid documents.
• Any amendments or counter-conditions to the RFP terms by bidders will invalidate the bid.

Must be registered on National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD), tax compliant (SARS pin/TCS certificate), not listed on Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers, no conflict of interest/corruption/fraud/fronting indicators, South African law governs. Joint ventures require signed agreement, consolidated B-BBEE certificate, TCS/CSD for each partner, proof of ownership, and company registration certificates. Foreign suppliers without local entity exempt from CSD registration.

Scope: Provision of a tailored Research Ethics Training Course to CSIR researchers, research managers, and REC members for five years on an 'as and when required' basis.

Deliverables:

• Develop course material.
• Deliver training online and/or at CSIR Pretoria campus.
• Ensure interactive delegate experience and maximum learning outcomes.

Target Groups and Volumes:

• Group A: CSIR REC members (1-day course). 12 members to be trained once in the 5-year cycle.
• Group B: CSIR Research Managers and researchers (2-day health-related or 1-day non-health). Three sessions per annum in three delegate categories: up to 15, 16-30, and 31-50 delegates.

Proposal Requirements:

• Technical Proposal must include company profile, detailed technical proposal, and CVs/certified qualifications of facilitators.
• Must demonstrate relevant skills, experience, course content, assessment plans, and delivery method.
• Refer to Annexure B for full specification and Annexure C for scoring rubrics.

• The technical proposal must detail the methodology, including course preparation time, content, duration, assessments, and session lengths.
• This forms a key part of the technical evaluation, weighted at 60 points.

• Bidders must submit detailed proposals including:

• CVs and certified copies of qualifications for course presenters/facilitators.
• Evidence of relevant skills, competencies, and experience in offering Research Ethics Training, including client lists and contact persons.
• Research Ethics membership certificates for presenters/facilitators.
• Course content tailored for each target group and assessment plans (e.g., quizzes, pre/post-test evaluations).
• Course delivery method description (visual aids, case studies, presentations) with topics, lengths, facilitator names, and time per topic.

• Scoring for experience is based on the number of ethics training courses offered in the past five years, supported by letters of endorsement.

• Bidders must ensure their personnel, agents, and subcontractors comply with POPI Act and CSIR data protection requirements for personal information.
• CSIR may audit bidders' compliance with POPI Act safeguards.

• Use the Pricing Schedule in Annexure D to provide detailed pricing in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT.
• Itemise pricing for:

• Group A: REC members (1-day) for Year 2 (12 members once in 5-year cycle).
• Group B: Research Managers and researchers (2-day) for Years 1-5, with three sessions per annum categorised by delegate numbers (up to 15, 16-30, 31-50).

• Submit a completed pricing schedule on official company letterhead as part of the financial proposal.
• Ensure pricing includes all cost elements as specified in the RFP.

• Pricing must be in South African Rand, inclusive of all applicable taxes less unconditional discounts.
• Clearly indicate any prices subject to escalation or exchange rate fluctuations.
• Prices must include all cost elements: travel, freight, insurance, duties, etc.
• Payment will be according to CSIR Payment Terms and Conditions.
• Submit detailed pricing using the Pricing Schedule/Bill of Quantities in Annexure D.
• The pricing schedule must be submitted as a separate document from the technical proposal.
• Bidders are responsible for the correctness of their prices and calculations.

Mandatory Registrations and Documents:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD): All respondents (except foreign suppliers with no local entity) must be registered on the National Treasury CSD (www.csd.gov.za) and provide their registration number.
• Tax Compliance: Bidders must be tax compliant. Submit a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or certificate. Non-compliance leads to disqualification.
• B-BBEE: Submit a valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit. For joint ventures/consortia, submit a consolidated scorecard with individual certificates.
• Joint Venture Requirements: If applicable, submit a joint venture agreement, B-BBEE scorecard, TCS/CSD reports for each partner, proof of ownership, and company registration certificates.
• Exclusion Lists: Bidders listed on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers will not be awarded.
• Fronting: Strict prohibition of fronting practices. Evidence of fronting may lead to bid invalidation, contract cancellation, and restriction from public sector business for up to ten years.

• Bidders indemnify CSIR against costs or damages arising from breach of bid conditions.
• This RFP document prevails over any briefing session information unless expressly amended in writing.
• Tax compliance is mandatory for award and throughout the contract term. Non-compliance can lead to award withdrawal or contract cancellation.
• Bidders on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers are ineligible.
• South African law governs the bid and any disputes, with exclusive jurisdiction of South African courts.
• Confidentiality: Bid information must not be disclosed without CSIR written approval.
• CSIR may terminate or suspend the contract if funds are unavailable, with payment for services delivered up to that point.
• Both parties must comply with POPI Act and data protection requirements for personal information.

• CSIR reserves extensive rights, including to: extend the closing date; correct mistakes; verify bidder information; request documentary proof; conduct site inspections or product evaluations; award to a bidder not scoring highest points under PPPFA; request audited financial statements; award the RFP in whole, in part, or to multiple bidders; cancel or terminate the tender process at any stage; engage in post-tender negotiations; and not award to a bidder associated with a security breach or whose directors/officers are formally charged with fraudulent/illegal conduct.
• Strict rules against conflict of interest, corruption, and fraud, including collusion, offering inducements, or past convictions for fraud/forgery.
• Misrepresentations in the tender can lead to service termination and claims even after contract award.
• Bidders bear all preparation costs and participate at their own risk; CSIR has no liability for bidder costs or damages from participation.

• The evaluation follows a three-phase process: Elimination (Phase 1), Technical Evaluation (Phase 2), and Price & Preference Evaluation (Phase 3).
• Elimination criteria include late submission, incorrect submission address, listing on NT restricted suppliers or tender defaulters registers, and non-submission of mandatory returnable documents.
• Technical evaluation is scored out of 100: Facilitator qualifications (15 points), relevant training experience (25 points), and technical proposal detail (60 points). Minimum thresholds: 70% overall and 50% per criterion.
• Only bidders passing technical evaluation proceed to price and preference points evaluation as per Annexure G.
• CSIR reserves the right to award to a bidder not scoring the highest points under PPPFA Section 2(1)(f), provided the bidder's leadership is not formally charged with fraudulent/illegal conduct.