RFQ for sap professional services resources – national ICT tender

South African Airways SOC Ltd, through the Group Information & Communication Technology Division, in conjunction with Air Chefs SOC Ltd and South African Airways Technical (SAAT), seeks to procure highly specialised SAP professional services to support stabilisation, optimisation, re-engineering, integration and strategic transformation of the current SAP ECC6 landscape. The strategic intention is to transition toward a future-state SAP S/4HANA-enabled intelligent enterprise architecture. The environment is highly complex, operationally sensitive, and time-critical, with tight interdependence across financial, logistics, engineering, catering, passenger operations and supply chain execution. The SAP environment interfaces with Passenger Service Systems (PSS/PAX), catering production systems, legacy warehouse execution processes, maintenance engineering platforms, financial and procurement governance systems, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions, supplier ecosystems, and airline operational reporting.

Closing date: 01 October 2026 at 16:00

Validity period: 180 days from closing date.

Submission email: [email protected]

Procurement business unit: Global Supply Management

No named contact person or telephone number is provided in the document.

Submission method: email to [email protected]. Maximum email size 2MB; send larger files in parts or provide a downloadable link. SAA is not responsible for corrupt links.

Closing time: 01 October 2026 at 16:00. Late quotations will not be considered.

Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and submitted):

• SAA Vendor application and supporting documents (Annexure 1).
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) (Annexure 2): discloses whether any director or shareholder is employed by the state or connected to anyone at SAA.
• General Conditions of Contract (Annexure 3): acceptance of SAA's standard terms.
• Certified IT degree/diploma qualifications and SAP certifications for all four roles.
• CVs with experience and references for each proposed resource.
• Signed mobilisation schedule confirming commitment of proposed resources.
• B-BBEE certificate, sworn affidavit, or CIPC certificate (or consolidated scorecard for JV).

Disqualification risks:

• Late or incomplete submissions.
• Any returnable document omitted or unsigned.
• Selecting "No" on any mandatory compliance statement.
• Failure to meet the 70% functionality threshold.

Evaluation stages (sequential, but SAA may run steps in parallel):

1. Administrative: all returnable documents completed, signed, and valid.
2. Substantive (mandatory): 100% compliance with statements of compliance. Must provide certified IT degree/diploma and SAP certifications for all four roles.
3. Technical functionality (minimum threshold 70%):

• SAP ECC6 experience (40%): minimum combined 5 years (2 years airline, 3 years comparable high-availability enterprise). Supported by reference letters: 3 letters = 40, 2 = 20, 1 = 10, 0 = 0.
• Resource mobilisation (40%): signed schedule confirming commitment. ≤5 working days = 40, 6-10 = 20, 11-15 = 10, >15 = 0.
• CVs (20%): 2 CVs per role = 20, 1 = 10, 0 = 0.

4. Pricing and Specific Goals (20 points):

• B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 = 10 points (Level 3-8 or non-compliant = 0).
• 30% or more black women owned = 10 points.

Minimum qualifying score: 70% on functionality. Bidders failing this are not evaluated further.

SAA is not obligated to accept the lowest quotation and may withdraw the RFQ at any time.

Scope: Provision of senior SAP professional services to support stabilisation, optimisation, re-engineering, integration and strategic transformation of the current SAP ECC6 landscape, with a view to transitioning to SAP S/4HANA.

Environment: Must operate within SAP ECC6, hybrid integration ecosystems, airline operational platforms, transitional S/4HANA readiness frameworks, and airline-specific logistics and maintenance integration layers.

Interfaces: SAP environment integrates with Passenger Service Systems (PSS/PAX), catering production systems, legacy warehouse execution processes, maintenance engineering platforms (SAAT), financial and procurement governance systems, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), supplier ecosystems, and airline operational reporting.

Required resources (all senior level):

1. Senior SAP Logistics Consultant (K6 level):

• Functional coverage: MM, SD, PP, WM/eWM, MRP & supply network optimisation, airline catering logistics, technical maintenance logistics.
• Experience: minimum 15-20 years SAP logistics experience; extensive ECC6 configuration; proven airline industry implementation; deep understanding of airline operational supply chains; experience integrating logistics with flight scheduling.
• Competencies: airline catering planning integration, MRO logistics, technical warehouse management, cross-module integration (MM-SD-PP-FI-CO), ZTMAIN custom environments, S/4HANA logistics simplification.

