Appointment of a service provider to undertake an expanded market assessment for the rosslyn inland port programme (ripp)

Closing date: 1 September 2026 at 11:00 AM. Enquiries must be submitted within 3 days after the RFP is issued, and will not be accepted after 16h00 on 24 August 2026. Consolidated responses posted on the IDC website within 2 days after the enquiry deadline. No mandatory briefing or site visit is scheduled; site visits may be arranged by IDC at its discretion.

Enquiries in writing to the Procurement Specialist, Ms Ntombifikile Mokgeseng, telephone +27 11 269 3767, email [email protected]. Responses to enquiries are consolidated and posted on the IDC website (www.idc.co.za) within two days of the enquiry deadline. No enquiries are accepted after the closing date or during evaluation.

Submission must be made electronically only, via the dedicated SharePoint platform link provided in the RFP. Bids sent to any other platform will be disqualified. The platform accepts files up to 50MB; larger submissions will be rejected. Bidders are advised to upload at least 30 minutes before the deadline to avoid IT congestion. Late or incomplete bids are disqualified. Amended bids must be marked 'Amendment to bid' and be received before the closing time. All documentation must be in English. Bids must be signed by a person authorised by a Board Resolution, with a certified copy of the resolution and a certified ID copy of the company representative submitted. Tax affairs must be in order and written confirmation provided. If the bidder is a prime contractor with subcontractors, the prime contractor must hold a higher percentage of the contract value than any subcontractor. Returnable schedules: Cover Page (RFP number, bid description, bidder name); Schedule 1: Executive Summary; Schedule 2: Board Resolution, certified ID copy, Annexures 2-8 (Acceptance of Bid Conditions and Bidder's Details, Tax Compliance, Bidder's Disclosure, Shareholders and Directors, BEE Commitment Plan, Disclosure Statement, POPIA), Statement of Financial Position (audited financials, independently reviewed financials, or cashflow budget for new entities), and any JV/Consortium/Subcontracting Agreement; Schedule 3: Response to Section 2 Functional Requirements; Schedule 4: Price Proposal, submitted as a separate file marked 'Schedule 4: Price/Cost Proposal'. For consortia, JVs, or subcontracting structures, documents must be submitted for each party.

Returnable schedules: Cover Page (RFP number, description, bidder name); Schedule 1: Executive Summary; Schedule 2: Board Resolution (certified), certified ID copy of company representative, Annexure 2 (Acceptance of Bid Conditions), Annexure 3 (Tax Compliance), Annexure 4 (Bidder's Disclosure), Annexure 5 (Shareholders and Directors), Annexure 6 (BEE Commitment Plan), Annexure 7 (Disclosure Statement), Annexure 8 (POPIA), Statement of Financial Position (audited or cashflow budget for new entities), and JV/Consortium/Subcontracting Agreement if applicable. For consortia or JVs, documents must be submitted for each member. Schedule 3: Response to Section 2 Functional Requirements. Schedule 4: Price Proposal (separate file marked 'Schedule 4: Price/Cost Proposal').

Evaluation is in four phases:

• Phase 1 (Screening): CSD registration and tax compliance status verified via CSD; ID copy, BEE status certification, and all mandatory documents checked. Non-compliance leads to disqualification.
• Phase 2 (Functionality): Mandatory technical requirements must be met. Weighted criteria: Bidder's relevant experience 25%, Proposed methodology and approach 35%, Proposed project plan 10%, Qualifications of key personnel 30%. Minimum qualifying score: 70%. Bidders below 70% are excluded from further evaluation.
• Phase 3 (Preference points, 80/20 system): Price 80 points; Specific Goals 20 points. Specific Goals: Black ownership 10 points (100% black-owned = 10 points; 51%-99.99% = 4 points); 30% Black women ownership 5 points; any % ownership by Black Designated Groups 2 points; promotion of SMMEs (EME or QSE) 3 points.
• Phase 4 (Objective criteria): Award to the highest scored bidder unless objective criteria justify otherwise. Objective criteria include reputational risk, concentration risk, financial capability, and past performance in IDC contracts.

The consultant shall perform an expanded market assessment for the Rosslyn Inland Port Programme (RIPP), repositioning it from an automotive-focused concept to a multi-sector, regional logistics hub. Key work areas:

• Identify and quantify demand from sectors besides automotive: manufacturing, FMCG, retail, mining inputs, agro-processing, chemicals, construction materials, energy-related goods, logistics operators.
• Assess SADC corridor opportunities, including trade flows linked to Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia.
• Validate freight volumes, cargo categories, logistics flows, service requirements, and operating conditions.
• Refine the value proposition and test a scalable, bankable service offering, including per-unit road/rail competitiveness and corridor-specific options.
• Strengthen the business case through diversified demand, anchor users, revenue drivers, and bankability.
• Secure non-binding expressions of support or interest from stakeholders.

Required deliverables: inception and review of existing reports; market segmentation and demand identification; freight flow and corridor analysis; logistics constraints and market needs; service demand testing and product-market fit; stakeholder mapping and market sounding; regional trade opportunity assessment; commercial positioning and enhanced business case report. General requirements: a Project Steering Committee (IDC/ISA and GIFA) provides oversight; bi-weekly progress meeting via Microsoft Teams; site visits and meetings on ad hoc; engagement with interested and affected parties; all documents, studies and data delivered; notify the client before contacting third parties; final report and close-out presentation at GIFA offices. Complete the entire assignment within six months from appointment.

