Integrated digital marketing and development partner (DBSA RFP210/2026)

Enquiries (technical and general):

• Contact: DBSA Supply Chain Management Unit
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: none stated (no telephonic questions answered)

Complaints:

• Email: [email protected]

Submission link requests: email [email protected], quoting RFP number.

Submission method: electronic only, via a OneDrive link provided by DBSA after request. No physical, fax or email bids accepted.

• Bidders must request the submission link by email to [email protected], quoting the RFP number, at least three working days before closing.
• Upload the correct bid documents using the provided link. If a system issue prevents submission, provide evidence of the upload attempt before closing, including the error received.
• Bids must be submitted on the official forms (not re-typed).
• Submit as two separate folders: Folder 1 (Pre-Qualifying Criteria and Functional Evaluation) and Folder 2 (Price/Financial Proposal).
• Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and included; omission may disqualify):
• Part A: Invitation to Bid (bidder details, signed)
• Part B: Terms and Conditions of Bidding
• Part C: Checklist of Compulsory Returnable Schedules and Documents
• Part D: Conditions of Tendering and Undertakings by Bidder
• Part E: Specifications/Terms of Reference and Project Brief
• Annexure A: Price Proposal Requirement
• Annexure B: SBD4 Declaration of Interest (discloses any state employment or connection)
• Annexure C: SBD6.1 and B-BBEE status level certificate
• Annexure F: Certified CIPC registration documents listing all members with percentages (for close corporations)
• Annexure G: Certified latest share certificates (for companies)
• Annexure H: (if applicable) Breakdown of fees and work spread between consortium members
• Annexure I: Supporting documents for Pre-Qualifying and Functional Evaluation responses
• Annexure J: General Conditions of Contract
• Annexure K: CSD Tax Compliance Status and Registration Requirements Report
• Bids must remain valid for 120 calendar days from closing time.
• Late bids will not be accepted for consideration.

Evaluation stages:

1. Stage 1 – Administrative Responsiveness (Pre-Qualifiers):

• Two-folder submission (Folder 1: Pre-qualification and Functional; Folder 2: Pricing).
• Attendance register of the compulsory briefing.
• Proof of CSD registration (summary report) or valid and active SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN.
• Bidders must be fully registered and tax compliant to do business with DBSA.
• Bidders must have at least seven (7) years' operational experience.
• Proposed personnel must meet minimum experience and qualification requirements (see technical specifications).
• Failure to submit required documents for any proposed resource may render the bid non-responsive.

2. Stage 2 – Functional and Technical Evaluation (Stage gate 1):

• Minimum score of 70% (49 out of 70 points) required to proceed to presentations.
• Criteria and points (total 70):
• Company profile: 10 points (minimum 7 years in operation required)
• References: 5 points (at least 5 contactable client references, work completed within last 3 years; DBSA references excluded)
• Understanding of scope and proposed approach: 25 points (digital strategy and lead generation 6; conversion and nurture architecture 6; MarTech and CRM integration approach 13)
• Demonstrable experience: 20 points (three real-life case studies, at least one evidencing CRM integration)
• Personnel and experience: 10 points (biographies of management, key team, account management)

3. Stage gate 2 – Presentation of the demo system:

• Maximum 20 points (presentation scored out of 30, minimum 70% = 21 points).
• Presentation must be submitted as part of the initial tender submission by closing date; no new substantive information may be introduced later.

4. Combined overall score of 70% (70 out of 100 points) required to progress to Price and Preference evaluation.
5. Price and Preference Points Assessment (80/20 or 90/10 system as per PPPFA).

Scope: Appointment of an Integrated Digital Marketing and Development Partner for DBSA.

Key requirements:

• Develop and execute an integrated, full-funnel digital strategy aligned to priority sectors.
• Run quarterly Development Impact campaigns as lead-generating programmes.
• Generate, segment and track MQLs and SQLs against defined criteria.
• Integrate paid media, landing pages, gated content and direct marketing into a measurable conversion ecosystem.
• Build conversion and nurture architecture: landing pages/microsites, targeted media buying, cost-per-lead optimisation, lead capture, segmentation, nurture journeys (HTML mailers, remarketing, long-cycle nurture), reporting on conversion rates and cost per qualified lead.
• Integrate campaigns, DBSA website, Solution Finder, landing pages, microsites, forms, events and webinars into the CRM using ICT-issued integration specifications, endpoints and data schemas.
• Define marketing data requirements, field mapping, validation rules, source/campaign identifiers, consent flags, lead scoring, qualification, routing, notification and Frontline handover.
• Apply campaign taxonomy, UTM conventions, tag management, conversion tracking and deduplication to protect attribution integrity.
• Ensure POPIA compliance, consent management, information security and responsible AI governance, including disclosure of third-party tools and data processing.
• Participate in solution design, user acceptance testing, defect resolution, cut-over and documentation alongside DBSA ICT.
• Remain portable to any future CRM.
• Demonstrate AI content strategy and performance optimisation: use AI and data-driven tools for content strategy, audience insights, AI-assisted content creation, optimisation, tracking and analysis.
• Provide measurable results: lead volumes, CPL, conversion rates, SQL progression, pipeline contribution.

