Pricing and costing framework and tool development for DBSA programmes and projects (2-Year contract)

The DBSA is a development finance institution wholly owned by the South African government, mandated to promote economic growth and regional integration. The Programmes Division operates under dedicated units including the Infrastructure Programmes Unit, Climate and Nature Financing Unit, and Project Preparation Unit. The Project Preparation Unit provides project preparation funding recoverable at financial close, with the assumption that 2 out of every 3 projects prepared will achieve bankability. The service provider will develop a comprehensive Costing and Pricing Framework and risk assessment Tool to enable consistent pricing of products and services, aligned to market norms.

Closing date: 23 October 2026 at 23:55 (Telkom time)

Compulsory briefing session: 14 October 2026, 14:00–15:00, online via Microsoft Teams. Registration link required; link accessible 15 minutes before the meeting. Meeting ID: 321 107 348 791 937, Passcode: qn3GB2G2.

OneDrive link request deadline: 23 October 2026 at 16:00 Johannesburg time.

Clarification requests: must be submitted three (3) working days before submission day.

Bid validity period: 120 calendar days from closing time.

Enquiries (SCM):

• Contact: DBSA Supply Chain Management Unit
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: none – no questions answered telephonically

Complaints about the tendering process:

• Email: [email protected]

Submission address: electronic only – OneDrive link provided by DBSA; no physical bids accepted at DBSA offices.

Submission method: electronic only, via a OneDrive link provided by DBSA. No physical, faxed or emailed bids accepted.

• Request the OneDrive link by emailing [email protected], quoting the RFP number in the subject line. Link requests accepted up to 23 October 2026 at 16:00 Johannesburg time.
• Submit the bid in two folders: Folder 1 – Pre-qualifiers and Functionality proposal; Folder 2 – Price proposal.
• All bids must be on the official forms provided – do not re-type.
• Bidders must nominate one dedicated contact person (name, email, phone) for the link request.
• If a bidder encounters a system issue, they must provide evidence of the upload attempt and the error received before the cut-off time.
• Late bids will not be accepted for consideration.

Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and included; omission may lead to disqualification):

• Part A: Invitation to Bid – bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• Part B: Terms and Conditions of Bidding – acceptance of the conditions.
• Part C: Checklist of Compulsory Returnable Schedules and Documents – ticked and signed.
• Part D: Conditions of Tendering and Undertakings by Bidders – signed undertakings.
• Part E: Specifications/Terms of Reference and Project Brief.
• Annexure A: Price Proposal Requirement – completed pricing schedule.
• Annexure B: SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) – discloses any state employment or connection to the procuring institution.
• Annexure C: SBD 6.1 and B-BBEE status level certificate – claims preference points.
• Annexure D: Certified copies of CIPC registration documents listing all members with percentages (for close corporations).
• Annexure E: Certified copies of latest share certificates (for companies).
• Annexure F (if applicable): Breakdown of how fees and work will be spread between consortium members.
• Annexure G: Supporting documents for responses to Pre-Qualifying and Functional Evaluation Criteria.
• Annexure H: General Conditions of Contract – signed acceptance.
• Annexure I: CSD Tax Compliance Status and Registration Requirements Report.

Disqualification risks:

• Any returnable document omitted or unsigned.
• Submission after the closing time, regardless of reason.
• Failure to attend the compulsory briefing session.
• Failure to respond to clarifications within 48 hours.

The checklist of returnable documents includes:

• Original bid document
• Part A: Invitation to Bid
• Part B: Terms and Conditions of Bidding
• Part C: Checklist of Compulsory Returnable Schedules and Documents
• Part D: Conditions of Tendering and Undertakings by Bidders
• Part E: Specifications/Terms of Reference and Project Brief
• Annexure A: Price Proposal Requirement
• Annexure B: SBD4 Declaration of Interest
• Annexure C: SBD6.1 and B-BBEE status level certificate
• Annexure D: Certified copies of CIPC company registration documents
• Annexure E: Certified copies of latest share certificates
• Annexure F: Breakdown of fees and work spread between consortium members (if applicable)
• Annexure G: Supporting documents for Pre-Qualifying and Functional Evaluation Criteria
• Annexure H: General Condition of Contract
• Annexure I: CSD Tax Compliance Status and Registration Requirements Report

Evaluation is in three stages:

Stage 1 – Administrative Responsiveness (Pre-Qualifiers):

• Submission in two folders (Folder 1 – Pre-qualifiers and Functionality proposal; Folder 2 – Price proposal).
• Attendance of the compulsory briefing session.
• CSD registration summary report (bidder must be registered to do business with DBSA).
• Valid SARS tax PIN.
• Standard conditions of tender and returnable documents completed and signed.
• Clarifications must be responded to within 48 hours.
• Bidders failing any pre-qualifier are disqualified immediately.

