Approved list of funders for supplier funding solutions in the TRANSNET supply chain (5 years)

Tip-Off Anonymous hotline: 0800 003 056 (for reporting dishonest, fraudulent or corrupt behaviour by Transnet employees).

Returnable documents: the RFX Declaration Form must be completed and signed, certifying that the bidder has read and agrees to the Integrity Pact. The Integrity Pact itself must be signed and submitted with the bid. The Breach of Law Form (referenced in the RFX document) must be completed. All forms must be signed and submitted with the bid; unsigned or omitted forms may disqualify the bid.

Bidders must sign the Integrity Pact and certify compliance in the RFX Declaration Form. Bidders must not have previous transgressions (corruption, fraud, theft, extortion, Competition Act contraventions) in the last 5 years. Bidders must not appear on National Treasury's Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers. Bidders must not be restricted by Transnet or other organs of state. Bidders must disclose any conflicts of interest. Bidders must not subcontract to restricted companies without declaring it.

The Integrity Pact applies to all bidding processes and any ensuing contract with Transnet. Bidders must comply with the pact's undertakings, including avoiding all forms of dishonesty, fraud and corruption, and upholding the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact (human rights, labour, environment, anti-corruption).

Bidders must understand that a competitor includes any individual or organisation that has been requested to submit a bid, could potentially submit a bid based on qualifications, abilities or experience, or provides the same goods and services. Bids must be arrived at independently, without consultation or arrangement with any competitor.

Bidders must not engage in under-pricing or anti-competitive practices. Prices must be set independently and not disclosed to competitors prior to bid opening or award.

If a bidder subcontracted a portion of the bid without declaring it to Transnet, Transnet must penalise the supplier up to 10% of the value of the contract. Transnet may encash any advance bank guarantee and performance bond or warranty bond furnished by the bidder to recover payments already made, along with interest, in cases of violation.

Bidders must uphold the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, including supporting a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, promoting greater environmental responsibility, and encouraging the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

The Integrity Pact is governed by South African law. It covers all bidding processes and remains valid indefinitely unless cancelled by either party. Disputes should be resolved amicably; litigation in bad faith (vexatious proceedings, perjury, scurrilous allegations, abuse of court process) may lead to exclusion from future business. Transnet may terminate contracts and recover sums paid if a bidder violates the pact. Bidders must report any dishonest, fraudulent or corrupt behaviour by Transnet employees to a senior official or via the Tip-Off Anonymous hotline (0800 003 056).

Bidders must not collude with other parties to preclude a competitive bid price or impair transparency and fairness. Bidders must not disclose bid terms to competitors prior to bid opening or award. Suspicious bids may be reported to the Competition Commission and the National Prosecuting Authority, and bidders may be restricted from doing business with the public sector for up to 10 years.

The document provided is the Transnet General Bid Conditions (June 2022). It does not contain the technical scope, quantities, locations or service levels for this tender. The tender record indicates the procurement is for framing an approved list of funders for supplier funding solutions within the Transnet supply chain, for a period of five (5) years.

Closing date: 30 October 2026 at 16:00 (from the tender record).

• Site visits or briefing sessions may be called where necessary; where marked compulsory in the RFX, attendance is obligatory and non-attendance results in disqualification. No specific date, time or venue is stated in this document.

Site visits or briefing sessions may be called where viewing the site or receiving further information is necessary to prepare a bid. Where the RFX document marks a visit or session as compulsory, attendance is obligatory and non-attendance will result in disqualification. No specific date, time or venue is stated in this document.

Enquiries before the closing date: upload questions to the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal or direct them to the contact person named in the RFX document, in the stipulated manner.

• After the closing date, during evaluation, bidders may communicate only with the contact person named in the RFX document.
• No named contact person, email address or telephone number is stated in this document.

Submission method: upload the completed bid to the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal against the selected tender (portal: transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net).

