Iso 19443:2018 third-party certification audits for csir-supported company

Closing date: 13 November 2026 at 16:30 (South African time) — late submissions are rejected.

Enquiries/clarifications deadline: 06 November 2026 at 16:30.

RFQ validity period: 90 calendar days from the closing date.

No briefing or site visit is stated in the document.

Enquiries

• Method: via the CSIR Electronic Bid Submission Portal (EBSP) — 'Click here for Queries and Submission'.
• Direct contact with CSIR personnel about this RFQ is not permitted during the process.

Submission

• Method: CSIR Electronic Bid Submission Portal, tenders.csir.co.za.

No named contacts, telephone numbers, or physical addresses are stated in the document.

Submission method

• Method: CSIR Electronic Bid Submission Portal (EBSP), tenders.csir.co.za.
• Submission channel: upload documents to the EBSP; do not use cloud links (WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox) — such bids are rejected.
• File size: maximum 20 MB per file; upload early to avoid network issues — late submissions are automatically rejected by the portal.
• File naming: short and simple, up to 50 characters.
• Organise the bid into three separate folders:

1. Mandatory Repository — Mandatory Returnable Documents (Table 1).
2. Technical and Other Essential Repository — Other Essential Returnable Documents (Table 3) and the RFQ document.
3. Price and B-BBEE Repository — Pricing Schedule (Annexure B) and Preference Points Award Form (Annexure E).

• All documents must be signed by an authorised person; proof of authority (e.g. company resolution) must be included.
• Documents submitted to the wrong location or address will not be accepted.
• All dates and times are South African standard time.
• Pricing and B-BBEE information must be in a separate document, not in the technical proposal.
• Counter conditions or amendments to RFQ conditions will invalidate the bid.

Returnable forms (one line each — complete and sign all):

• Annexure B: Pricing Schedule or Bill of Quantities — priced as per the schedule.
• Annexure E: Preference Points Award Form — required to claim preference points.
• Annexure C: SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid) — supplier details and cover form.
• Annexure D: SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) — discloses connections to the state or procuring institution.
• Annexure F: Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement — confidentiality commitment.
• ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation certificate with scope for ISO 19443:2018 in South Africa (attach proof with full schedule).
• Lead Auditor certificates for personnel allocated to the contract (from IRCA, SAACTA, Exemplar Global or equivalent).
• Detailed project plan.
• Curriculum vitae (CVs) of proposed Lead Auditors with evidence of ISO 19443:2018 third-party audit experience in the past 5 years.

Disqualification risks

• No bid submitted via the EBSP.
• Bidder listed on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers.
• Failure to provide any Mandatory Returnable Document listed in Table 1.
• Failure to upload files as per EBSP requirements.
• Not meeting the specification requirements.
• Late submission for any reason — the CSIR accepts no liability for bandwidth, traffic, or technical failures.

Evaluation phases

1. Phase 1 — Elimination Criteria: bidders are eliminated if they fail any of the following:

• Bid not submitted via the CSIR EBSP.
• Bidder on National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers.
• No valid and acceptable Mandatory Returnable Documents (Table 1).
• Files not uploaded per EBSP requirements.
• Failure to meet specification requirements.

2. Phase 2 — Price and Preference Points Evaluation:

• Preference system: 80/20 (as per Annexure E).
• Award: highest total points, except where the PPPFA permits otherwise (e.g. Section 2(1)(f)).
• Price is evaluated on total cost (including applicable taxes less unconditional discounts).
• Lowest acceptable tender used to determine preference points.

Essential Returnable Documents (for scoring — missing items receive an automatic score of zero for that criterion, not disqualification):

• Annexure E: Preference Points Award Form.

Other Essential Returnable Documents (missing items may lead to disqualification):

• Annexure C: SBD 1
• Annexure D: SBD 4
• Annexure F: Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Detailed project plan
• Lead Auditor CVs with proof of experience

If any of the above essential items are missing, the CSIR allows 3 days to submit them; failure to do so eliminates the bidder.

Scope of work

• Provide third-party certification audits against ISO 19443:2018 (nuclear quality management system) for a CSIR-supported company.
• The beneficiary company is Inkwali Fabrication and Maintenance, a Level 1 B-BBEE company based in Gauteng, employing 77 staff, supplying the mining, chemicals and engineering sectors.
• The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834-2:2021 and ASME certifications at its facility in Chloorkop, Gauteng.

