Integrated communication, marketing, branding & events planning services – national government tender (24 months)

Closing date: 17 November 2026 at 11:00am

Compulsory hybrid briefing session: 30 October 2026 at 10:00am

• Physical venue: Letaba House, First floor, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion
• Online: Microsoft Teams, Meeting ID 318 500 620 695 690 2, Passcode WX2DJ6Rd
• Attendance and completion of the attendance register is mandatory; failure results in disqualification.

Contact: Ms. Mandy Batyi

Telephone: 012-848 5300

Address: Letaba House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0046

Private Bag X105, Centurion, 0046

Submission method: physical or online via the compulsory hybrid briefing session; the closing time is 17 November 2026 at 11:00am. Bids must be submitted to the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) at Letaba House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0046. Returnable documents (all must be completed and signed):

• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims B-BBEE points; failure to complete results in forfeiture of Specific Goals points.
• CSD Registration Report.
• Tax status verification PIN.
• B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• Detailed company profile.
• Reference letters for completed projects (minimum combined value R5 million).
• Detailed CVs and copies of qualifications for the project team.
• Portfolio of work for the Photographer and Graphic Designer (no portfolio means zero points).
• For Joint Ventures/Consortiums: signed Joint Venture Agreement with directors' resolution.
• For subsidiary arrangements: audited proof of agreement between holding company and subsidiary.

Disqualification risks:

• Failure to attend the compulsory hybrid briefing session and complete the attendance register.
• Pricing schedule or Form of Offer containing correction fluid; corrections must be cancelled by a single stroke and initialled.

Returnable documents: CSD Registration Report; Tax status verification PIN; B-BBEE certificate/sworn affidavit; detailed company profile; SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim); reference letters; detailed CVs and copies of qualifications for project team; portfolio of work for Photographer and Graphic Designer.

Evaluation in three stages:

Stage 1 – Mandatory requirements (failure rejects the bid):

• Joint Venture/Consortium: signed Joint Venture Agreement with directors' resolution.
• Subsidiary arrangement: audited proof of agreement.
• Pricing schedule/Form of Offer must not contain correction fluid; corrections initialled.
• Attendance at compulsory hybrid briefing session.

Non-eliminating requirements: CSD report, tax PIN, B-BBEE certificate/affidavit, company profile, SBD 6.1.

Stage 2 – Functionality (minimum threshold 65 points to proceed):

• Company experience (30 points): 5+ reference letters = 30; 4 = 20; 3 = 15; 2 = 10; 1 = 5; 0 = 0.
• Project team qualifications and experience (20 points):
• Project Lead: Master's (NQF 9) or higher = 10; Honours (NQF 8) = 8; Bachelor's (NQF 7) = 6; below or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 15 years = 10; 10–15 years = 8; below 10 years = 0.
• Media Strategist/Brand Manager: Bachelor's/BTech (NQF 7) or higher = 4; National Diploma (NQF 6) = 2; below or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 10 years = 6; 7–10 years = 4; below 7 years = 0.
• Creative Writer: Bachelor's/BTech (NQF 7) or higher = 4; National Diploma (NQF 6) = 2; below or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 10 years = 6; 7–10 years = 4; below 7 years = 0.
• Photographer: National Diploma (NQF 6) or higher = 4; Certificate (NQF 5) = 2; below NQF 4 or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 5 years = 6; 3–5 years = 4; below 5 years = 0.
• Graphic Designer: National Diploma (NQF 6) or higher = 4; Certificate (NQF 5) = 2; below NQF 4 or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 5 years = 6; 3–5 years = 4; below 5 years = 0.
• Events Planner: National Diploma (NQF 6) or higher = 4; Certificate (NQF 5) = 2; below NQF 4 or irrelevant = 0. Experience: above 10 years = 6; 7–10 years = 4; below 7 years = 0.

Stage 3 – Price and Specific Goals (80/20 preference point system, PPPFA 2022):

• Price: 80 points, formula Ps = 80(1 − (Pt − Pmin)/Pmin).
• Specific Goals: 20 points (women 51%+ = 5; disability 51%+ = 5; youth 18–35 51%+ = 5; B-BBEE level 1–2 QSE/EME = 5).
• Failure to submit proof for specific goals means those points are not claimed.

Scope: Integrated Communication, Marketing, Branding and Events Planning services for the Eastern Seaboard Development (ESD) Programme for 24 months.

Key deliverables:

• Integrated Communication, Marketing and Branding Strategy (including stakeholder engagement plan, media engagement plan, crisis communication plan).
• Investment Strategy (investment prospectus, pitch decks, investor engagement plan).
• Two annual Investment Summits (two-day events, venue procured by client; tentative date February 2027).
• Brand and Corporate Identity Framework (logo design, trademark registration, corporate identity manual).
• Branded delegate packs (1000 per year: A5 notebook, canvas tote, pen) and 300 VIP gifts per year.
• Branded material (pamphlets, booklets, posters, folders, banners, corporate gifts).
• Content management and dissemination (website www.easternseaboard.gov.za, social media, photography, videography).
• Stakeholder Engagement Management Strategy.
• Project management and administration.