Stage 2 – Functionality (minimum threshold: 70/100):

• Company experience (10 points): 3+ years relevant advisory experience in financial services = 10; 2 years = 7; less than 2 years or not demonstrated = 0.
• Pricing and costing tool experience (20 points): 4+ relevant references = 20; 2–3 references = 14; 0–1 references = 0. Provide a summary table (max 2 pages) with client names, contactable references, scope of work, deliverables, and start/end dates.
• Project Director experience (25 points): 5+ relevant projects = 25; 3–4 = 18; less than 3 or not demonstrated = 0.
• Project Lead experience (30 points): 3+ relevant projects = 30; 1–2 = 21; less than 1 or not demonstrated = 0.
• Methodology and approach (15 points): fully comprehensive methodology addressing scope, deliverables, structured work plan with milestones, project management approach, and alignment to DBSA expectations = 15; strong with minor gaps = 10; minimum compliance = 0.
• Bidders scoring below 70% are eliminated from further evaluation.

Stage 3 – Price and Specific Goals (80/20 principle):

• Price: 80 points.
• Specific Goals (B-BBEE level): 20 points.
• Recommended preferred bidder is the one with the lowest overall price, unless DBSA exercises its right to cancel.

Additional risk analysis and objective criteria (post-evaluation):

• Compliant tax status at time of recommendation.
• Full CSD registration.
• No misrepresentation in tender information.
• Verification of professional registration documents (online and via employer references).
• Not listed on the Register of Tender Defaulters.
• No conflict of interest; completed Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire.
• No conviction for fraud or corruption.
• Not removed from a contract with an organ of state for non-performance.
• No tender award terminated by DBSA for non-performance in the 18 months preceding closing date.
• PEP and Procure checks – negative results may lead to exclusion.
• Bidders with 5 active awards with outstanding value may be excluded (unless outstanding value is 10% or less, or a project has stalled for 6+ months).
• Due diligence on preferred bidder: judgements, pending litigation, performance history, reputational harm, restrictions, vetting, financial stability.

The DBSA requires a service provider to develop a comprehensive Costing and Pricing Framework and risk assessment Tool for the Programmes Division, covering the following:

• Review DBSA's current methodology for cost recovery, management fees, accredited entity and agency fees (UNFCCC mechanisms), project/programme costing vs pricing, development fees, success fees, etc.
• Identify inconsistencies, overlaps and gaps in the current methodology.
• Develop a comprehensive costing and pricing framework covering all products/services under the Programmes Division (and other divisions), including definitions, principles, methodologies for cost recovery, market-related pricing, and at-risk products with below 100% success rates.
• Design and develop costing/pricing tools aligned with the approved framework.
• Tools must incorporate multiple-year scenario planning (inflation, cost/process allocation variation, success/failure rates).
• Provide benchmarking for each tool/methodology where applicable.
• Tools must include scenario analysis, including multiple project consolidation.
• Where applicable, tools must cover the full value chain of product offerings and division of income.
• Exclusions: pricing of core DBSA funding/lending and un-funded products (e.g., guarantees).

Deliverables:

• Progress reports to project team and sponsor.
• Presentation of proposed framework.
• Costing/pricing tool(s) (Excel model or similar) and manual.
• Benchmarking of framework and methodology.
• Presentations to Steering Committee, Executive Committee and Board.
• Ad-hoc reports as requested.

Contract period: two (2) years.

Reporting: regular progress updates at agreed intervals; key issues communicated promptly.

Bidders must demonstrate project comprehension through a clear methodology and approach proposal, including a structured work plan with milestones and timelines, project management approach, composition of the proposed team, realistic timeframe for delivery with risk mitigation strategies, and clear alignment of deliverables to DBSA expectations.