Audit process deliverables (as per Annexure A)

• Project inception meeting.
• Pre-audit document review.
• Stage 1 certification audit and report.
• Non-conformance report (NCR) closure for Stage 1.
• Stage 2 certification audit and report.
• NCR closure for Stage 2.
• Final audit report.
• ISO 19443:2018 certificate award.

Specification requirements

• The detailed specification is in Annexure A.
• Bidders must independently audit and certify the beneficiary company's compliance with ISO 19443:2018.

Mandatory qualifications

• Bidder must hold ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation as a certification body with scope for ISO 19443:2018 audits in South Africa.
• Lead Auditor(s) must be registered/certified by IRCA, SAACTA, Exemplar Global or equivalent; certificates must be submitted.

Experience

• Submit CVs of proposed Lead Auditors with evidence of conducting ISO 19443:2018 third-party certification audits within the past 5 years.
• If these documents are missing, bidders have 3 days to submit them, otherwise elimination.

The service must comply with ISO 19443:2018 (quality management systems — specific requirements for organisations in the nuclear energy supply chain supplying products and services important to nuclear safety, ITNS). The bidder must be accredited as a certification body under ISO/IEC 17021 with the relevant scope for South Africa. The audit process must follow the stages described in Annexure A, from document review through Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits to certificate award. Bidders must demonstrate capability and quality through the required accreditation and auditor certifications.

Pricing must use Annexure B (Pricing Schedule). The schedule lists 12 line items (project inception meeting, document review, document review report, Stage 1 audit, Stage 1 report, NCR closures, Stage 2 audit, Stage 2 report, NCR closures, certification recommendation, certificate handover, total travel and accommodation) with unit 'Each' or 'Trip', quantity 1 and a sum price each. Provide a VAT-exclusive sub-total, add VAT at 15%, and a VAT-inclusive total. Prices must be in South African Rand. The schedule forms part of the Price and B-BBEE repository.

Pricing format

• Use Annexure B (Pricing Schedule). Provide prices in South African Rand, including all applicable taxes less unconditional discounts.
• Prices subject to escalation or exchange rate fluctuations must be clearly indicated with the currency, rate of exchange (ROE) and its source; provide a total cost breakdown and escalation formula.
• Include additional costs such as travel, freight, insurance until acceptance, and duty where applicable.
• For international quotations: price on DAP (Named Place of Destination) Incoterms 2020 basis; the CSIR may amend delivery terms to FCA or other Incoterms before award.
• Quotations evaluated on total landed cost; award may not be to the lowest price.

Pricing schedule items (per unit, each in sum)

• Project inception meeting
• Document review
• Document review report
• Stage 1 certification audit
• Stage 1 certification audit report
• NCR closures (Stage 1)
• Stage 2 certification audit
• Stage 2 certification audit report
• NCR closures (Stage 2)
• Certification recommendation
• Certificate handover
• Total travel and accommodation (trip)
• Sub-total (VAT excl), VAT (15%), Total price (VAT incl)

Payment and guarantees

• Payment per CSIR Payment Terms and Conditions.
• CSIR does not ordinarily make advance or upfront payments; if requested and accepted, an Advance Payment Guarantee from a recognised financial institution is required, covering the full amount.
• No other bonds, retention, or guarantees are specified.

Due diligence

• CSIR may request audited financial statements or other documents for due diligence to assess the bidder's ability to execute the contract.

Mandatory pre-qualifications

• ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation as a certification body with scope to audit against ISO 19443:2018 in South Africa (attach schedule).
• Lead Auditor(s) allocated to the contract must hold current registration/certification from IRCA, SAACTA, Exemplar Global or equivalent; copies of certificates required.

Tax and supplier compliance

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration is mandatory (except foreign suppliers with no local registered entity) — register at www.csd.gov.za; provide the CSD number.
• Tax compliance is a condition of award. Provide a SARS tax compliance status PIN or a printed TCS certificate; if not available, a CSD number suffices. Non-compliant bidders have 7 working days to provide proof of compliance or a SARS arrangement; failure leads to bid rejection.
• Bidders on the Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers are excluded.