Summit requirements:

• Main conference: 550 pax; gala/networking dinner: 300 pax; golf day: 150 pax.
• Media buying: 200x 30-second adverts, 8x interviews, digital advertising, 2 digital billboards (N2 EC and KZN), airport TV at OR Tambo, 200 street pole posters.
• Staging and AV: LED screens, PA system, teleprompter, roving mics.
• Conference engagement app with meeting booking and live engagement.
• 8 exhibition stands (3x3m) with digital screens.
• Branding: backdrops, banners, breakaway rooms (5), holding rooms (4).
• Content in at least three languages including English.

Location: ESD Region spans KZN and Eastern Cape, four district municipalities (Harry Gwala, Ugu, Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo) and 17 local municipalities; travel not limited to these areas.

Deliverables and indicative timeframes from appointment: Communication, Marketing and Branding Plan 6 weeks; Stakeholder Engagement Strategy 7 weeks; Control Procedure and Quality Assurance Framework 7 weeks; Media Engagement Plan 8 weeks; Crisis Communication Plan 8 weeks; Investment Prospectus 8 weeks; Project Profiles 9 weeks; Investor Engagement Plan 9 weeks; Summit activities from 12 weeks to 1 week before summit (tentative February 2027); Brand and Corporate Identity Framework 12 weeks; branded material 16 weeks; branded corporate gifts 20 weeks. Activities may run concurrently; final schedule agreed at inception.

Company experience: reference letters for completed projects with minimum combined contract value R5 million. Detailed company profile and resumes of management/directors. Key personnel: Project Leader (Bachelor's NQF 7, 10 years' experience), Media Strategist/Brand Manager (National Diploma NQF 6, 7 years' experience), Creative Writer (National Diploma NQF 6, 7 years' experience), Photographer (Certificate NQF 5, 5 years' experience, portfolio required), Graphic Designer (Certificate NQF 5, 5 years' experience, portfolio required), Events Planner (Certificate NQF 5, 7 years' experience).

The Communication, Marketing and Branding Strategy must include a control procedure and quality assurance framework covering approval processes, content management procedures, quality control standards, and a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure effectiveness and impact. Photographer and Graphic Designer CVs must be accompanied by a portfolio of work; without a portfolio, zero points are awarded for those roles.

Pricing schedule must be completed as per Section 12 of the tender document. The pricing schedule and Form of Offer must not contain correction fluid; any corrections must be cancelled by a single stroke and initialled by the authorised signatory. The 80/20 preference point system applies; price points are calculated using the formula Ps = 80(1 − (Pt − Pmin)/Pmin).

Pricing: 80/20 preference point system applies (80 points price, 20 points specific goals).

Pricing schedule must not contain correction fluid; corrections must be cancelled by a single stroke and initialled.

No bid security, guarantee, or retention requirements stated.

No financial capacity or turnover threshold stated.

Mandatory (non-eliminating):

• CSD Registration Report.
• Tax status verification PIN (tax compliance).
• B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim) – failure to complete forfeits Specific Goals points.

Specific Goals proof:

• Women (51%+ owned): full CSD report, certified ID copies of directors, CIPC registration documents.
• Youth (18–35, 51%+ owned): full CSD report, certified ID copies of directors, CIPC registration documents.
• Disability (51%+ owned): medical report confirming disability and/or proof of disability grant.
• B-BBEE level 1–2 QSE/EME: valid certificate/sworn affidavit, consolidated BEE certificate for JV, full CSD report.

No CIDB grading required (services, not construction).

Specific goals (20 points under 80/20 system): women (51%+ owned) = 5 points; disability (51%+ owned) = 5 points; youth (18–35, 51%+ owned) = 5 points; B-BBEE level 1–2 QSE/EME = 5 points. Proof required: for women and youth – full CSD report, certified ID copies of directors, CIPC registration documents; for disability – medical report confirming disability and/or proof of disability grant; for B-BBEE level 1–2 – valid certificate/sworn affidavit, consolidated BEE certificate for JV, full CSD report. Failure to submit proof means points not claimed.

Mandatory requirements (failure results in rejection):

• Joint Venture/Consortium: signed Joint Venture Agreement with directors' resolution.
• Subsidiary arrangement: audited proof of agreement between holding company and subsidiary.
• Pricing schedule/Form of Offer must not contain correction fluid; corrections initialled.
• Attendance at compulsory hybrid briefing session and completion of attendance register.

Non-eliminating requirements: CSD Registration Report, tax status verification PIN, B-BBEE certificate/sworn affidavit, detailed company profile, SBD 6.1.

Evaluation in three stages: mandatory requirements, functionality, and price and specific goals. Functionality minimum threshold 65 points. Functionality scoring: Company experience (30 points) based on number of reference letters; Project team qualifications and experience (20 points) based on qualifications and experience of each role. Price and specific goals: 80/20 preference point system, 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals (women, disability, youth, B-BBEE level 1–2 QSE/EME).