• Use only the official Transnet bid forms and formats; bids on the bidder's own forms may be rejected.
• Complete the original forms in full; additional information may be annexed on company letterhead only where the allocated space is insufficient, and must be cross-referenced in the RFX.
• All returnable documents listed in the RFX must be submitted with the bid. Omission of a mandatory returnable schedule results in disqualification; omission of other schedules may also result in disqualification.
• Late bids are not considered.
• Bid fees: none. Documents are free to download from National Treasury's e-Tender Publication Portal (www.etenders.gov.za) and the Transnet website (www.transnet.net).
• Prices must be quoted in Rand (ZAR) unless the RFP permits otherwise.
• Alterations to bid prices before submission must be made by deleting the incorrect figures and words, inserting the correct ones, and initialling the change; failure to do so may exclude the affected items from award.
• Bids for goods must be priced on a Delivered Duty Paid (latest ICC Incoterms) basis to the named destination; bids on any other delivery basis are liable to disqualification.
• Required drawings must be submitted before the closing time and date; non-receipt may disqualify the bid.
• Foreign specifications (other than British and American standards) must be submitted with translated copies; departures from the bid documents must be detailed in a covering letter.

Bids must be completed in full and uploaded to the Transnet e-Tender portal against the selected tender, using the official forms and formats issued by Transnet rather than the bidder's own documents; additional information may only be annexed on company letterhead where the allocated space is insufficient, and must be cross-referenced in the RFX. All returnable documents listed in the RFX must be submitted with the bid — failure to submit mandatory returnable schedules results in disqualification, and failure to submit other schedules may also result in disqualification.

Evaluation stages and disqualification risks:

• Late bids are not considered.
• Failure to submit mandatory returnable schedules or documents results in disqualification; failure to submit other schedules may also result in disqualification.
• Non-attendance at a compulsory site visit or briefing session results in disqualification.
• Unauthorised communication about the bid between the closing date and notification of the successful bidder may result in disqualification.
• Prices quoted subject to confirmation will not be considered.
• Bids that do not tender strictly in accordance with the payment conditions in the Terms and Conditions of Contract may be precluded from further consideration.
• A bidder whose name (or that of any member, director, partner or trustee) appears on National Treasury's Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers will not be awarded the bid.
• A bidder that fails to withdraw an unacceptable deviation after review by Transnet's Legal Counsel will be disqualified.
• A foreign bidder's representative or agent that fails to submit written authorisation to act will be disqualified.
• Bids for supply on a delivery basis other than Delivered Duty Paid are liable to disqualification.
• Bids that fail to submit required drawings by the closing time or translated foreign specifications are liable to disqualification.
• No minimum qualifying score or preference point system (80/20 or 90/10) is stated in this document.

Scope: framing of an approved list of funders for supplier funding solutions within the Transnet supply chain, for a period of five (5) years.

• The document provided is the Transnet General Bid Conditions (June 2022) and does not contain the technical specification, quantities, locations or service levels for this tender.
• Unless otherwise stipulated, goods offered must be new and unused, neither second-hand nor reconditioned.
• Where samples are required, they must be marked with the bidder's name and address, the bid number and item number, and delivered by the closing date; failure to submit samples by the due date may result in rejection of the bid.
• Transnet may retain samples (including a successful bidder's samples, without payment) to check quality and workmanship; unsuccessful bidders may collect their samples at their own risk and cost.

Pricing format: prices must be quoted in Rand (ZAR) unless the RFP permits otherwise.

• Prices quoted subject to confirmation will not be considered.
• Alterations to bid prices before submission must be made by deleting the incorrect figures and words, inserting the correct ones, and initialling the change; failure to do so may exclude the affected items from award.
• Goods must be priced on a Delivered Duty Paid (latest ICC Incoterms) basis to the named destination; local supplies quoted on a Delivered RSA named destination basis; imported supplies on a Delivered Duty Paid basis to end destination in South Africa, unless otherwise specified in the Bid Price Schedule.
• Bids on any other delivery basis are liable to disqualification.
• Bidders must tender in the first instance on the contract's stated payment conditions; alternative payment or financing proposals may be offered with full terms for evaluation.
• The successful bidder may be required to furnish a guarantee covering any advance payments.
• Where security is required, the successful bidder must provide a Deed of Suretyship from an approved bank, building society, insurance or guarantee corporation within 30 calendar days of the letter of acceptance; no payment is made until it is delivered, and failure to lodge it entitles Transnet to cancel the contract immediately.
• VAT must be shown separately at the standard rate on tax invoices for local supplies; the local portion of foreign services must be invoiced separately.
• Conditional discounts are calculated from Transnet's receipt of the supplier's month-end statement reflecting the correct tax invoice.
• Where part of the contract value is remitted overseas, Transnet may pay the foreign principal or manufacturer directly on request; Rand-based agreements are preferred and bidders are asked to consider forward exchange cover on foreign currency portions. SARB approval is required for foreign currency payments.
• Transnet will not recognise price adjustment claims arising after the delivery date set out in the contract or any later agreement.
• No bid security, retention, or turnover thresholds are stated in this document.