2. SAP Finance & Controlling (FICO) Consultant (K5 level):

• Functional scope: FI, CO, AP/AR, cost centre accounting, COPA, projects/internal orders, airline operational cost allocation, revenue accounting integration.
• Experience: minimum 15 years SAP FICO implementation and support; strong ECC6 finance transformation; airline financial operational models; multi-entity financial integration.

3. SAP (Workflow / ABAP / PI) Consultant (K5 level):

• Technical scope: ABAP development, workflow, PI/PO, custom enhancement frameworks, integration architecture, ECC6 remediation, S/4HANA technical readiness.
• Experience: minimum 15 years SAP technical development.
• Competencies: SPDD/SPAU remediation, Unicode conversion, interface optimisation, BAPI/BADI/User Exits, IDoc, RFC/API orchestration, ServiceNow-SAP integration, event-driven orchestration.

4. SAP Project Manager (K5 level):

• Role not detailed in the document beyond the requirement for certified qualifications and CVs.

Resource deployment: full-time, project-based, ad-hoc escalation, or after-hours support as required.

Senior SAP Logistics Consultant (K6): minimum 15-20 years SAP logistics experience; extensive ECC6 configuration; proven airline industry implementation; deep understanding of airline operational supply chains; experience integrating logistics with flight scheduling; technical warehouse management; cross-module integration (MM-SD-PP-FI-CO); ZTMAIN custom environments; S/4HANA logistics simplification.

SAP FICO Consultant (K5): minimum 15 years SAP FICO implementation and support; strong ECC6 finance transformation; airline financial operational models; multi-entity financial integration; procurement-finance integration optimisation.

SAP Workflow/ABAP/PI Consultant (K5): minimum 15 years SAP technical development; SPDD/SPAU remediation; Unicode conversion; interface optimisation; BAPI/BADI/User Exits; IDoc; RFC/API orchestration; ServiceNow-SAP integration; event-driven orchestration.

SAP Project Manager (K5): role not detailed beyond requirement for certified qualifications and CVs.

All roles must have certified IT degree/diploma and SAP certifications.

Combined experience requirement for functionality: minimum 5 years (2 years airline, 3 years comparable high-availability enterprise).

Pricing format: Quotation must be submitted for each of the four resource roles, with hourly rates (excl. VAT and incl. VAT) for onsite work.

All prices must be exclusive of VAT.

Prices must be firm and fixed, subject only to statutory changes (VAT).

Pricing should be based on individual components making up the solution, based on technical and functional requirements.

Service, pricing, and availability will be taken into consideration.

No bid security, bonds, guarantees, or retention are specified.

Tax clearance: The vendor must ensure SAA holds a valid Original Tax Clearance Certificate. If SAA does not have one, an Original Tax Clearance Certificate must be submitted with the RFQ. Failure may invalidate the quote.

B-BBEE: Evidence required to claim Specific Goals points:

• B-BBEE certificate, sworn affidavit, or CIPC certificate (for JV, a consolidated scorecard is accepted).
• EME or QSE that are 51% black owned may submit a sworn affidavit or CIPC certificate.

Mandatory qualifications: Certified IT degree/diploma and SAP certifications for all four roles (Senior SAP Logistics Consultant K6, SAP FICO Consultant K5, SAP Workflow/ABAP/PI Consultant K5, SAP Project Manager K5).

No CIDB grading, CSD registration, or CIPC registration requirements are stated.

Engagement duration: 12 months, subject to operational requirements and continuity of the transformation programme.

Resource deployment modes: full-time, project-based, ad-hoc operational escalation, after-hours airline operational support.

All goods/services are subject to the SAA General Conditions of Contract.

All purchases are made through an official purchase order; no goods or services may be delivered before receiving an official order/contract.

SAA has the right to negotiate contract terms and conditions, including price.

SAA may withdraw the RFQ at any time and is not obligated to accept the lowest quotation.

All goods/services are subject to the SAA General Conditions of Contract.

The vendor must ensure SAA holds a valid Original Tax Clearance Certificate; if not, an Original Tax Clearance Certificate must be submitted with the RFQ.

All purchases are made through an official purchase order; no goods or services may be delivered before receiving an official order/contract.

SAA has the right to negotiate contract terms and conditions, including price.

Mandatory experience requirements:

• Senior SAP Logistics Consultant: minimum 15-20 years SAP logistics experience; extensive ECC6 configuration; airline industry implementation; deep understanding of airline operational supply chains; experience integrating logistics with flight scheduling; technical warehouse management; cross-module integration (MM-SD-PP-FI-CO); ZTMAIN custom environments; S/4HANA logistics simplification.
• SAP FICO Consultant: minimum 15 years SAP FICO implementation and support; ECC6 finance transformation; airline financial operational models; multi-entity financial integration; procurement-finance integration optimisation.
• SAP Workflow/ABAP/PI Consultant: minimum 15 years SAP technical development; SPDD/SPAU remediation; Unicode conversion; interface optimisation; BAPI/BADI/User Exits; IDoc; RFC/API orchestration; ServiceNow-SAP integration; event-driven orchestration.

