In-person laboratory training service provider for sabs employees

• The SABS is the national standardization body in South Africa.
• This RFQ invites service providers to submit bids for the facilitation of in-person laboratory training for SABS employees.
• Bidders are bound by the SABS Standard Terms and Conditions, available on their website.
• All quotations and clarifications must be submitted in writing via email.
• The document is confidential and for bid preparation purposes only.
• This RFQ does not constitute a contract, and the SABS reserves the right to discontinue the process or reject any submission.

• Non-Compulsory Briefing Session: 17 July 2026 at 11:00 am via Microsoft Teams.
• Closing Date and Time: 23 July 2026 at 11:00 am.

• Enquiries and submission: Ntobeko Mweli.
• Email: [email protected].
• Telephone: 012 428 6691.
• Bidders must not contact any other SABS personnel, as it may lead to disqualification.

• Submit your quotation via email to [email protected] by 23 July 2026 at 11:00 am.
• No late submissions will be accepted.
• Submissions via a link or 'we transfer' are not accepted.
• Ensure your quotation is on company letterhead.
• Include all required returnable documents with your quotation:

• National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration report.
• A valid B-BBEE certificate or Sworn Affidavit (to claim specific goals).
• SBD 4 Bidders Disclosure Form.
• SBD 6.1 Preference points claim form.

• It is the bidder's responsibility to ensure the quotation is received on time by SABS.

Mandatory: 1) Registered as a Skills Development Provider with relevant quality assurance bodies. 2) Facilitators must have: demonstrable ISO/IEC 17025 knowledge and experience; practical laboratory experience and GLP knowledge; registration with professional bodies (e.g., SA Council for Natural Scientific Professions). Functionality evaluation (minimum 70% threshold): Company experience in laboratory training (≥8 years scores max 25%), Facilitator experience (≥5 years scores max 25%), Programme outline completeness (30%), and contactable references (≥5 letters scores max 20%).

• Scope: Provide in-person laboratory training for SABS employees.
• Two training programmes required:

• Good Laboratory Practices for 265 general laboratory employees.
• Laboratory Operations Management for 30 laboratory managers and technical leads.

• Training Content Must Cover:

• Good Laboratory Practice: Introduction, safety, documentation, sample handling, equipment, quality principles, ethics, risk management, non-conformance, and regulatory standards.
• Laboratory Operations Management: Fundamentals, planning, resource management, workflow optimisation, quality, risk management, performance monitoring, leadership, continuous improvement, customer service, compliance, decision-making, facility and equipment management.

• Deliverables: Training delivery, participant materials, assessments (where applicable), certificates of competence, and a post-training evaluation report.
• Mandatory Requirements for Service Provider:

• Registration as a Skills Development Provider.
• Facilitators must have demonstrable experience in ISO/IEC 17025 and laboratory quality management systems.
• Facilitators must have practical laboratory experience and knowledge of good laboratory practice.
• Facilitators should be registered with professional bodies like the SA Council for Natural Scientific Professions.

• Bidders must attach a detailed programme outline, including timelines, deliverables, and duration.
• The methodology is evaluated as part of the functionality criteria (30% weight).
• An inadequate outline scores zero points.

• Company Experience: Points awarded based on years of laboratory training experience (0 to >8 years).
• Facilitator Experience: Points awarded based on facilitator's years of experience in providing laboratory training (0 to >5 years).
• Facilitators must have demonstrable ISO/IEC 17025 experience, practical laboratory experience, and professional registration.

• Training must cover quality assurance and quality control principles.
• Includes instruction on laboratory ethics, integrity, and non-conformance reporting.
• Must address applicable laboratory standards and regulatory requirements.

• The quotation must be a fixed price, inclusive of VAT, and cover both training programmes.
• Include all costs: venue, transportation, disbursements.
• Only bidders meeting functionality requirements are evaluated on the 80/20 price and preference points system.

• Quotation must be all-inclusive of VAT.
• Provide a full quotation covering both training programmes.
• Include costs for venue (training at SABS Head Office, Groenkloof), transportation (if applicable), and disbursements.
• Price must be fixed; for foreign currencies, provision for forward cover is required.
• No advance payment will be made. Payment is upon delivery of services as agreed.
• The SABS is not responsible for any bidder costs incurred during the preparation or submission of the quotation.

• Mandatory Documents to Submit:

• National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration report.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate or Sworn Affidavit.
• SBD 4 Bidders Disclosure Form.
• SBD 6.1 Preference points claim form.

• B-BBEE: Preference points will be awarded based on the 80/20 system for specific goals (e.g., black ownership, black women ownership, ownership by persons with disabilities).
• General Compliance: Bidders must comply with SABS Standard Terms and Conditions (available on their website). Canvassing will lead to disqualification.

• Training must cover laboratory safety and housekeeping.
• Includes sample and chemical handling and storage.
• Addresses risk management in laboratories.

• A non-disclosure agreement will cover confidential information exchanged during the RFQ process.
• The SABS is not bound by any contractual terms included in the bidder's quotation.
• Bidders must complete the SBD 4 disclosure form, declaring any state employment, relationships with SABS personnel, or interests in other bidding entities.
• False declarations may lead to bid rejection, contract cancellation, recovery of costs, restriction from public sector business, or criminal prosecution.

• Functionality is scored on a 1-5 scale across four criteria with a minimum threshold of 70%.
• Only bidders meeting the functionality threshold proceed to the 80/20 preference points evaluation (Price 80, Specific Goals 20).
• Specific goals for preference points relate to B-BBEE status (e.g., black ownership, black women ownership, ownership by persons with disabilities).