CSD registration: not stated in this document.

• Tax compliance: not stated in this document.
• B-BBEE: not stated in this document.
• CIDB grading: not stated in this document (not construction-related).
• CIPC registration: not stated in this document.
• Identification: if the bidder is a company, the full names of directors must be stated; if a close corporation, the full names of members; if a partnership or individual trading under a trade name, the full names of partners or the individual.
• Foreign bidders: bids by or on behalf of foreign principals must be accompanied by written proof that any South African representative or agent is duly authorised to act and to sign; failure to submit that authorisation disqualifies the bid. A legal Power of Attorney complying with Rule 63 of the Uniform Rules of Court must be furnished where the agent contracts on the principal's behalf.
• Restricted suppliers: no bid will be awarded to a bidder whose name (or that of any member, director, partner or trustee) appears on National Treasury's Register of Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers. Transnet may withdraw an award or cancel a concluded contract if it is established that the bidder has been restricted by National Treasury through another government institution.
• Returnable forms: all returnable documents listed in the RFX must be submitted; omission of mandatory returnable schedules results in disqualification.

No health and safety requirements are stated in this document.

Contract formation: upon acceptance of a bid, the parties are bound by the General Bid Conditions, the Terms and Conditions of Contract and any schedule of Special Conditions. The contract documents (General Bid Conditions, Terms and Conditions of Contract, Special Conditions, the bidder's response, any covering letter and correspondence, and Transnet's letter of acceptance) form a binding contract until a formal contract is signed.

• Governing law: South African law governs the contract, with a domicilium citandi et executandi in the Republic; foreign bidders must name an authorised South African representative empowered to sign and act.
• Unacceptable conditions: a bidder that finds any condition unacceptable must say so in writing on company letterhead with proposed amendments; these are reviewed by Transnet's Legal Counsel and the bidder may be allowed to withdraw an unacceptable deviation, failing which it is disqualified.
• Default: if a bidder, after acceptance, fails to enter into a formal contract, accept an order, furnish satisfactory security or comply with any imposed condition, Transnet may accept another bid or re-invite bids and recover any additional expense from the defaulting bidder.
• Security: where required, the successful bidder must provide a Deed of Suretyship from an approved bank, building society or insurance/guarantee corporation within 30 calendar days of the letter of acceptance; no payment is made until it is delivered, and failure to lodge it entitles Transnet to cancel the contract immediately.
• Copyright: copyright in documents compiled by the supplier is governed by the Intellectual Property Rights section of the Terms and Conditions of Contract.
• Conflict: should a conflict arise between the General Bid Conditions and the issued RFX document, the RFX document prevails.
• Contract quantities: Transnet does not bind itself to purchase a definitive quantity; the successful bidder undertakes to supply such quantities as may be ordered against the contract. Transnet will not accept liability for material/stocks specially ordered or carried by the bidder. Estimated planned quantities are furnished in the Bid Documents and are estimates only.
• Delivery period: governed by the Terms and Conditions of Contract; the supplier may be required to submit periodical progress reports. Emergency demands may be placed at short notice, with the supplier given first right of refusal; if the supplier cannot meet the critical delivery period, Transnet may purchase elsewhere.

After the closing date, during evaluation, bidders may communicate only with the contact person named in the RFX document. No other evaluation criteria are stated in this document.

The document is a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between Transnet SOC Ltd and the bidding company. It sets out the terms for handling confidential information exchanged during the bid process. The NDA must be signed and returned with the bid response.

Transnet SOC Ltd

Registered office: 49th Floor, Carlton Centre, 150 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg 2001

Registration No. 1990/000900/30

Returnable documents: the signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) must be submitted with the bid response. The NDA is between Transnet SOC Ltd and the bidding company. No other submission instructions are provided in this document.