The bidder must provide a detailed project plan as a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with a Gantt chart format, scheduled for completion in six months. The methodology must demonstrate an understanding of the objectives and deliverables through logical sequencing, appropriate analytical tools, quality assurance measures, and a clear link between activities and outcomes. The deliverables must be due in clearly defined work stages with named team leads.

The bidder must show proven experience in market demand studies for transport, logistics, industrial, or infrastructure projects, including forecasting and stakeholder engagement. Three reference projects of similar scope within the last 10 years, each with a contactable reference, are required. The team must include: Project Lead (Master's degree, 8+ years in infrastructure/inland port/rail/port); Market Economist (8+ years in demand forecasting); Transport/Freight Flow Specialist (7+ years in corridor logistics); Logistics/Intermodal Operations Specialist (7+ years); Regional Trade/SADC Specialist (8+ years); Financial/Commercial Specialist (MBA/CA(SA), 8+ years in infrastructure/PPP); GIS/Spatial Specialist (5+ years); and Data Analytics Specialist (5+ years). Submit an organogram, full CVs, and proof of registration where legally registrable.

The evaluation of the solution requires a detailed step-by-step methodology for the logistics study, with quality assurance measures and a clear linkage between activities and expected outcomes, packaged into work stages with defined milestones and team leads. Sufficient evidence of the proposed approach is mandatory; failure to substantiate may disqualify the bid.

The price pro forma must be per the four activity/deliverable lines, with resource, hourly rate, and hours per deliverable shown, plus disbursements and VAT, totalling all-inclusive. Rates must be in ZAR, either firm or justified escalation. All additional costs must be in the total. Payment is tied to approved deliverables, within 30 days of invoice.

Bids must be priced in South African Rand, VAT inclusive. Bidders must indicate whether rates are firm for the full contract period and, if not, the basis for adjustment (e.g. CPI). All additional costs must be included in the Total Bid Price. Bidders must state whether the price is linked to the exchange rate and specify the affected portion. Payments are tied to deliverables approved by IDC, paid within 30 days of invoice. IDC may refer to National Treasury Instruction 02 of 2016/2017 (Cost Containment Measures) for consultancy rate guidance. A costing model must offer a full breakdown by deliverable, listing resources, rate/hour, hours, and total cost for each activity: Inception Review, Market Segmentation, Freight Flow Analysis, Logistics Constraints, Demand Testing, Stakeholder Mapping, Regional Trade Assessment, and Commercial Positioning. Disbursements must be clearly defined; if no fee is charged, state 'No Charge / Free of Charge' — otherwise the bid is assessed at the highest bidder's cost plus 50%. Bidders must provide a summary of number of resources, project duration in hours and months, and proposed commencement date.

Registration on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) is mandatory; the supplier number and unique registration reference must be provided. Tax compliance with SARS is required, evidenced by a Tax Compliance Status PIN or printed TCS, or a CSD number if no TCS is available; each consortium/JV/subcontractor party must supply its own proof. A B-BBEE verification certificate is required; EMEs (annual revenue less than R10 million) and QSEs (annual revenue R10-50 million) may submit a sworn affidavit confirming turnover and black ownership. A BEE Commitment Plan (Annexure 6) is required. Bidders are encouraged to partner with a black-owned entity (50%+1), noting selection criteria, with a partnership/subcontracting proposal. Complete the returnable Annexures 2 (Acceptance of Bid Conditions), 3 (Tax Compliance), 4 (Bidder's Disclosure), 5 (Shareholders and Directors), 7 (Disclosure Statement) and 8 (POPIA). Failure to complete these or false information may disqualify the bid.

IDC encourages partnership (Joint venture or subcontracting) with 50%+1 black-owned and controlled entities, with a required partnership proposal including the share of work outsourced and the level of involvement. B-BBEE certificates or sworn affidavits for EMEs/QSEs must be supplied and count toward Specific Goals: 100% black-owned = 10 points, 51-99.99% = 4 points; 30% black women ownership = 5 points; Black Designated Groups ownership = 2 points; promotion of SMEs/EMEs = 3 points.

The document does not mention health or safety requirements.

The preferred bidder must enter a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with IDC after award, forming part of the supply contract; the SLA sets performance measurement and monitoring. Bidders must be prepared for a presentation, possibly within 5 days of notification, and may be asked to demonstrate the solution. A bid remains binding for 120 days from the closing date. IDC may reject any bid, including the lowest, and may conduct site visits, background and FICA checks, and require verification documents. Bidders bear all costs of preparation. Supporting documents become IDC property unless otherwise stated. In subcontracting, the prime contractor must retain a higher percentage of contract value than any subcontractor.

Responses are valid 120 days. The bidder who holds a sub-prime ratio to its subcontractors is disqualified. Disclosure statements are required and must not be false. Any information held in confidence is exclusively for this tender. Bidders must induce themselves that all terms and obligations are fully feasible if awarded the SLA.

Give the bidder details of the must-haves for the contracted work: mandatory experience in rail connectivity, port handling, customs — and the relevant pollutants and standards. Failure to meet any mandatory functionality or the minimum scoring of 70% is disqualifying. All reference of scores must be individual, unyielding.

Mandated phases: First, a compliance review (CSD status, ID, BEE, standard bidding document set); miss a single form and the bid is disqualified. Stage 2 scores functionality — Experience 25%, Methodology and Approach 35%, Project Plan 10%, and Key Personnel 30% — with a 70% gate and mandatory requirements. Then 80/20 preference points (price / specific goals). Finally, IDC may override the highest-scoring bidder where risk criteria apply (reputation, financial capability, past performance).