All roles must have certified IT degree/diploma and SAP certifications.

Resources may be required on full-time, project-based, ad-hoc escalation, or after-hours support.

Evaluation stages: Administrative, Substantive (mandatory), Technical functionality (minimum 70%), then Pricing and Specific Goals (20 points).

Specific Goals:

• B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 = 10 points (Level 3-8 or non-compliant = 0).
• 30% or more black women owned = 10 points.

Functionality scoring:

• SAP ECC6 experience (40%): 3 reference letters = 40, 2 = 20, 1 = 10, 0 = 0.
• Resource mobilisation (40%): ≤5 working days = 40, 6-10 = 20, 11-15 = 10, >15 = 0.
• CVs (20%): 2 CVs per role = 20, 1 = 10, 0 = 0.

Minimum qualifying score: 70% on functionality. Bidders failing this are not evaluated further.

SAA is not obligated to accept the lowest quotation and may withdraw the RFQ at any time.

Bidders must have a valid SARS tax clearance certificate (original) prior to award. Bidders must not be involved in collusive bidding or restrictive practices. Bidders must comply with the National Industrial Participation Programme if applicable. Bidders must provide performance security within 30 days of award (form and amount per Special Conditions). Bidders must not be insolvent or bankrupt. Bidders must not have been restricted from doing business with the public sector.

Goods supplied must conform to standards in the bidding documents and specifications. The supplier must permit inspection of records and premises by the purchaser or its representatives. Pre-bidding testing is at bidder's cost. If inspections/tests show non-compliance, costs are borne by the supplier and supplies may be rejected. Rejected supplies must be removed and replaced at supplier's cost and risk.

Performance security: within 30 days of contract award, the successful bidder must furnish performance security in the amount specified in the Special Conditions of Contract (SCC). Acceptable forms: bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit, or cashier's/certified cheque. The security is returned within 30 days after completion of all obligations including warranty. Payment: method and conditions per SCC; supplier must submit invoice with delivery note; payment within 30 days of invoice; in Rand unless otherwise stipulated. Prices: fixed as per bid, no variation except as authorized in SCC or bid validity extension.

Tax clearance: original SARS tax clearance certificate required before award. No contract with any bidder whose tax matters are not in order. Restrictive practices: collusive bidding prohibited; may lead to bid invalidation, contract termination, restriction from public sector business up to 10 years, and damages. Insolvency: contract may be terminated if bidder becomes bankrupt or insolvent. NIP: National Industrial Participation Programme applies to all contracts subject to NIP obligation.

The General Conditions of Contract (GCC) apply to all bids, contracts and orders, with Special Conditions of Contract (SCC) supplementing and prevailing in case of conflict. Key terms:

• Packing must prevent damage during transit, with packing, marking, and documentation complying with contract and SCC requirements.
• Delivery of goods and submission of documents shall be in accordance with contract and SCC specifications.
• Goods supplied under the contract shall be fully insured in a freely convertible currency against loss or damage as specified in SCC.
• If a price other than an all-inclusive delivered price is required, this shall be specified in SCC.
• Payment method and conditions are specified in SCC; supplier must provide invoice with delivery note; payment within 30 days; in Rand unless otherwise stipulated.
• Prices charged shall not vary from bid prices except as authorized in SCC or bid validity extension.
• No variation or modification of contract terms except by written amendment signed by parties.
• Supplier shall not assign obligations under the contract without purchaser's prior written consent.
• Restriction penalties for default may be imposed, with notification to National Treasury and registration in central database; court convictions may lead to endorsement on Register for Tender Defaulters.
• Contract shall be written in English; all correspondence and documents in English.
• Contract shall be interpreted in accordance with South African laws unless otherwise specified in SCC.
• Foreign suppliers responsible for taxes outside purchaser's country; local suppliers responsible for taxes until delivery; tax clearance certificate required before award.
• National Industrial Participation Programme (NIP) administered by Department of Trade and Industry applies to all contracts subject to NIP obligation.
• Prohibition of restrictive practices: collusive bidding is prohibited; purchaser may refer to Competition Commission, invalidate bids, terminate contracts, restrict from business, and claim damages.