The NDA governs the exchange of confidential information between Transnet and the bidder for the purpose of the bid. The bidder must treat all confidential information as secret and confidential, use it only for the bid or subsequent contract performance, and ensure its agents are bound by confidentiality. The bidder must keep secure records of all confidential information and, on written demand from Transnet, return or destroy all copies within 7 days and provide a director-signed certificate of compliance.

The bidder must comply with South African privacy protection under Section 14 of the Bill of Rights and ensure appropriate technical and organisational measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of bid-related data. The bidder must act as principal, not as nominee, agent or broker. The bidder may not assign the NDA without Transnet's written consent. The NDA is governed by South African law with exclusive jurisdiction of South African courts.

Confidentiality obligations: The receiving party must keep all confidential information secret and confidential, and may only disclose it to agents who need to know it for the bid or contract performance, ensuring they are bound by confidentiality. The receiving party remains liable for any breach by its agents. Disclosure may be made if required by law or regulatory authority, with prompt notification to the disclosing party. Unauthorised copying, disclosure or use must be reported promptly and remedied. All confidential information remains the property of the disclosing party. The obligations survive termination of discussions for 5 years. The agreement may only be modified by written agreement signed by authorised persons. No partnership, joint venture or agency is created. The agreement is governed by South African law.

Transnet's supplier base, and EMEs and QSEs in particular, struggles with working capital, which limits the ability to mobilise resources, buy materials, cover operating costs and execute contracts, and so affects contract performance, supplier sustainability, supplier growth and transformation targets.

The response is an approved list of funders, structured in two categories, made up of financial institutions, development finance institutions and alternative funders that provide structured funding against verified Transnet contracts, purchase orders, invoices, payment certificates and contractual milestones.

Objectives: widen supplier access to finance, support delivery of Transnet contracts, strengthen supplier sustainability, and increase participation of black-owned, women-owned, youth-owned and other designated suppliers in the Transnet supply chain.

The appointment runs for five years and is not exclusive — it carries no guaranteed allocation, transaction volume or revenue.

Issue date: 08 October 2026

Clarification requests: submitted on the RFP Clarification Request Form to Nhlanhla Caluza at [email protected] by 20 October 2026 at 12:00. Responses are published on the National Treasury e-tender portal and the Transnet website.

Closing: 30 October 2026 at 16:00

Formal briefing or site visit: none — no briefing session will be held. Queries must be emailed to the Transnet contact.

Bid validity: 180 business days from the closing date. Bidders may be asked to extend on the same terms; a bidder who does not respond before the validity period expires is excluded from the process.

Enquiries

• Contact: Nhlanhla Caluza
• Telephone: 011-3083508
• Email: [email protected]
• Scope: bidding procedure and technical enquiries, and all communication after the closing date on any matter relating to the proposal.

Complaints

• Email: [email protected]
• Complaints may be lodged before or after the closing date; the SCM Complaints office acknowledges the complaint and issues a complaint form to complete.

Submission

• Method: Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal
• Portal: transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net
• No physical delivery address is used for this bid.

Submission channel

• Method: electronic upload to the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal at transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net.
• Bidders register their own company profile, log an intent to bid and upload against the relevant advertised tender.
• Upload limit: 30 MB per upload; multiple uploads are permitted.
• Submit at least one day before the closing date; the portal is not risk-managed for last-hour internet, bandwidth or file-size problems.
• Late submissions are not accepted and each bidder may lodge only one proposal per bid invitation.
• A bid uploaded through another company's profile is rejected or disqualifying, whether or not that company is a subsidiary or holding company. In a joint venture, any party may upload on behalf of the JV using its own registered profile.

Document formalities

• Sign, stamp and date the bottom of every page before uploading; the signatory must be legally authorised and proof of authority (for example a company resolution) must accompany the bid.
• Proposals submitted under this RFP are treated as offers.
• Any additional condition must be set out in an accompanying letter; the RFP documents themselves may not be altered, added to or deleted from.

