Ifrs technical accounting & financial statement review services – national tender

Closing date: 20 October 2026 at 16:30

Continuing obligations timeline:

• Declaration must be reconfirmed before contract signature
• Declaration must be reconfirmed before deploying any replacement key person or new subcontractor
• Written notification of any change or newly identified matter required promptly from submission through evaluation, award and throughout the engagement

Closing: 20 October 2026 at 16:30

Submission method: not stated in this annexure — refer to main RFP document

Returnable forms required:

• Annexure K (Independence, Objectivity and Conflict Declaration): completed, signed and submitted by the bidding entity; covers independence, objectivity and conflicts of interest for specialist IFRS technical advisory services and financial statement compliance assessment
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): standard National Treasury form
• RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form: standard CSIR form

Submission packaging:

• Each JV or consortium member and proposed subcontractor must submit its own signed declaration unless expressly covered in the lead declaration, with written authority and confirmation attached
• No witness signature required

Disqualification risks:

• Material omission or misrepresentation in the independence declaration may result in bid rejection or termination of any resulting contract
• Unresolved professional prohibition or unacceptable conflict that remains after CSIR assessment
• Failure to reconfirm the declaration before contract signature or before deploying replacement key personnel or new subcontractors

Evaluation approach:

• The CSIR will assess the relevance and significance of each disclosed matter in Annexure K and the effectiveness of any permissible safeguards
• The CSIR reserves the right to require the preferred bidder to provide a detailed independence and conflict assessment at partner, director or practice principal level before appointment, together with supporting information, confirmations and any consents or clearances required from other parties
• The CSIR may seek clarification, require permissible safeguards, or decline appointment where a professional prohibition or an unacceptable conflict remains, or where material information is insufficient

Professional standards:

• Bidders must be able to perform services in accordance with the SAICA Code of Professional Conduct and, where applicable, the IRBA Code
• CSIR approval cannot override any applicable professional requirement, including audit or assurance independence requirements arising from a relevant role

Conflict assessment scope:

• Covers the bidding entity, each JV or consortium member, proposed subcontractors, relevant network firms and every proposed team member
• References to CSIR include its subsidiaries
• Look-back period: five years before bid closing date for questions 1 to 3, plus any older matter with continuing effect

Scope of services:

• Specialist IFRS technical accounting advisory services
• Financial statement compliance assessment
• Focus areas: IFRS 15 and IAS 20 contract classifications, and related cash flow presentation
• Complex revenue, funding and governance arrangements

Service characteristics:

• Services are not an audit or assurance engagement unless expressly specified and separately authorised in the contract
• Appointed adviser must exercise independent professional judgement
• Adviser must be able to reach and support conclusions that differ from positions of CSIR management or the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA)

Contract period: two years

Professional registration:

• Bidders must comply with the SAICA Code of Professional Conduct
• Where applicable, bidders must comply with the IRBA Code

Independence and conflict obligations:

• Complete Annexure K covering all proposed team members, JV or consortium members, subcontractors and relevant network firms
• Disclose any work for or on behalf of AGSA relating to CSIR or its audit (past 5 years)
• Disclose any advice to AGSA, CSIR or other parties on contracts, transactions or accounting treatments under assessment
• Disclose any preparation, recommendation or material influence on CSIR accounting records, policies, financial statements or positions that would now be reviewed
• Disclose current, accepted, proposed or actively negotiated work that could conflict with this assignment or create self-review threat
• Disclose engagements, financial interests, relationships or disputes with funders, donors, PPP or SPV participants or other counterparties whose arrangements with CSIR may be assessed
• Disclose financial, business, personal or professional interests, fee dependency, contingent remuneration, litigation or access to confidential information that could impair objectivity

Ongoing compliance:

• Prompt written notification required of any change or newly identified matter from submission through contract duration
• Prior CSIR disclosure required before accepting any new engagement that would conflict with this assignment
• Conflict information restricted to persons with need for evaluation, governance, legal compliance or contract administration purposes

Consequences of non-compliance:

• Material omission or misrepresentation in the independence declaration may result in bid rejection or termination of any resulting contract
• CSIR may decline appointment where professional prohibition or unacceptable conflict remains, or material information is insufficient
• CSIR approval cannot override applicable professional requirements including audit or assurance independence requirements

Ongoing contractual obligations:

• Prompt written notification required of any change or newly identified matter affecting the declaration, from submission through evaluation, award and entire engagement
• Declaration must be reconfirmed before contract signature and before deploying any replacement key person or new subcontractor
• Bidder must not accept any new conflicting engagement without prior CSIR disclosure
• Conflict information restricted to persons with legitimate need for evaluation, governance, legal compliance or contract administration

Independence declaration requirements:

• Bidding entity, each JV or consortium member, and each proposed subcontractor must complete and sign Annexure K unless expressly covered by another declaration
• Declaration covers independence, objectivity and conflicts of interest for specialist IFRS technical advisory services and financial statement compliance assessment
• Includes IFRS 15 and IAS 20 contract classifications and related cash flow presentation

Professional judgement requirement:

• Appointed adviser must exercise independent professional judgement
• Adviser must be capable of reaching and supporting conclusions that differ from CSIR management or AGSA positions

Enquiry scope for declaration:

• Cover bidding entity, all JV or consortium members, proposed subcontractors, relevant network firms and every proposed team member
• Include relevant work at previous employers
• References to CSIR include its subsidiaries
• Five-year look-back for questions 1 to 3, plus older matters with continuing effect

Disclosure treatment:

• YES to questions 1 to 6 is disclosure, not automatic disqualification
• Unrelated AGSA work or AGSA panel membership does not by itself disqualify
• Details required in section 3 for each YES to questions 1 to 6 and for any NO to question 7

Section 3 completion:

• One line per disclosed matter, or write NIL
• Disclose incomplete checks, unavailable counterparty information or confidentiality restrictions, with proposed resolution date or lawful verification route
• Do not attach another client's confidential work product

Signature requirements:

• Signatory must be partner, director or authorised practice principal with authority to bind the bidding entity
• Written authority and confirmation required for covered entities
• No witness signature required