RFP: independent technical advisors for gas exploration data review – national tender

Enquiries

• Name: Amelia Rawstorne
• Role: Procurement Specialist
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 011 269 3645

Submission address:

https://idcza-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/tinys_idc_co_za/IgCjOTPtN82iTqa9nKskYNIoAQzPlYgt8rNVA2M7W3oREIo

IDC website: www.idc.co.za (tenders section)

Submission method: electronic only, via the dedicated SharePoint link.

• Submission link: https://idcza-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/tinys_idc_co_za/IgCjOTPtN82iTqa9nKskYNIoAQzPlYgt8rNVA2M7W3oREIo
• Closing time: 6 November 2026 at 11:00 (before midday). Late or incomplete bids are disqualified.
• Submit at least 30 minutes before the deadline to avoid technical issues; IDC servers accept files up to 50MB.
• Use standard electronic formats (Microsoft Office or PDF); inaccessible formats lead to disqualification.
• Bid responses must be in English.

Returnable schedules (each clearly marked):

• Cover Page: RFP reference number, bid description, bidder name.
• Schedule 1: Executive summary explaining understanding of requirements and proposed solution.
• Schedule 2 (documents):
• Certified copy of Board Resolution authorising signatory.
• Originally certified copy of ID document for the Company Representative.
• Annexure 2: Acceptance of Bid Conditions and Bidder's Details (signed).
• Annexure 3: Tax Compliance Requirements (signed).
• Annexure 4: Bidder's Disclosure (signed).
• Annexure 5: Shareholders and Directors Information (signed).
• Annexure 6: BEE Commitment Plan, with B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (EME/QSE).
• Annexure 7: Disclosure Statement (completed).
• Annexure 8: POPIA Requirements (signed, if applicable).
• Latest audited financial statements, or independently reviewed financials, or cashflow budget for new entities.
• Joint Venture/Consortium/Subcontracting agreement, if applicable, signed by all parties.
• Schedule 3: Response to Section 2 (Functional Requirements Specification) using Annexure 1 format.
• Schedule 4: Price Proposal (Section 3 Cost Proposal), submitted as a separate file marked 'Schedule 4: Price/Cost Proposal'.

Disqualification risks:

• Incomplete or unsigned returnable schedules.
• Submission to any address other than the specified link.
• Non-compliant tax status after notification.
• Fraudulent or factually inaccurate information.
• Non-compliance with mandatory requirements or POPIA.
• Prime contractor holding a lower percentage of contract value than any subcontractor.

Evaluation phases:

1. Phase 1 – Initial Screening: compliance with bid conditions, CSD checks (company registration, tax status), B-BBEE certificate, all returnable schedules completed. Non-compliance leads to disqualification.
2. Phase 2 – Technical/Functionality evaluation:

• Mandatory technical requirements (must comply, else disqualification):
• Team must include at least one Pr Eng (ECSA) or Pr.Sci.Nat (SACNASP) or equivalent international registration; proof of registration required.
• Other functional criteria (weightings):
• Bidder's Relevant Experience: 60 points
• Bidder's Proposed Methodology: 10 points
• Qualifications, Skills and Experience of the Team: 30 points
• Total: 100 points. Minimum qualifying score: 70%. Bidders scoring below 70% are excluded from further evaluation.

3. Phase 3 – Preference Points (80/20 system):

• Price: 80 points
• Specific Goals: 20 points, allocated as:
• Black ownership: 10 points (100% black-owned = full 10; 51%-99.99% = 4)
• 30% Black women ownership: 5 points
• Any % ownership by Black Designated Groups: 2 points
• Promotion of SMMEs (EME or QSE): 3 points (implied remainder)
• Points only for direct Black shareholding with exercisable voting rights.

4. Phase 4 – Objective Criteria: highest scoring bidder awarded unless lower risk justifies otherwise (reputational, concentration, financial capability, past IDC performance).

The IDC requires independent technical advisors to review exploration data and pilot results for a Coal Bed Methane (CBM) project in Botswana. Scope includes:

• Subsurface and reservoir assessment: review geological/reservoir models, data quality (well data, core, log, gas content), permeability estimation, reservoir pressure, desorption characteristics.
• Site visit to project area and pilot facilities in Botswana: verify infrastructure (wells, water handling, compression), observe operations, compare with documentation, hold clarification meetings.
• Pilot project design and performance review: assess design, gas/water production, pressure response, stabilisation trends, pilot duration/scale vs industry benchmarks, extrapolation to commercial scale.
• Review capital expenditure assumptions (technical perspective): cost per well, drilling/completion design, surface facilities, small-scale LNG configuration, modularity, scalability.
• Validate wellfield optimisation model: structure, input parameters, calibration, well spacing, drainage, production forecasts, sensitivity analysis.
• Assess development strategy: phasing, sequencing, scalability, alignment with subsurface and pilot outcomes, flexibility under alternative scenarios.
• Identify technical risks and data gaps; assess sensitivity to key assumptions (permeability, deliverability, decline).
• Provide recommendations and improvement opportunities.
• Review LNG market interface and commercialisation assumptions from technical and execution feasibility perspective.
• Deliverables: comprehensive technical report (findings, risks, validation/challenge of assumptions, site visit summary, gaps, recommendations), statement on resource maturity (prospective/contingent etc.), executive summary, statement on technical readiness, high-level assessment of project team capability, presentation to IDC Project Development Unit (PDU) and project owner.

Pricing must be VAT inclusive (where applicable) and quoted in ZAR.

• Rates may be firm for the full contract period; if not, provide adjustment basis (e.g., CPI).
• All additional costs must be specified and included in the Total Bid Price.
• Payments linked to deliverables, payable within 30 days of invoice.
• Rates should align with National Treasury Instruction on Cost Containment Measures (2017); reference to DPSA Guide on Hourly Fee Rates for Consultants.

Costing model:

• 7.1 Fixed Price Technical Review: provide activities with number of resources, hours, rate/hour (VAT excl.), including site visit costs.
• 7.2 Disbursements: detailed breakdown of incidental expenses (travel, accommodation, printing). If none, state 'No Charge / Free of Charge'; failure to do so results in penalty (highest bidder's cost +50% applied for price comparison).
• 7.3 Post-Review Technical Advisory Support: price 40 notional hours of advisory support (IDC may use all, some, or none).
• Total Bid Price = 7.1 + 7.2 + 7.3 (VAT inclusive).

Tax compliance:

• Tax affairs with SARS must be in order; written confirmation required.
• Must provide SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or Tax Compliance System PIN.

Csd:

• Must be registered on Central Supplier Database (CSD) of National Treasury; provide CSD supplier number and unique registration reference.

B-bbee:

• Submit B-BBEE verification certificate.
• EMEs (annual revenue < R10 million) and QSEs (R10-R50 million) may submit sworn affidavit confirming revenue and black ownership.
• Misrepresentation is a criminal offence under B-BBEE Act.

Professional registrations (mandatory):

• Team must include a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) registered with ECSA, OR a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) registered with SACNASP, or equivalent international bodies.

Other mandatory requirements:

• Complete all returnable schedules and comply with POPIA.
• Companies must provide Board Resolution authorising signatory.
• Prime contractor must not hold lower % of contract value than any subcontractor.