Panel of legal advisory services for litigation matters – 3 year appointment

CEF (SOC) Ltd, the holding company of the CEF Group of energy-sector subsidiaries, seeks to appoint legal firms to a panel for litigation-related services over three years. The panel will provide legal services for civil and criminal litigation matters on an ad hoc basis. Firms previously on the panel are not automatically re-appointed; they must respond to this tender. The appointment of any firm may be revoked or terminated by CEF at any time on grounds of commercial sense, empowerment, conflict of interest, or other administrative or operational requirements not foreseen at the time of tender. Panel membership does not guarantee any work. For each assignment, an RFQ is issued to the panel; selection is based on greatest benefit (time, quality, price). Firms must sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements and a commitment undertaking for performance delivery. Firms must declare any interest or conflict of interest before accepting an assignment; CEF may summarily cancel the agreement and demand refund if conflict is discovered. Firms must enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA); CEF may remove a firm for not meeting performance standards. Upon award, firms must furnish an annual professional liability insurance policy or fidelity fund certificate for the contract duration. Firms must maintain operational IT capability and promptly report any breakdown affecting email communication. No press releases or public announcements about the project proposal without CEF's prior written approval. Firms must nominate a pool of counsel: 7 senior and 7 junior counsel with litigation expertise, with CVs provided. Woman and young black counsel must be targeted for development.

Closing date: 18 November 2026 at 10:00

Evaluation is in two phases.

Phase 1 – Mandatory requirements (pass/fail):

• Company letter of good standing with the Legal Practice Council (LPC), valid at bid submission.
• Project lead's LLB qualification (NQF Level 8 or above).
• Project lead's right of appearance in the High Court.
• Project lead's valid LPC accreditation certificate.
• Project lead's letter of good standing with the LPC, valid at bid submission.
• The bidder must clearly identify the project lead.
• Failure to meet any mandatory requirement disqualifies the bid.

Phase 2 – Technical evaluation (minimum threshold 70%):

• Experience of the team lead (20%): scored on years of litigation experience, from 0 (less than 1 year) to 5 (10+ years).
• Experience of the team lead in SOE environment (25%): scored on number of completed projects/matters in SOEs, from 0 to 5 (5 or more).
• Average experience of team members excluding the team lead (30%): scored on average years of litigation experience, from 0 (less than 1 year) to 5 (10+ years).
• Reference letters (25%): scored on number of reference letters (0 to 5) reflecting litigation work in the past 5 years (2021 to date). Reference letters must be signed, dated, on client's letterhead, include the date of work and client's contact details.

Bidders failing to reach the 70% technical threshold are disqualified.

CEF (SOC) Ltd, the holding company of the CEF Group of energy-sector subsidiaries, seeks to appoint legal firms to a panel for litigation-related services over three years.

Scope of work includes:

• Litigation management on behalf of the CEF Group.
• Forensic investigation and reporting, plus security regulatory advisory.
• Civil and criminal litigation, including determination of damages and recovery of assets in supply chain disputes.
• Legal-oriented audit and assessment.
• Provide oral and written legal advice throughout litigation.
• Avoid prescriptions, barring and default judgments.
• Propose and arrange settlement mechanisms.
• Attend to alternative dispute resolution and/or arbitration.
• Comprehensive internal legal audit gap analysis on policies, procedures, legal processes, pending legal matters and pending government enactments, with advisory opinions on improvement and legislative review.
• International litigation management, opinions and advisory on conflicts of laws and international customary rules.

Required expertise:

• High-quality legal opinions and interpretations of statutes.
• Vetting and legal forensic investigation of potential litigation matters.
• Ad hoc advice where CEF in-house legal advisors need augmentation.
• Contract skills: drafting, vetting, reviewing, negotiation and interpretation of commercial agreements.
• Keeping abreast of new and changing legislation and case law.

Panel requirements:

• Appointed firms form a panel for three years, providing services on an ad hoc basis.
• For each assignment, an RFQ is issued to the panel; selection is based on greatest benefit (time, quality, price).
• Firms must nominate a pool of counsel: 7 senior and 7 junior counsel with litigation expertise, with CVs provided. Woman and young black counsel must be targeted for development.
• Firms previously on the panel are not automatically re-appointed; they must respond to this tender.
• Panel membership does not guarantee any work.
• Assignment costs may be negotiated; the price offer must be all-inclusive of hourly rates for all staff levels, advocates, consultants and disbursements.
• Service delivery levels, immediate availability and quality determine appointment and retention.
• Firms must sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements and a commitment undertaking for performance delivery.
• Firms must declare any interest or conflict of interest before accepting an assignment; CEF may summarily cancel the agreement and demand refund if conflict is discovered.
• Firms must enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA); CEF may remove a firm for not meeting performance standards.
• Upon award, firms must furnish an annual professional liability insurance policy or fidelity fund certificate for the contract duration.
• Firms must maintain operational IT capability and promptly report any breakdown affecting email communication.
• No press releases or public announcements about the project proposal without CEF's prior written approval.

