Basic drone pilot course (rpc) training for municipal landfill audits and environmental inspections

Appointment of a service provider to deliver a Basic Drone Pilot Course (Remote Pilot Licence – RPC, Multirotor, Visual Line of Sight) for 13 municipal waste support and branch officials. The course enables lawful drone operation for landfill audits, monitoring, environmental inspections, and enforcement. Training is face-to-face over 5 days at a venue around Pretoria, including catering and all training materials. Delegates must pass an assessment to receive a certificate of competency.

RFQ Issue Date: 13 October 2026

Closing Date and Time: 20 October 2026 at 11:00

No compulsory briefing session

Enquiries email: [email protected]

Submission email: [email protected] (also [email protected])

Delivery address:

Environment House

Cnr Steve Biko Road & Soutpansberg Street

Pretoria

Private Bag X447

Pretoria, 0001

No named contact persons or telephone numbers provided in the document

Submission method: email to [email protected] (also [email protected])

Closing date and time: 20 October 2026 at 11:00

Required returnable documents:

• Formal quotation on company letterhead with VAT per item, CSD MAAA number, and banking details
• Completed and signed SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest)
• Completed and signed SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim)
• CSD report
• Valid SACAA accreditation certificate showing organisation approval number and validity period (mandatory – non-submission leads to disqualification)

No compulsory briefing session

RFQ validity period: 90 days from closing date

Email subject must include RFQ number RFQ 256 AM (26/27)

Late submissions will not be accepted

Evaluation follows a two-stage process:

1. Mandatory compliance check – bidders must meet all of the following:

• SACAA accreditation with valid certificate
• Registration on Central Supplier Database (CSD) with tax compliance (TCS PIN or CSD verification)
• Completed and signed SBD 4 and SBD 6.1
• No listing on National Treasury’s Database of Restricted Suppliers and Defaulters
• Quotation in line with specification

2. Preference point system 80/20 (for contracts up to R50 million):

• Price: 80 points (formula: Ps = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin) / Pmin))
• Specific Goals: 20 points awarded if bidder has >50% ownership by Black people, Women, or People with disabilities (only one category needed); 0 points otherwise
• To claim specific goals, must submit:

• Sbd 6.1

• SANAS/CIPC accredited B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit

• CIPC Ownership Certificate

• Medical certificate from registered practitioner for disability claim

No minimum qualifying score stated; mandatory requirements are pass/fail

Service: Basic Drone Pilot Course (Remote Pilot Licence – RPC, Multirotor, Visual Line of Sight)

Delegates: 13 municipal waste support and branch officials

Course duration: 5 days, face-to-face

Venue: around Pretoria (service provider to arrange and include cost in quotation)

Catering included: breakfast, lunch with 1 soft drink per person, afternoon tea daily for 13 delegates

Theoretical training modules:

• Civil Aviation Regulations (Part 101 – RPAS)
• Air Law and legal responsibilities of a Remote Pilot
• Meteorology (weather interpretation)
• Navigation and flight planning
• Human factors and risk management
• RPAS technical knowledge (multirotor systems)

Practical training modules:

• Basic drone handling and control
• Pre-flight planning and checklists
• Safe take-off and landing procedures
• Emergency procedures and contingency management
• Conducting compliant VLOS operations
• Practical skills assessment and evaluation

Regulatory compliance coverage:

• Radiotelephony awareness
• Logbook management
• Incident reporting requirements
• Documentation for lawful operations

Training materials to be provided to each delegate:

• Training manual/course notes
• Regulatory reference material
• Flight planning/checklist material
• Safety procedures
• Practical training guidance
• Assessment preparation material
• Other relevant course material

Assessment and certification of competency required

Purpose: enable officials to lawfully operate drones for landfill audits, monitoring, environmental inspections, and enforcement

No explicit experience or qualification requirements for the bidder beyond SACAA accreditation. Disqualification criteria relate to compliance and integrity:

• Non-compliant tax status (7 working days to rectify)
• Submission of fraudulent information (e.g., false B-BBEE credentials, non-existent memberships)
• False declarations on Standard Bidding Documents
• Listing on National Treasury’s Database of Restricted Suppliers and Defaulters
• Failure to quote in line with the specification

Training must meet SACAA standards for a Basic Remote Pilot Licence (Multirotor, VLOS). The service provider must be SACAA-accredited and provide a valid accreditation certificate. Course content covers all theoretical and practical modules prescribed by SACAA Part 101. Delegates undergo a practical skills assessment and evaluation; a certificate of competency is issued upon successful completion. Training materials must include manuals, regulatory references, checklists, safety procedures, and assessment preparation guides.

Pricing: firm prices inclusive of 15% VAT

Quotation must include venue, catering, all delivery costs, and all applicable taxes (VAT, PAYE, UIF, SDL)

Price validity: 90 days from closing date (20 October 2026)

Department may extend validity with written notice; bidders must respond in writing to remain considered

No bid security, performance bond, or retention mentioned

Payment terms not specified

Mandatory eligibility requirements:

• SACAA accreditation certificate (valid, showing organisation approval number and validity period) – non-submission leads to disqualification
• CSD registration with valid MAAA number
• Tax compliance: SARS TCS PIN or CSD verification; 7 working days to rectify non-compliance at award stage
• Completed and signed SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest)
• Completed and signed SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim)

B-BBEE evidence for specific goals claim:

• SANAS/CIPC accredited B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit
• CIPC Ownership Certificate
• Medical certificate from registered practitioner (with practice number) for disability ownership claim

Disqualification risks:

• Fraudulent information or false declarations
• Listing on National Treasury’s Database of Restricted Suppliers and Defaulters
• Failure to quote in line with specification
• Non-compliant tax status not rectified within 7 working days

Health and safety elements embedded in the training:

• Pre-flight planning and checklists
• Safe take-off and landing procedures
• Emergency procedures and contingency management
• Conducting compliant VLOS operations
• Radiotelephony awareness
• Incident reporting requirements
• Safety procedures documentation provided to delegates

The service provider must ensure all practical training adheres to aviation safety regulations.

Training supports environmental compliance functions:

• Waste management oversight
• Environmental compliance monitoring
• Landfill operations oversight
• Environmental impact monitoring

Delegates will use drones to conduct landfill audits, record aerial evidence for enforcement, and improve early detection of environmental risks and non-compliance.

Contract terms:

• Award communicated via official purchase order or appointment letter on department letterhead; no work may commence before receipt.
• Prices must be firm and inclusive of VAT.
• Department reserves the right not to award, to accept offers in full or part, and to negotiate price with the recommended bidder only.
• Quotations not in prescribed format, illegible, or incomplete may be rejected.
• POPIA compliance: personal information processed only for evaluation and award, kept confidential, not disclosed unless required by law.
• Disqualification for: non-compliant tax status (7 working days to rectify), fraudulent information, false declarations on SBD forms, listing on National Treasury restricted supplier database, failure to quote per specification.
• RFQ validity 90 days; extension requires written bidder acceptance.

Evaluation uses the 80/20 preference point system. Price scores 80 points via the formula Ps = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin) / Pmin). Specific Goals score 20 points if the bidder has >50% ownership by Black people, Women, or People with disabilities (only one category required); otherwise 0 points. Claims require SBD 6.1, a SANAS/CIPC accredited B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, a CIPC Ownership Certificate, and a medical certificate for disability claims. Mandatory compliance (SACAA accreditation, CSD registration, tax compliance, signed SBD 4 and SBD 6.1, no restricted supplier listing) is assessed first.