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact particulars, signed as the offer cover page.
• Section 5 Proposal Form and list of returnable documents.
• Section 6 Certificate of Acquaintance with the RFP, Master Agreement and applicable documents.
• Section 7 RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form.
• Section 10 Protection of Personal Information form.
• Annexure E pre-qualification criteria; Annexure F bidder's client reference; Annexure G funding capacity and financial strength; Annexure H funding solutions and product offering; Annexure I risk management and governance; Annexure J systems and reporting capability; Annexure K turnaround time.
• SARS tax compliance PIN or a printed TCS certificate, or a CSD number where no TCS is available; B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit; proof of authority to sign.
• Bidders must indicate whether they bid for Category A, Category B, or both.

Joint ventures and consortia

• State the intention to bid as a JV or consortium in the submission.
• Submit a signed JV or consortium agreement showing the percentage split of business and each party's responsibilities; if not yet concluded, submit written confirmation of intent with the same details. Award only follows receipt of a signed agreement.

Disqualification risks

• Late or incomplete uploads, or a bid lodged under another entity's profile.
• Any returnable document omitted or unsigned, or signature without proof of authority.
• Collusion with another respondent, or canvassing any Transnet officer or employee between the closing date and the award.
• Material deviation from Transnet's standard contractual terms.

Stages (run sequentially, although Transnet may run steps in parallel; passing one stage does not imply passing an earlier one)

• Step 1: administrative and substantive responsiveness — bid lodged on time and all returnable documents and schedules completed and returned by the closing date and time.
• Pre-qualification against the mandatory legal, regulatory, licensing and financial requirements and the applicable funding capacity category.
• Technical/functionality evaluation worth 80 points, with a minimum threshold that must be met.
• Preference points for the specific goals, claimed on the Specific Goals Claim Form (Section 4.1), in line with the PPPFA.

Technical criteria and weightings

• Funding capacity and financial strength (Annexure G).
• Funding solutions and product offering: 20 points — a methodology covering all eight required topics scores 20; six to seven topics covered comprehensively scores 10; four to five topics scores 5; three or fewer topics, or no methodology, scores 0.
• Risk management and governance: 20 points for a robust governance and comprehensive risk management framework covering all ten required areas; 15 points for eight to nine areas.
• Experience in providing funding solutions: 10 points — 8 years or more scores 10; 5 to 7 years scores 8; 3 to 4 years scores 6; 1 to 2 years scores 3; no relevant experience scores 0.
• Systems and reporting capability (Annexure J).
• Turnaround time (Annexure K), which becomes a contractual service level.

Commercial

• No priced offer is required at the approved-list framing stage.
• Bidders are ranked on final technical score; Transnet intends to appoint at least five and at most twenty funders per category, and if more than twenty qualify only the twenty highest-ranked by final technical score are appointed.
• Tie at the twentieth position is broken by, in order: higher funding capacity and financial strength score; higher funding solutions and product offering score; higher turnaround time score; and, if still tied, a witnessed drawing of lots by an independent person appointed by the relevant CPO.
• A joint venture is scored on one consolidated B-BBEE scorecard.
• Qualification, functionality scoring, ranking, category placement, the maximum number of appointments and tie-breaking are fixed by the criteria disclosed in this RFP; no material evaluation or appointment decision will be introduced after bid closing.

Purpose and term

• Transnet requires an approved list of funders — financial institutions, development finance institutions and alternative funders — to provide structured funding solutions to qualifying suppliers in the Transnet supply chain: EMEs, QSEs and Large Suppliers.
• The approved list runs for five years.
• Appointment is non-exclusive and carries no guarantee of a minimum funding allocation, transaction volume or revenue.

Funding linked to Transnet transactions

• Funding must, where applicable, be linked to verified Transnet contracts, purchase orders, invoices, payment certificates and/or contractual milestones, and must take account of the supplier's cash-flow cycle, repayment ability and funding needs.
• Products: working capital finance, purchase order funding, contract financing, invoice discounting/factoring, invoice and receivables finance, and milestone-based or phased disbursements.
• Structuring requirements: facilities sized to contract value, duration and payment cycles; repayments aligned to contractual payment flows; flexibility for milestone or staged disbursements; appropriate security, including contract or receivables cessions where legally permissible; transparent terms and costs.

