Pre-qualified panel of law firms for legal services to the gauteng department of education (3 years)

Closing: 20 November 2026 at 11:00

Issue date: 19 October 2026

Bid validity: 180 days

Briefing session: none indicated — the briefing venue is marked N/A and no compulsory briefing or site inspection is specified.

Non-compulsory 'How to tender' workshops: every Wednesday, 10:00–13:00; venue published on GPG social media and [email protected].

Procurement enquiries

• Role: Procurement Buyer
• Telephone: 011 355 0423
• Email: [email protected]

Technical enquiries

• Role: Procurement Buyer
• Telephone: 011 355 0423
• Email: [email protected]

Tender documents

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://e-tenders.gauteng.gov.za/Pages/AdvertisedOpen-Tenders.aspx

Training sessions

• Email: [email protected]

Submission address

Tender Box

100 Main, corner Rissik and Main Street

Marshalltown

Johannesburg

Submission method

• Sealed envelope, delivered by hand to the tender box or posted to reach the address before the closing time.
• Fax and email submissions are not accepted.
• Each bid in a separate sealed envelope marked with the bidder's name and address, the bid number GT/GDE/048/2026, and the closing date.
• Bids must be completed on the official GPG bid forms; retyped forms are not accepted and all required information must be completed.
• Closing: 20 November 2026 at 11:00.
• Bid validity: 180 days.

Tender box

100 Main, corner Rissik and Main Street

Marshalltown

Johannesburg

Open Monday to Friday, 07h00–16h00.

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses state employment or connections between the bidder's directors/shareholders and the procuring institution; a false declaration disqualifies the bid.
• POPIA Personal Information Processing Consent form: consent to the department processing the bidder's personal information.
• Proof of authority to sign, such as a company resolution.
• Bidders Job Creation Analysis form.
• SBD 7 (Contract Form): completed and signed by the successful bidder on award.

Disqualification risks

• Bids received after the closing time.
• Incomplete or unsigned bid documents.
• Failure to select at least one service category.
• Missing mandatory returnable documents (see compliance requirements).

Evaluation stages

• Stage 1A: administrative compliance (eliminating).
• Stage 1B: functionality, assessed separately for each service category applied for.
• Bids failing administrative compliance or the functionality threshold are eliminated and not considered for panel appointment.

Functionality scoring (per category, out of 100)

• Capacity to deliver: 50
• Human resources: 30
• Company experience: 20
• Minimum threshold: 70/100. A bidder scoring below 70 for a category is non-responsive for that category.
• Shortlisting: bidders reaching 80/100 for a category are shortlisted for inclusion on the panel for that category.

Category 1 — Law of Delict and Contracts

Capacity to deliver (50)

• Methodology (20): consultation and legal opinion 2; drafting pleadings and negotiating settlement 4; drafting and reviewing contracts 6; due diligence 6; representation in court or another forum 2.
• Management consulting approach (10): how the state functions 3; how instructions are taken 3; communication between the department and bidder 4.
• Skills transfer plan (10).
• Risk management plan for urgent applications (10).

Human resources (30)

• Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney (15): NQF 9 or higher 6; experience 9 (10+ years 9, 5–9 years 5, under 5 years 0).
• Professional Assistant/Attorney (10): NQF 8 or higher 4; experience 6 (10+ years 6, 5–9 years 4, under 5 years 0).
• Personnel/Attorney (5): NQF 7 or higher 2; experience 3 (5+ years 3, 3–4 years 1, under 3 years 0).

Company experience (20)

• Reference letters: 5 or more completed contracts/projects 20; 3–4 contracts 10; 2 contracts 5; fewer than 2 or none 0.

Category 2 — Mediation, ADR, Prosecuting and/or Presiding in High Profile Hearings (Labour Law)

Capacity to deliver (50)

• Methodology (20): consultation and legal opinion 2; drafting pleadings 6; negotiating settlement 4; initiating or presiding in hearings 6; representation in court or another forum 2.
• Management consulting approach (10): how the state functions 3; how instructions are taken 3; communication 4.
• Skills transfer plan (10).
• Risk management plan for urgent applications (10).

Human resources (30)

• Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney (15): NQF 9 or higher 6; mediation/ADR experience 9 (10+ years 9, 5–9 years 5, under 5 years 0).
• Professional Assistant/Attorney (10): NQF 8 or higher 4; experience 6 (10+ years 6, 5–9 years 4, under 5 years 0).
• Personnel/Attorney (5): NQF 7 or higher 2; experience 3 (5+ years 3, 3–4 years 1, under 3 years 0).