Required expertise and qualifications:

• Project lead must hold an LLB qualification (NQF Level 8 or above).
• Project lead must have right of appearance in the High Court.
• Project lead must hold a valid LPC accreditation certificate and letter of good standing.
• Team lead must have litigation experience; scoring based on years of experience (0 to 5 points).
• Team lead must have completed projects/matters in SOE environment; scoring based on number of projects (0 to 5 points).
• Team members (excluding team lead) must have average litigation experience; scoring based on average years (0 to 5 points).
• Bidders must demonstrate high-level expertise in: legal opinions and interpretations of statutes; vetting and legal forensic investigation; ad hoc advice; contract drafting, vetting, reviewing, negotiation and interpretation; and keeping abreast of new legislation and case law.
• Firms previously on the panel are not automatically re-appointed; they must respond to this tender.

Price offer must be all-inclusive of hourly rates for all levels of staff, advocates, consultants and disbursements. Assignment costs may be negotiated with shortlisted service providers. A letter of engagement is issued for each assignment.

Contract period: three years as part of a panel of legal experts.

Key terms:

• Appointment may be revoked or terminated by CEF at any time on grounds of valid commercial sense, empowerment, conflict of interest, or other administrative or operational requirements not foreseen at the time of tender.
• Panel membership does not guarantee any work.
• For each assignment, an RFQ is issued to the panel; selection is based on greatest benefit (time, quality, price).
• Assignment costs may be negotiated; a letter of engagement is issued for each assignment.
• Firms must sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements and a commitment undertaking for performance delivery.
• Firms must declare any interest or conflict of interest before accepting an assignment; CEF may summarily cancel the agreement and demand refund if conflict is discovered.
• Firms must enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA); CEF may remove a firm for not meeting performance standards.
• Upon award, firms must furnish an annual professional liability insurance policy or fidelity fund certificate for the contract duration.
• Firms must maintain operational IT capability and promptly report any breakdown affecting email communication.
• No press releases or public announcements about the project proposal without CEF's prior written approval.

Appointment of service providers to a panel for legal advisory services for litigation-related matters, for a period of 3 years.

Closing date: 18 November 2026 at 12:00 (midday)

Tender validity period: 120 days from closing date

Briefing session: none

Enquiries (technical and procurement):

• Contact: Tisetso Radebe
• Email: [email protected]

Submission email: [email protected]

After closing, bidders may only communicate with the Procurement Department on matters relating to this RFT.

Submission method: email only, to [email protected]. Late or misdirected emails are disqualified. Links in submissions are not accepted and will lead to disqualification.

Returnable documents (all must be submitted with the proposal; failure to submit any may result in disqualification):

• Part 3: Proposal Form – the offer, signed by an authorised representative.
• Part 4: Signing Power – Resolution of Board of Directors – authorises the signatory to bind the bidder.
• Part 5: Certificate of Acquaintance with RFT Documents – certifies the bidder has read and understood all tender conditions.
• Part 6: Certificate of Acquaintance with Scope of Work – certifies the bidder has read and understood the scope.
• Part 7: Breach of Law Form – declares any serious breach of law in the past 5 years.
• SBD 1: Invitation to Bid – bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 4: Bidders Disclosure – discloses any connection to state employees or the procuring institution.
• SBD 6.1: Preference Points Claim – claims B-BBEE points under the preferential procurement regulations 2022.
• Valid SARS tax compliance status (or proof of application) and SARS Tax Verification PIN.
• Valid B-BBEE affidavit or certificate.
• CSD Summary Report or CSD supplier number.
• Proof of business address: lease agreement, municipal utility bill, or local council letter.

Disqualification risks:

• Any returnable document missing or incomplete.
• Fraudulent, factually untrue, or inaccurate information.
• Information obtained through fraudulent means.
• Attempts to canvass CEF officers or employees between closing and award.
• Collusion with other bidders.

Evaluation is in three phases:

• Phase 1: Mandatory requirements – compliance with all returnable documents and eligibility criteria.
• Phase 2: Technical evaluation – assessment against the scope of work and evaluation criteria in Annexure B.
• Phase 3: Price and specific goals – evaluation on price and B-BBEE preference points (SBD 6.1).