Categories

• Category A: demonstrated funding capacity from R50 million up to and including R100 million. Products include purchase order funding, contract financing, invoice discounting/factoring, milestone and payment certificate funding.
• Category B: demonstrated funding capacity above R100 million. Includes all Category A products plus larger structured facilities, multi-facility arrangements and large-scale contract and receivables financing.
• A Category B bidder may qualify for both categories if it meets all mandatory and applicable technical requirements; a bidder showing only Category A capacity qualifies for Category A only.

Funder responsibilities

• Own supplier onboarding, FICA compliance, credit and due diligence, affordability and repayment assessment, risk assessment, approval or decline of applications, ongoing monitoring, portfolio management, arrears management and recovery.
• Decline decisions remain the funder's own; the funder informs the supplier and, where legally permissible, gives reasons. A decline by one funder does not prevent the supplier approaching another.
• Developmental support must be offered where applicable: basic financial literacy and business management support, record-keeping and financial management assistance, compliance and governance assistance, and business sustainability and growth support, with reporting on the nature, frequency and beneficiaries of interventions.

Systems and reporting

• Systems must track funding linked to Transnet contracts and purchase orders, portfolio performance, applications and decisions, disbursements, repayments and arrears; produce accurate and timely reports; support digital or automated reporting; verify contracts and invoices; maintain secure, auditable transaction records; and protect supplier and Transnet information.
• Monthly and quarterly reports must cover, at minimum: applications received, approved and declined, and decline reasons where lawful; average turnaround time; funding approved and disbursed; outstanding exposure; arrears and recoveries; default rate; number and value of active transactions; funding split by supplier category (EME, QSE, Large Supplier), operating division and province; pipeline; jobs created or sustained; black-, women-, youth- and PWD-owned businesses funded; developmental interventions; growth and sustainability outcomes; and risks, disputes and mitigation measures.
• Committed turnaround times are incorporated into the Framework Agreement and SLA and monitored; persistent failure against agreed service levels can lead to corrective action, suspension or removal.

Roles

• Transnet administers the list, coordinates supplier referrals on request, oversees cession agreements, verifies Transnet contractual documentation, monitors performance against SLAs and KPIs, consolidates reporting, and holds quarterly performance reviews.
• Under the Supplier Choice Model, suppliers select and approach one or more listed funders; Transnet does not allocate transactions, select funders, negotiate terms or influence credit decisions, and its verification of documentation is not a guarantee of funding or repayment.
• Any cession is limited to the supplier's right to receive payment from Transnet, is processed under the Transnet Procurement Policy and Delegation of Authority, does not shift the supplier's contractual obligations, and is not a guarantee or credit-risk assumption by Transnet.
• Security clearance: acceptance of the bid may be conditional on the successful funder, its personnel and its subcontractors obtaining clearance to the CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET level, at the funder's cost, together with any security measures the safe performance of the contract requires.

Supplier Choice Model

• Eligible Transnet suppliers choose and approach one or more funders on the approved list. Transnet does not allocate or rotate transactions, select a funder for a supplier, run a mini competition, negotiate funding terms or influence a funding decision.
• A supplier whose application is declined may approach another funder; each funder assesses independently and appointment to the list does not guarantee approval of any application.
• The funder is fully responsible to Transnet for the acts and omissions of persons it employs directly or indirectly, and must comply with all requirements of the RFP.

Technical methodology submission (Funding Solutions and Product Offering, 20 points)

• The bidder must submit a methodology addressing all eight topics below; scoring is 20 points for all eight topics and relevant sub-topics, 10 points for six to seven topics covered comprehensively, 5 points for four to five topics, and 0 points for three or fewer topics, no methodology, or a methodology that does not align with the requirements.
• Topic 1, executive summary: understanding of the programme, of supplier funding requirements, and the objectives of the proposed funding solution.
• Topic 2, funding solution framework: funding products available — working capital finance, purchase order finance, contract finance, invoice/receivables finance, milestone-based funding and other relevant products.