Bidders must demonstrate relevant experience in advisory services in the financial services sector (3 or more years for full points). They must provide a summary table of contactable references for pricing and costing tool experience, including client names, deliverables, and start/end dates. The project director must have completed at least 5 relevant pricing and costing tool projects, and the project lead at least 3 relevant projects. CVs must follow the format in Annexure 1.

No specific quality management or QA/QC requirements are stated in the document. Bidders must ensure their bids are accurate and complete, and must comply with all applicable laws and National Treasury regulations.

Price proposal is required as per Annexure A1. The evaluation of price will be based on the 80/20 principle, with price contributing 80 points and specific goals (B-BBEE level) contributing 20 points.

Pricing format: price proposal as per Annexure A1.

Evaluation: 80/20 principle – price 80 points, B-BBEE level 20 points.

Bid validity: 120 calendar days from closing time.

No bid security, guarantee, or retention mentioned in the document.

Bidders must notify DBSA of any pricing errors after submission.

DBSA reserves the right to negotiate to ensure value for money, and to award the scope in full or part subject to budget availability.

CSD registration: South African bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and submit a CSD Summary Report. If not registered, mandatory information (business registration, directors/membership, identity numbers, tax compliance status) must be submitted with the bid.

Tax compliance: South African bidders must provide a valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN. A printed TCS may be submitted. For consortia/JVs/sub-contractors, each party must submit separate proof of tax compliance.

B-BBEE: Bidders must submit a B-BBEE status level certificate or sworn affidavit. EMEs (annual revenue ≤ R10 million) must submit a certificate issued by a registered independent auditor or accredited verification agency. Non-EMEs must submit an original or certified copy of a valid B-BBEE certificate.

CIPC: Certified copies of CIPC registration documents (Annexure D) and share certificates (Annexure E) required.

Foreign suppliers: must complete the questionnaire on residency, branch, permanent establishment, and source of income in South Africa. If 'no' to all, no SARS TCS/PIN required.

No CIDB grading required (not construction-related).

Bidders must not be listed on the Register of Tender Defaulters, must have no conflict of interest, and must not have been convicted of fraud or corruption.

No specific occupational health and safety requirements are stated in the document. DBSA will not tolerate illegal activities, including misrepresentation, collusion, failure to disclose accurate information, corrupt activities, or harassment of DBSA employees.

The RFP is an invitation to submit proposals and does not constitute an offer. No binding contract exists until a formal written contract is executed.

• Bidders must keep the RFP confidential.
• Unauthorised communications with DBSA staff are prohibited.
• Bidders must not engage in collusion or anti-competitive conduct.
• Bids must remain valid for 120 days from closing time.
• Bidders are responsible for their own bidding costs.
• Bids become the property of DBSA upon submission, but bidders retain intellectual property rights.
• DBSA may accept or reject bids in part or whole and may negotiate with bidders.
• DBSA may cancel the tender if there is no longer a need or funds are unavailable.

Bidders must submit bids electronically via the provided OneDrive link. Requests for the link must be made by 23 October 2026 at 16:00 Johannesburg time.

• Bidders must register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and provide tax compliance status.
• South African bidders must submit a B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• Foreign suppliers must complete the questionnaire regarding residency and permanent establishment in South Africa.
• Bidders must submit all compulsory documents as listed in Part C, including the original bid document, Parts A through E, and Annexures A through I.

Evaluation is conducted in three stages:

Stage 1: Administrative responsiveness test, including pre-qualifying criteria such as submission in two folders and attendance of the compulsory briefing session. Clarifications must be responded to within 48 hours.

Stage 2: Functionality evaluation with a minimum threshold of 70 points out of 100. Criteria include company experience (10 points), pricing and costing tool experience (20 points), project director experience (25 points), project lead experience (30 points), and methodology and approach (15 points).

Stage 3: Price and specific goals evaluation using the 80/20 principle (80 points for price, 20 points for B-BBEE level). The recommended preferred bidder is the one with the lowest overall price, unless DBSA exercises its right to cancel.

Additional risk analysis and objective criteria include tax compliance, CSD registration, no misrepresentation, verification of documents, and checks for fraud, corruption, and non-performance.