Appointment of a panel of legal experts to provide legal services to the hsrc for a period of 24 months

Advertisement of bid on Government e-tender portal / HSRC website: 07 August 2026. Closing date for bid-related enquiries: 18 August 2026. Publication of questions and answers on HSRC website: 20 August 2026. Bid closing date: 31 August 2026 at 11:00 AM. A non-compulsory virtual briefing session is indicated as N/A. The bid must be valid for 90 days from the closing date.

Bidding procedure enquiries: Bid Section, telephone 012 302 2180, email [email protected]. Technical enquiries contact person is not specified; the technical enquiry telephone and email fields are not populated in the document.

Bids must be delivered to the HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, either by courier (preferably registered mail) or placed in the tender box, before the closing date and time. The HSRC shares the building with the Department of Social Development; bidders must ensure documents go into the correct tender box, as those deposited in the wrong box or received from DSD after closing will not be considered. This is a two-stage bidding process. Stage 1 requires an original technical file in one envelope plus a USB with a duplicate soft copy. Stage 2 requires a second envelope containing the pricing schedule, SBD 6.1, and supporting documentation for price and preference points. Each envelope and the USB must be correctly marked and sealed separately. Bidders must initial each page of the tender document, including supporting documents and pricing schedules. The bid must remain valid for 90 days from the closing date. Returnable forms include SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim), and the signed General Conditions of Contract. Failure to submit the Annexure A pricing schedule invalidates the bid. Bids received after the closing date are not considered regardless of delivery method.

Evaluation proceeds in three stages. Stage 0 (pre-qualification): bidders must submit all required documents, including SBD 1, SBD 4, a valid Fidelity Fund certificate, proof of registration with the Legal Practice Council, and proof of a national correspondent network in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Non-submission of these results in immediate disqualification. Stage 1 (functionality): bidders must score a minimum of 75 points out of 100 to proceed. Functionality is scored on: experience of the bidder in providing legal services (40 points, with 20+ years combined experience earning 40, 15-19 years 30, 10-14 years 20, 5-9 years 10); capacity and knowledge of assigned personnel (20 points, with the principal consultant requiring at least 10 years' practising experience and CVs citing at least four cases); track record (20 points, based on four reference letters from clients serviced in the last three years); and methodology and approach (20 points, assessing ability to meet tight deadlines). Stage 2 (price and preference points): the 80/20 preference point system applies. Price scores a maximum of 80 points using the formula Ps = 80(1 - Pt/Pmin). Preference points score a maximum of 20 points for specific goals: SMME (EME & QSE) 4 points, owned by black people (50% or more) 4 points, owned by black youth (30% or more) 4 points, owned by black women (30% or more) 4 points, owned by black people with disabilities (30% or more) 4 points. Proof must be submitted via CSD reports or medical certificates. Failure to submit a fully completed SBD 6.1 results in zero preference points. In the event of equal total scores, the bidder with the highest preference points wins; if still equal, the award is decided by drawing of lots.

The HSRC seeks to appoint a panel of up to five legal service providers to provide legal services for a period of 24 months. No retainer fees are payable; work is assigned on a rotational, assignment-by-assignment basis. Bidders may be appointed in one or several of the following categories: Corporate Law (general commercial work, drafting and negotiating complex contracts, advice on tax, insurance and trusts, interpretation of corporate governance principles such as King V, drafting and litigation on rental agreements); Intellectual Property Law (advice on IP implications of agreements, litigation under the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act 51 of 2008); Constitutional / Administrative / Public Law (advice and litigation on constitutional and administrative matters, including PFMA and Treasury Regulations); and General Litigation (civil and criminal, representing and defending the HSRC). Services include giving specialist legal opinions and advice, conducting litigation, representing the HSRC at judicial and extra-judicial institutions, and conducting workshops on legal matters. Only legal practices established under the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 will be considered. The service provider may be required to sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements and a service level agreement. The HSRC may award an assignment to more than one panel member, may vary instructions to include more work, and may conduct supplier due diligence including site visits. The service provider may not cede, assign or subcontract any part of the work without prior written authorisation. All copyright and IP arising from the work becomes the property of the HSRC. The service provider must hand over all documents and information received from the HSRC immediately after completion of the assignment. Assignments awarded in the last three months of the contract period may continue after expiry.

Bidders must complete the mandatory pricing schedule (Annexure A) in full without changing its structure; failure to submit it invalidates the bid. Prices must be quoted in ZAR and include all applicable taxes. The HSRC reserves the right to negotiate rates submitted by bidders. Contract price adjustments will be done annually on the anniversary of the contract start date. No retainer fees are payable to appointed service providers. Bidders bear all costs of preparing and submitting their bid.

Bidders must be legal practices established under the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014. A valid Fidelity Fund certificate is required. Proof of registration with the Legal Practice Council is required. Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and provide proof of registration. Bidders must be tax compliant; no tender will be awarded to a non-compliant bidder, and the HSRC may cancel a contract if the bidder ceases to be tax compliant. Bidders must provide proof of a national correspondent network in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, either through offices or letters from law firms in those areas. Bidders must not appear on the Register of Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers. Bidders must submit SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid) and SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) as pre-qualification documents. SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim) must be completed and signed to claim preference points. The General Conditions of Contract must be signed and initialled. Bidders must declare any conflict of interest and may be disqualified for collusive tendering, fraud, or misrepresentation. Bidders must provide proof of authority to sign (e.g., company resolution).