SENTECH: mast and tower climbing and rescue training — three-year contract with an option to extend by two years

Sentech requires a service provider to deliver mast climbing and rescue training for technicians, riggers, maintenance officers, electricians, managers and other relevant staff.

• Estimated candidates: 280.
• Each course runs 2 days including the rescue component, and the certificate issued is valid for 3 years.
• The rescue component must be performed using a dummy doll to be rescued.
• Training takes place at Sentech's masts, so the provider must travel to Sentech offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, East London, George, Middelburg (Eastern Cape), Polokwane, Ermelo, Upington, Vryburg, Vredendal, Vryheid and Durban.

RFQ issue date: 16 October 2026

Closing date and time: 22 October 2026 at 12h00

Bid validity period: 90 days

Enquiries and submission

• Contact: Zanele Zulu
• Role: Administrator
• Telephone: 011 471 40000
• Email: [email protected]

Submission

• Method: email
• Submission email: [email protected]

Submission method: email

Submission email: [email protected]

Closing: 22 October 2026 at 12h00 — quotations received after the closing time are not accepted

Format: quotation on the bidder's company letterhead, fully completed and signed in black ink

Administrative responsiveness (all must be met or the quote may not be awarded)

• Registered on the Sentech Supplier Database
• Tax compliant, with all required information submitted to Sentech
• Quotation received on or before the closing date and time

Returnable documents

• Proof of SETA/QCTO accreditation of the training institution for unit standards 229998 and 229995
• CVs and valid accreditation certificates of the presenter/facilitator for unit standards 229998 and 229995
• Letter on company letterhead, signed by the bidder's director or owner, confirming a dummy doll will be used for the rescue component
• Consent letter signed by the CEO/MD/GM or 16.1 legal appointee confirming 2-day training and 3-year certificate validity
• Valid B-BBEE certificate, required to claim preference points
• Form of Offer and Acceptance signed by an authorised representative; any deviations from the RFQ must be listed in the Schedule of Deviations

Disqualification risks

• Failing any mandatory eligibility criterion — the bid is not evaluated further
• Late submission, an unsigned or incomplete quotation, or a quotation not on company letterhead
• Not registered on the Sentech Supplier Database or not tax compliant

Evaluation stages

1. Administrative responsiveness — all criteria must be met.
2. Mandatory eligibility — bidders failing any mandatory criterion are not evaluated further.
3. Functional evaluation — minimum qualifying score: 80 out of 100.
4. Price and preference — 80/20 system; only bidders submitting a valid B-BBEE certificate can claim preference points.

Functional scoring (100 points)

• Contactable reference letters for mast climbing and rescue training on client letterhead, recently dated, or a list of contactable references: 0 letters = 0; 1–2 = 10; 3–4 = 20; 5 or more = 30.
• Facilitator experience in similar training, evidenced by reference letters with contactable details: 0 years = 0; 1–2 years = 10; 3–4 years = 20; 5 years or more = 30.
• Method statement or safe operating procedure using a dummy doll to demonstrate the rescue procedure step by step, with a video attached: 40 points; no dummy doll and no step-by-step demonstration: 0 points.

Price (80 points)

• Formula: Ps = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin) / Pmin), where Pt is the value of the bid under consideration and Pmin the lowest acceptable bid.

Preference (20 points)

• Race: 10 points for at least 51% black ownership; 5 for 25.1–50%; 3 for 5–25%; 0 below 5%.
• Women: 8 points for at least 51% women ownership; 4 for 25.1–50%; 2 for 5–25%; 0 below 5%.
• Disability: 2 points, evidenced by a doctor's note, Department of Labour confirmation, B-BBEE certificate or equivalent confirmation.

Award

• The bidder with the highest points is recommended for award, unless there are compelling and justifiable reasons not to.
• Sentech may appoint one or more suppliers in whole or in part, appoint none, or cancel the bid.

Scope

• Conduct mast/tower climbing and rescue training for Sentech technicians, riggers, maintenance officers, electricians, managers and other relevant staff.
• Estimated number of candidates: 280.
• Contract term: three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.

Training requirements

• Duration: 2 days, including the rescue component.
• Certificate validity: 3 years.
• The rescue component must be demonstrated using a dummy doll to be rescued.
• Training is delivered at Sentech's masts, so the provider must travel to Sentech offices.

Delivery locations (14)

Johannesburg; Cape Town; Bloemfontein; Port Elizabeth; East London; George; Middelburg (Eastern Cape); Polokwane; Ermelo; Upington; Vryburg; Vredendal; Vryheid; Durban.

Reference letters (30 points)

• Contactable reference letters for mast climbing and rescue training, on the client's letterhead and recently dated, or a list of contactable references.
• 0 letters = 0 points; 1–2 letters = 10 points; 3–4 letters = 20 points; 5 or more letters = 30 points.

Facilitator experience (30 points)

• Evidence: reference letters with contactable details.
• 0 years = 0 points; 1–2 years = 10 points; 3–4 years = 20 points; 5 years or more = 30 points.