Experience in providing funding solutions is scored out of 10 points:

• 8 years and above: 10 points
• 5 to 7 years: 8 points
• 3 to 4 years: 6 points
• 1 to 2 years: 3 points
• No relevant experience submitted: 0 points

Evidence required

• Client reference letters on company letterhead, signed by a contactable authorised representative and containing that representative's contact details, from corporate clients and not older than eight years.
• A schedule of relevant funding transactions undertaken within the last eight years, showing: number of EMEs financed; number of QSEs financed; number of Large Suppliers financed; cumulative value of funding provided; nature of the funding products provided; the period over which the services were rendered; default and repayment performance where available; portfolio at risk; industries funded; and average funding size.

Turnaround times committed in the bid form part of the Framework Agreement and SLA and are contractually binding.

Transnet monitors application volumes, funding decisions, turnaround times and decline reasons where legally permissible. Persistent failure against agreed service levels may trigger performance management measures under the Agreement/MSA, escalating through:

• corrective action;
• submission of a remedial action plan;
• increased monitoring;
• suspension of new referrals;
• reallocation of funding opportunities;
• suspension from the approved list;
• removal from the approved list.

No priced offer is required at the approved-list framing stage; funding is priced by each funder per transaction once a supplier approaches it.

Products offered by listed funders include high-value contract financing, invoice and purchase order financing, milestone-based and phased funding arrangements, and funding supported by cession arrangements where applicable.

A bidder that demonstrates the funding capacity required for Category B may qualify for both Category A and Category B, provided it meets all mandatory and applicable technical evaluation requirements, and may be considered for funding requirements falling within the applicable transaction thresholds. A bidder showing only Category A capacity qualifies for Category A only. Qualification for a category does not guarantee allocation of any funding transaction.

Pricing

• No priced offer is required at the approved-list framing stage; funding pricing is determined per transaction by the funder.

Funding capacity thresholds (Annexure G evidence required)

• Category A: R50 million to R100 million.
• Category B: above R100 million.

Due diligence and validity

• Transnet may call for audited financial statements or other documentation for due diligence purposes, and may validate any information submitted.
• Bid validity is 180 business days from the closing date; bidders who fail to respond to a request to extend before the validity period expires are excluded.
• Transnet does not reimburse any preparatory costs or other work done in connection with a proposal.
• Should the preferred bidder fail to sign or commence the contract within a reasonable period, Transnet may award to the next ranked bidder at its quoted price, and that bidder's bid remains valid for the purpose.

Contract funding arrangements

• Cessions relate only to the supplier's right to payment from Transnet and are not a Transnet guarantee of the supplier's indebtedness, repayment or performance.
• Repayment arrangements must align with Transnet contractual payment flows.
• Rates may not be changed after the closing date or after award unless the contract expressly permits it.

Registration and tax

• Self-registration on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database (https://secure.csd.gov.za/) is required; only foreign suppliers with no local registered entity are exempt.
• Tax matters of the successful respondent must be in order or satisfactory arrangements made with SARS. Submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or a printed TCS certificate; where no TCS is available but the bidder is on the CSD, a CSD number must be provided.
• In bids involving unincorporated consortia, joint ventures or sub-contractors, each party submits its own separate TCS certificate, PIN or CSD number.

B-bbee

• A B-BBEE status level verification certificate, or a sworn affidavit for EMEs and QSEs, must be submitted for compliance with the B-BBEE Act.
• Preference points are claimed for the specific goals in the table in Section 4.1 of the Specific Goals Claim Form.
• A joint venture is evaluated on one consolidated B-BBEE scorecard (consolidated verification certificate).

Other mandatory compliance

• Employment Equity Act compliance, including Section 53.
• Full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations by the successful funder.
• Acceptance of Transnet's standard contractual terms — the proposal is reviewed by Transnet Legal Counsel and material deviation may result in disqualification.
• Security clearance to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET for the successful funder, its personnel and subcontractors, at its own cost.
• Certification of acquaintance with the Non-Disclosure Agreement and observance of strict confidentiality.
• Environmental, social and governance information may be requested at any stage; it is used for record and analysis and not for evaluation or disqualification.

Returnable forms and annexures

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): signed offer cover page with bidder particulars.
• Section 5 Proposal Form and list of returnable documents, and Section 6 Certificate of Acquaintance with the RFP, Master Agreement and applicable documents: confirm the bidder has read and accepts the governing documents.
• Section 7 RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form, and Section 10 Protection of Personal Information form: declarations signed by the bidder.
• Section 8 RFP Clarification Request Form: used only to put questions to Transnet.
• Annexures E to K: pre-qualification criteria, client reference, funding capacity and financial strength, funding solutions and product offering, risk management and governance, systems and reporting capability, and turnaround time.