B-bbee

• Preference points claimed via Annexure E (Preference Points Award Form); 80/20 preference system applies.
• Evidence required: valid B-BBEE certificate or a sworn/CIPC affidavit, depending on annual revenue (EME, QSE, or larger entity) — specifics not stated beyond the point system.

Additional compliance

• No bids from persons or entities with directors/members who are persons in the service of the state.
• Bidders, their personnel, and any subcontractors must be screened and cleared to the level commensurate with the services; maintain a list of project personnel with clearance status.
• Bidders must comply with industry regulations and ethical business practices; CSIR may request evidence during due diligence.
• Joint ventures: submit a signed JV agreement naming the lead partner and work split, a consolidated B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, Tax Compliance Status/CSD report for each partner, proof of ownership, and company registration certificates.

The document does not specify explicit health and safety requirements for this tender.

Contract formation

• Award is to the bidder scoring the highest total points, except where the law allows otherwise.
• Appointment is subject to both parties agreeing to mutually acceptable contractual terms. If agreement fails, CSIR may appoint another supplier.
• The recommended bidder must sign the agreement within a stipulated timeframe; failure allows CSIR to cancel the award, negotiate with the second-ranked bidder, or take other action.

Conditions of contract

• This RFQ document prevails over any information from a briefing session unless expressly amended in writing.
• The bidder's RFQ response is incorporated into the contract by reference; misrepresentations may lead to termination and damages.
• The Service Level Agreement (SLA) prevails over the bidder's submission in case of conflict.

Termination

• CSIR may terminate the agreement if funds are no longer available, with payment for services rendered up to the termination date.

Indemnity and liability

• Bidders bear all costs of preparing and submitting a bid; CSIR is not liable for those costs.
• A bidder that breaches RFQ conditions indemnifies CSIR against all resulting costs and damages.
• CSIR may terminate or suspend services if a lower market price is available for the contracted goods/services, after notifying the supplier and allowing a response period.

Confidentiality and IP

• Bidders must keep the RFQ and related information confidential; unauthorised disclosure may lead to disqualification and civil action.
• CSIR owns the RFQ documents; bidders retain IP in their proposals but grant CSIR reproduction rights for the process.
• IP created for CSIR under the contract becomes CSIR's perpetual, exclusive property; bidders warrant they have rights to any third-party IP used and indemnify CSIR.

Personal information

• Each party consents to processing of personal information per POPI Act; bidders must comply with data protection laws and CSIR's governance requirements.
• CSIR may audit bidder compliance with POPI safeguards.

Other

• Bidders must notify CSIR of any actual or potential conflict of interest; failure to resolve it may result in disqualification.
• CSIR may conduct due diligence and require consent to continuous due diligence during the contract term.

CSIR reserves the right to:

• Extend the closing date.
• Correct any mistakes in the bid documents or process.
• Verify any information in a bidder's submission and request documentary proof.
• Carry out site inspections, product evaluations, or explanatory meetings to verify the nature and quality of the offered product/service.
• Award to a bidder that did not score the highest total points under Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA (provided no directors/shareholders are formally charged with fraud).
• Request a Best and Final Offer (BAFO).
• Request audited financial statements or other documents for due diligence.
• Award the RFQ as a whole or in part, or to multiple bidders.
• Cancel or terminate the RFQ process at any stage.
• Post-tender negotiate on any elements of the bid.
• Request presentations from shortlisted bidders; costs borne by bidders.
• Not award to a bidder associated with a security breach or whose directors are charged with fraud.
• Procure from the market if market prices become lower than contract prices, after written notice and a response period.
• Conduct due diligence and risk assessment on recommended bidders, including consent to continuous due diligence.
• Disqualify bidders involved in collusive tendering, corruption, fraud, or conflict of interest.
• Screen and vet the successful bidder and its personnel; bidders must maintain a list of personnel with clearance status.

The evaluation uses a two-phase approach: Phase 1 elimination (mandatory documents, specifications, EBSP compliance, tender defaulters list) and Phase 2 price and preference points evaluation (80/20 system). The award is made to the highest total points bidder, except as permitted by Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA. The CSIR may also request presentations from shortlisted bidders and a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) at its discretion.