Accreditation

• The training institution must be accredited by the relevant Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) or the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) for the mast climbing and rescue programmes offered.
• Accreditation must cover unit standards 229998 and 229995.
• Proof of accreditation must be submitted with the bid.

Travel costs must NOT be included in the quotation.

Pricing

• All prices quoted in South African Rands (ZAR).
• Travel costs must NOT be included in the quotation.
• Foreign-currency prices: the quoted exchange rate remains fixed for the contract term; the bidder carries all currency fluctuation risk and cost and must manage it in the bid price.
• No contract price adjustment without Sentech's written approval; price adjustment applications must be supported by documentary evidence.
• Sentech may negotiate market-related prices and discounts, and may cancel the bid if market-related prices are not agreed.
• The offered total price inclusive of VAT is stated in the Form of Offer and Acceptance and in the Pricing Schedule.
• Bid validity: 90 days.

Contract securities

• Within two days of receiving the completed agreement, the successful bidder must contact Sentech's agent to arrange delivery of any securities, bonds, guarantees, proof of insurance and other documentation required by the conditions of contract; failure to do so constitutes repudiation of the agreement.

Administrative responsiveness

• Registered on the Sentech Supplier Database.
• Tax compliant, with all required information submitted to Sentech.
• Quotation on company letterhead, fully completed and signed in black ink.
• Submitted by email on or before the closing date and time.

Mandatory eligibility (failure means no further evaluation)

• Training institution accredited by the relevant SETA or QCTO for the mast climbing and rescue programmes offered, covering unit standards 229998 and 229995 — proof of accreditation required.
• Presenter/facilitator holding a valid accreditation certificate for unit standards 229998 and 229995 — CVs and certificates required.
• Letter on company letterhead signed by the bidder's director or owner confirming a dummy doll will be used for the rescue training.
• Consent letter signed by the CEO/MD/GM or 16.1 legal appointee confirming 2-day training and 3-year certificate validity.

B-bbee

• A valid B-BBEE certificate is required to claim preference points under the 80/20 system.
• Ownership thresholds and the points attached to each are set out in the evaluation criteria.

Confidentiality

• The bidder must treat the RFQ terms and Sentech's confidential information as confidential, disclosing it only to its auditors and professional advisers and not to the media, unless Sentech authorises disclosure in writing.

Preference points — 80/20 system, 20 points in total

• Sentech's specific goals derive from section 2(1)(d) of the Preferential Procurement Policy Act and may include contracting with persons historically disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the basis of race, gender and disability, per the Reconstruction and Development Programme published in Government Gazette No 16085 of 23 November 1994.

Race (maximum 10 points)

• At least 51% black ownership: 10 points.
• 25.1–50% black ownership: 5 points.
• 5–25% black ownership: 3 points.
• Below 5%: 0 points.

Women (maximum 8 points)

• At least 51% women ownership: 8 points.
• 25.1–50% women ownership: 4 points.
• 5–25% women ownership: 2 points.
• Below 5% women ownership: 0 points.

Disability (2 points)

• Evidence: a doctor's note confirming disability, confirmation of disability from the Department of Labour, a B-BBEE certificate or equivalent confirmation.

Evidence for race and gender claims: a valid B-BBEE certificate showing the relevant ownership percentage.

Confidentiality

• The bidder must keep the RFQ terms and all of Sentech's confidential information confidential.
• Disclosure is permitted only to the bidder's auditors and other professional advisers, and never to the media, unless Sentech gives prior written authorisation.
• The information may be used only for the purposes of this RFQ.

Mandatory eligibility criteria

• The training institution must be accredited by the relevant SETA or QCTO for the mast climbing and rescue programmes offered, covering unit standards 229998 and 229995 — proof of accreditation required.
• The presenter/facilitator must hold a valid accreditation certificate for unit standards 229998 and 229995 — CVs and certificates required.
• The rescue component must use a dummy doll, confirmed by a letter on company letterhead signed by the bidder's director or owner.
• The 2-day training and 3-year certificate validity must be confirmed by a consent letter signed by the CEO/MD/GM or 16.1 legal appointee.
• Bidders that do not meet all of these criteria are not evaluated further.

Price points (80/20)

• Formula: Ps = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin) / Pmin).
• Ps = points scored for the price of the bid under consideration.
• Pt = rand value of the bid under consideration.
• Pmin = rand value of the lowest acceptable bid.

Returnable form

• Sentech Supplier Consent Form: must be signed by an authorised representative who warrants they are duly authorised to bind the bidder; signing consents to Sentech processing the bidder's personal information to assess the bid and to register the bidder on Sentech's supplier database.

Supplier database

• The bidder must be registered on Sentech's database of suppliers.

Personal information consent

• The bidder consents to Sentech processing its personal information, including special personal information, to evaluate the bid and to assess current and future services.
• Information may be shared with third parties inside and outside South Africa, including for verification, background screening and FICA Know Your Customer checks.
• Consent may be withdrawn in writing, but withdrawal may prevent the bid from being processed and the bidder's details from being retained on the supplier database.