Conduct

• Only one proposal per bidder per bid invitation.
• Collusion results in automatic disqualification and restriction from doing business with organs of state for a specified period; canvassing Transnet staff between closing and award is prohibited.
• Incorrect information can lead to cancellation of the contract and placement on National Treasury's Database of Restricted Suppliers for up to 10 years.

Administrative obligations

• Every page of the submission must be signed, stamped and dated, and the signatory must be legally authorised, with proof of authority (for example a company resolution) attached.
• All returnable documents listed in the Proposal Form must be submitted with the proposal.
• Proposals are deemed to be offers, and any exception to that must be stated clearly.
• Any additional condition must be contained in an accompanying letter; the RFP documents may not be amended, added to or deleted from.

Clarifications and complaints

• Clarification requests go to Nhlanhla Caluza at [email protected] on the RFP Clarification Request Form before 20 October 2026 at 12:00, and are answered publicly on the e-tender portal and Transnet website.
• Complaints before or after the closing date go to [email protected]; the SCM Complaints office acknowledges and issues a complaint form.

Funder accountability

• The funder is solely responsible for its own credit, due diligence, affordability, risk and compliance checks, for funding approvals and declines, for pricing, structuring and administration, and for meeting all legislative, regulatory, contractual and reporting requirements for the duration of the approved list.
• Funding agreements are concluded directly between the selected funder and the supplier.
• Transnet is not responsible for any funder's credit decision or risk assessment.

Transnet may ask a bidder for information on its Environmental, Social and Governance standing at any stage of the procurement or contracting process. That information is not used for evaluation and cannot disqualify a bidder; it is kept for record and analysis of ESG compliance.

Bidders are required to submit details of the entity's environmental policies and commitments, covering at least waste disposal, recycling and energy conservation.

Term and status

• The approved list operates for five years and is non-exclusive; appointment guarantees no minimum number, value or volume of funding transactions and does not oblige Transnet to direct opportunities to any member.
• Dispute resolution is governed by the applicable Master Services Agreement and/or agreement.
• The successful funder is fully responsible to Transnet for the acts and omissions of persons directly or indirectly employed by it.

List management

• Framework Agreements and SLAs govern the relationship, with quarterly performance reviews, compliance monitoring, documented corrective action, suspension or removal for material non-performance, and periodic assessment of whether each category remains adequate.
• New funders may be added during the term only where an assessment shows the list is inadequate because of attrition, removal, insufficient capacity or changed demand, and only through an open, fair, transparent sourcing process — never by informal nomination.

Cession

• A cession is limited to the supplier's right to receive payment from Transnet, is processed under the Transnet Procurement Policy and Delegation of Authority, does not transfer the supplier's contractual obligations, and is not a guarantee or credit-risk assumption by Transnet.

Transnet's reserved rights

• Transnet may modify the scope, split the award between more than one funder, cancel the process, validate information submitted (and may require supporting evidence), and request audited financial statements for due diligence.
• Rates may not change after the closing date or after award unless the contract provides for it.
• Where information furnished is incorrect, Transnet may cancel the contract and request that National Treasury place the respondent on the Database of Restricted Suppliers for up to 10 years.
• If the preferred bidder fails to sign or start within a reasonable period, Transnet may award to the next ranked bidder at its quoted price, and that bid remains valid regardless of publication of the outcome.
• Transnet does not reimburse preparatory costs.

Qualification, functionality scoring, ranking, category placement, the maximum number of appointments and tie-break rules are set only by the criteria disclosed in this RFP; no material evaluation or appointment decision is introduced after bid closing.

Evaluation runs in sequential stages (responsiveness, pre-qualification, technical/functionality scoring, then specific-goals preference points), although Transnet may run steps in parallel, and progress in one step does not mean a previous stage was passed.

A joint venture is evaluated on one consolidated B-BBEE scorecard and preference points are claimed for the specific goals in the table in Section 4.1 of the Specific Goals Claim Form.

No priced offer is required at the approved-list framing stage.