CEF reserves the right to award to the highest scoring bidder unless objective criteria justify otherwise. Post-tender negotiations may be held with short-listed bidders. The lowest price is not necessarily accepted.

The department requires the appointment of service providers to a panel for legal advisory services for litigation-related matters.

• Contract period: 3 years.
• Scope of work is detailed in Annexure A (not provided in the extract).
• Evaluation criteria are in Annexure B (not provided in the extract).
• Service providers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

No specific experience or qualification requirements are stated in the provided text. The scope of work and evaluation criteria are in Annexures A and B.

Tax compliance:

• Valid SARS tax compliance status or proof of application, endorsed by SARS, at closing date and time.
• SARS Tax Verification PIN must be provided to allow electronic verification.
• Consortia or joint ventures must submit a separate tax compliance status for each party.
• Tax compliance must remain valid for the duration of any contract.

B-bbee:

• Valid B-BBEE affidavit or certificate required.

Csd:

• CSD Summary Report or CSD supplier number required.

Business address:

• Proof of business address required (lease agreement, municipal utility bill, or local council letter).

Legal compliance:

• Bidders must not have been found guilty of a serious breach of law in the preceding 5 years, including Competition Act breaches (declare in Part 7).
• Bidders may be subject to security screening by SSA before appointment.

Evaluation is in three phases: mandatory requirements, technical evaluation, and price with specific goals. Detailed criteria are in Annexure B.

The tender seeks to appoint service providers to a panel of legal advisory services for litigation related matters, for a period of 3 years.

Closing date: 18 November 2026

Closing time: 12:00

Bidding procedure and technical enquiries:

• Contact person: Tisetso Radebe
• Telephone: 010 201 4724
• Email: [email protected]

Submission email: [email protected]

Submission method: email only.

Submission email: [email protected]

Closing time: 18 November 2026 at 12:00.

Bids must be submitted on the official forms provided, not retyped.

Late bids will not be accepted.

Returnable forms and documents:

• SBD1 Part A (Invitation to Bid): bidder details, tax compliance status, and foreign supplier questionnaire.
• SBD1 Part B (Terms and Conditions for Bidding): acknowledges submission, tax compliance, and eligibility conditions.
• Proof of authority to sign (e.g., company resolution) must be submitted.
• SBD7 (Contract Form): the successful bidder must complete and sign this.

Disqualification risks:

• Failure to provide or comply with any required particulars may render the bid invalid.
• Bids from persons in the service of the state, or companies/close corporations with directors/members in the service of the state, will not be considered.

Evaluation is subject to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and its Regulations.

Bidders must be tax compliant and submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or a Central Supplier Database (CSD) number.

For consortia, joint ventures, or sub-contractors, each party must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number.

Bidders who are persons in the service of the state, or companies with directors who are persons in the service of the state, or close corporations with members who are persons in the service of the state, are not eligible.

Foreign suppliers must complete the questionnaire in SBD1 Part A.

The department requires the appointment of service providers to participate in a panel of legal advisory services for litigation related matters.

The contract period is 3 years.

Tax compliance:

• Bidders must be tax compliant and submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or a Central Supplier Database (CSD) number.
• TCS PIN can be applied for via e-filing on the SARS website (www.sars.gov.za).
• A printed TCS certificate may be submitted with the bid.
• For consortia, joint ventures, or sub-contractors, each party must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number.
• If no TCS PIN is available but the bidder is registered on the CSD, a CSD number must be provided.

Eligibility:

• Bidders who are persons in the service of the state, or companies with directors who are persons in the service of the state, or close corporations with members who are persons in the service of the state, are not eligible.

Foreign suppliers:

• Must complete the questionnaire in SBD1 Part A.

Returnable documents: the Bidder's Disclosure form (SBD 4) must be completed, signed, and submitted with the bid. The form requires disclosure of any employment by an organ of state, relationships with procuring institution employees, and interests in related enterprises. Failure to disclose all CSD-registered active companies linked to all directors will lead to disqualification. Bids from persons listed on the Register for Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers are automatically disqualified.

Bidders must not be listed on the Register for Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers. Bidders must disclose any employment by an organ of state, relationships with procuring institution employees, and interests in related enterprises. Failure to disclose all CSD-registered active companies linked to all directors will lead to disqualification. Bidders must complete and submit the Bidder's Disclosure form (SBD 4).

No specific requirements found

Bidders must not have consulted, communicated, or arranged with any competitor regarding the quality, quantity, specifications, prices, or other terms of the bid. Such conduct may be reported to the Competition Commission and could lead to penalties or restriction from doing business with the state for up to 10 years.