Company experience (20)

• Reference letters relating to mediation/ADR/labour law hearings: 5 or more completed contracts 20; 3–4 contracts 10; 2 contracts 5; fewer than 2 or none 0.

Preference points

• Points are awarded in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022.

Purpose

• Establish a pre-qualified panel of law firms to provide legal services to the Gauteng Department of Education (head office, district offices and schools) on an as-and-when-needed basis for three years.
• Work is allocated by category and by the department's risk assessment, subject to available work and budget.

Service categories (bidders must select at least one)

• Category 1: Law of Delict and Contracts.
• Category 2: Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), prosecuting and/or presiding in high profile hearings — Labour Law.
• Category 3: Drafting, Interpretation and Review of Legislation, Regulations and Policies.
• Category 4: Litigation.
• Category 5: Legal Investigation.
• A bidder may be appointed to more than one category.

Scope of work

• Research and gather evidence.
• Prepare legal documents.
• Represent and defend the department before any competent institution.
• Provide legal advice.
• Investigate incidents (for example learner injuries) and report to the department.
• Review and draft contracts and legislation.
• Mediate disputes, handle litigation claims and negotiate on the department's behalf.
• Complete assignments within timelines set by the department.

Proposal requirements

• A detailed proposal covering the scope of work and deliverables for every category applied for.
• Demonstrate a management consulting approach, how legal opinions are given, pleadings drafted and settlements negotiated.
• Set out the litigation strategy, cost-efficiency measures, contract drafting and review, due diligence, and court/forum representation.
• Cover the legal investigation process and how an implementable investigation report is prepared.
• Include the bidder's understanding of how the public sector and the state function, how instructions are taken and how the bidder communicates with the department.
• Include a skills transfer plan and how the bidder will capacitate department officials.
• Include a risk management plan for urgent applications.

Personnel

• Submit CVs and qualifications for all personnel, showing years of experience.
• Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney: NQF level 9 (master's degree or equivalent) or higher.
• Professional Assistant/Attorney: NQF level 8 (Honours degree or equivalent) or higher.
• Personnel/Attorney: NQF level 7 (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) or higher.
• Each proposed team member must be identified against the applicable position and service category, with supporting documentation for each individual.

Proposal methodology

• Bidders must submit a detailed proposal covering the scope of work and deliverables for every category applied for.
• The proposal must show how the bidder will apply a management consulting approach, give legal opinions, draft pleadings, negotiate settlements, draft and review contracts, conduct due diligence and represent the department in court or another forum.
• The proposal must set out the bidder's litigation strategy, aimed at helping the department meet its mandate cost-effectively.
• The proposal must cover the legal investigation process and how an implementable investigation report is prepared.
• The proposal must include the bidder's understanding of the public sector and how the state functions, how instructions are taken and how the bidder communicates with the department.
• The proposal must include a skills transfer plan and how the bidder will capacitate department officials.
• The proposal must include a risk management plan for urgent applications.

Personnel qualifications (minimum)

• Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney: NQF level 9 (master's degree or equivalent) or higher.
• Professional Assistant/Attorney: NQF level 8 (Honours degree or equivalent) or higher.
• Personnel/Attorney: NQF level 7 (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) or higher.
• CVs must show years of experience; each team member must be matched to the applicable position and service category.

Experience scoring (per category)

• Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney: 10+ years 9 points, 5–9 years 5 points, under 5 years 0.
• Professional Assistant/Attorney: 10+ years 6 points, 5–9 years 4 points, under 5 years 0.
• Personnel/Attorney: 5+ years 3 points, 3–4 years 1 point, under 3 years 0.

Company experience

• Verifiable, contactable reference letters on the client's letterhead with the signatory's contact details, showing completed contracts/projects and the period worked.
• Reference letters must relate to the specific category applied for.
• Scoring: 5 or more completed contracts 20 points, 3–4 contracts 10 points, 2 contracts 5 points, fewer than 2 or none 0.

Pricing forms

• SBD 3.1 (firm prices), SBD 3.2 (non-firm prices) and SBD 3.3 (professional services) are completed per item; the instruction notes these are not applicable to a panel of bidders.
• Where the bidder is not the manufacturer, a Letter of Supply from the manufacturer or supplier must accompany the pricing schedule.
• Prices must be quoted in South African currency; foreign currency information is required for imported goods.
• Packaging costs are for the bidder's account and must be included in the bid price.
• SBD 5 (National Industrial Participation Programme) applies only where an imported component exceeds US$10 million.