Personnel requirements (minimum experience and qualifications):

• Account Director / Strategic Lead: 10+ years in integrated marketing within public sector, financial services or regulated environments; Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business or related field.
• Digital Strategy Lead: 6+ years in digital strategy and integrated campaign planning; Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Digital Marketing or related field.
• Media Buying & Performance Specialist: 8+ years managing paid digital campaigns; relevant degree or recognised certification (e.g. Google Ads, Meta, programmatic platforms).
• Creative Director: 8+ years in creative direction within agency or institutional environments; degree or diploma in Creative Design, Visual Communication or related field.
• Content Lead / Senior Copywriter: 5+ years in content development, preferably within development, financial or corporate sectors; degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing or related field.
• AI Marketing Strategist: 5+ years applying AI and data-driven technologies in marketing strategy, including campaign optimisation, automation and analytics; Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Data Science, AI, Digital Marketing, Computer Science or related field.
• AI Marketing Specialist: 2+ years supporting AI-powered marketing tools, including generative AI, automation platforms and analytics tools; relevant degree, diploma or recognised certification.
• Multimedia Graphic & Digital Designer: 8+ years in digital and campaign design; degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication or related field.
• Web Developer / UX Specialist: 8+ years in web development and UX design; degree or diploma in Web Development, Computer Science or related field.
• Analytics & Reporting Specialist: 8+ years in digital analytics and reporting; degree in Data Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Statistics or related field.
• MarTech and CRM Integration Specialist: 5+ years integrating digital marketing platforms, websites and campaign environments with an enterprise CRM (SAP CRM, Salesforce or equivalent) through APIs, connectors and defined data schemas, within a client-controlled ICT environment; degree or diploma in Information Systems, Computer Science, IT, Digital Marketing or related field, and/or recognised CRM or marketing automation platform certification.
• Marketing Automation and Lead Operations Specialist: 5+ years designing and operating lead capture, lead scoring, MQL/SQL qualification, routing and nurture journeys within a CRM or marketing automation platform, including reporting on conversion and pipeline contribution; degree or diploma in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Information Systems or related field, and/or recognised marketing automation certification.
• Data Governance and Privacy Lead: 5+ years in data governance, data quality and privacy compliance in a marketing or customer data environment, including POPIA or equivalent data protection regimes and consent management; degree or diploma in Law, Information Management, Data Science, Information Systems or related field, and/or recognised data protection or privacy certification.
• Individuals proposed for multiple roles must explain roles, time allocation, workload conflict management, continuity and quality maintenance, and dedicated support for DBSA account.
• Submit for each proposed resource: detailed CV and copies of academic qualifications and/or relevant professional certifications.

Pricing must be submitted in Folder 2 (Price/Financial Proposal) using Annexure A (Price Proposal Requirement).

No bid security, bonds, guarantees, retention or payment terms are stated in the document.

Bidders must notify DBSA of any pricing errors discovered after submission (excluding clerical errors with no bearing on evaluation).

CSD registration:

• South African bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) to upload mandatory information (business registration, directorships, tax compliance, banking details).
• If not registered, submit mandatory information with the bid.
• Provide CSD summary report or valid and active SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN.

Tax compliance:

• All bidders must comply with tax obligations in their country of residence.
• South African bidders must submit their SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN (TCS) or a printed TCS with the bid.
• For consortia/JVs/sub-contractors, each party must submit separate proof of TCS/PIN/CSD number.
• Foreign suppliers: complete the questionnaire in Part B; if not resident, no branch, no permanent establishment and no source of income in RSA, no SARS TCS required.

B-bbee:

• Submit B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs with annual revenue ≤ ZAR10 million).
• EMEs must submit a certificate issued by a registered independent auditor or accredited verification agency.
• Non-EMEs must submit original and valid B-BBEE status level verification certificate or certified copy, or sworn affidavit, in accordance with National Treasury instructions.
• B-BBEE status level certificate or sworn affidavit must be submitted with the bid.

Company registration:

• Certified CIPC registration documents (for close corporations) or certified latest share certificates (for companies).
• Proof of authority to sign (e.g. resolution of directors).
• Bidders must not be involved in collusion, fraud, corruption or conflicts of interest.
• Bidders must have at least seven (7) years' operational experience.