Pricing

• Pricing schedules SBD 3.1 (firm prices), SBD 3.2 (non-firm prices) and SBD 3.3 (professional services) are completed per item; the instruction notes these are not applicable to a panel of bidders.
• Prices must be quoted in South African currency.
• SBD 5 (National Industrial Participation Programme) applies only where an imported component exceeds US$10 million.

Registration and tax

• Proof of Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration.
• Valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) pin; where no TCS pin is available but the bidder is registered on the CSD, the CSD number must be provided.
• Consortia, joint ventures and subcontractors: each party must submit a separate TCS certificate/pin and CSD number.

Legal practice requirements (eliminating)

• Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) registration number for the law firm.
• Fidelity Fund Certificate issued in the name of the law firm.
• Proof of current Legal Practice Council (LPC) registration and a valid Letter of Good Standing from the LPC for the Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney, the Professional Assistant/Attorney and the Personnel/Attorney.

B-bbee

• A valid B-BBEE certificate or a valid sworn affidavit attested by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Exclusion

• No bid will be considered from persons in the service of the state, companies with directors who are in the service of the state, or close corporations with members in the service of the state.

Standard forms

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses state employment or connections; a false declaration disqualifies the bid.
• SBD 7 (Contract Form): signed by the successful bidder on award.
• POPIA Personal Information Processing Consent form.
• Proof of authority to sign (for example a company resolution).

Proudly South African

• The Gauteng Provincial Government is a sponsor of the Proudly South African Campaign and prefers locally produced, high-quality products made under sound labour relations and high environmental standards.
• Bidders may submit information on local manufacturing achievements where relevant.

Contract duration

• Three years, with work allocated on an as-and-when-needed basis.

Contract formalities

• Successful bidders must sign a GPG Contract on award; this is mandatory.
• The successful bidder must complete and sign SBD 7 (Contract Form).
• The bid is subject to the General Conditions of Contract (GCC) and any applicable special conditions of contract.

Popia

• The bidder must comply with POPIA in processing personal information arising from the contract, maintain appropriate security measures, and indemnify the department against losses from any privacy-law breach.
• The bidder must notify the department, the data subject and the Information Regulator of any unauthorised disclosure.

Evaluation stages

• Stage 1A: administrative compliance — a paper-based check; bids missing any compulsory document are eliminated.
• Stage 1B: functionality — assessed separately for each service category applied for.

Functionality

• Total 100 points per category: capacity to deliver 50, human resources 30, company experience 20.
• Minimum threshold: 70/100 per category; below this the bid is non-responsive for that category.
• Shortlisting threshold: 80/100 per category for inclusion on the panel for that category.

Category 1 — Law of Delict and Contracts

• Capacity to deliver (50): methodology 20 (consultation and legal opinion 2, drafting pleadings and negotiating settlement 4, drafting and reviewing contracts 6, due diligence 6, representation in court 2); management consulting approach 10 (state functions 3, taking instructions 3, communication 4); skills transfer plan 10; risk management plan for urgent applications 10.
• Human resources (30): Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney 15 (NQF 9 or higher 6; experience 9 — 10+ years 9, 5–9 years 5, under 5 years 0); Professional Assistant/Attorney 10 (NQF 8 or higher 4; experience 6 — 10+ years 6, 5–9 years 4, under 5 years 0); Personnel/Attorney 5 (NQF 7 or higher 2; experience 3 — 5+ years 3, 3–4 years 1, under 3 years 0).
• Company experience (20): reference letters — 5 or more completed contracts 20, 3–4 contracts 10, 2 contracts 5, fewer than 2 or none 0.

Category 2 — Mediation, ADR, Prosecuting and/or Presiding in High Profile Hearings (Labour Law)

• Capacity to deliver (50): methodology 20 (consultation and legal opinion 2, drafting pleadings 6, negotiating settlement 4, initiating or presiding in hearings 6, representation in court 2); management consulting approach 10; skills transfer plan 10; risk management plan 10.
• Human resources (30): Legal Director/Project Leader/Attorney 15 (NQF 9 or higher 6; mediation/ADR experience 9 — 10+ years 9, 5–9 years 5, under 5 years 0); Professional Assistant/Attorney 10 (NQF 8 or higher 4; experience 6); Personnel/Attorney 5 (NQF 7 or higher 2; experience 3).
• Company experience (20): reference letters relating to mediation/ADR/labour law hearings — 5 or more completed contracts 20, 3–4 contracts 10, 2 contracts 5, fewer than 2 or none 0.