Professional service provider for the development of a national chemicals profile for south africa (24 months)

Closing date: 16 November 2026 at 11:00 AM.

Briefing session: not applicable and not compulsory.

Bid validity: 120 calendar days from closing date.

Briefing session is not applicable and not compulsory.

Bidding procedure enquiries:

• Contact: SCM Officials
• Email: [email protected]

Technical enquiries: contact details not provided in the document.

Submission address:

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

The Environment House

473 Steve Biko Road, Cnr Soutpansberg and Steve Biko Road

Arcadia, Pretoria/Tshwane

Submission method: deposit in the bid box at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, The Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Cnr Soutpansberg and Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria/Tshwane.

Closing time: 16 November 2026 at 11:00 AM. Late bids will not be considered.

Bids must be submitted on the official forms provided, not re-typed.

One master original document, bound, with a table of contents, plus an identical electronic copy on USB.

Returnable forms (all must be completed and signed):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 3.3 (Pricing Schedule – Professional Services): aligned to Annexure A pricing schedule.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses any director/shareholder employed by the state or connected to the procuring institution; false disclosure disqualifies.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims B-BBEE points under the 80/20 system.
• Valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) with CSD report.
• CSD registration report and/or SARS Tax PIN.
• Letter of Authority to sign documents on behalf of the company.
• Consent and indemnity form (Annexure C), completed and signed.
• Joint venture agreement, if applicable.

Disqualification risks:

• Any returnable form omitted or unsigned.
• Failure to provide proof of CSD registration or tax compliance.
• Bids from persons in the service of the state, or companies/close corporations with directors/members in the service of the state.
• Bidders listed on the Register for Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers.

Evaluation is in four phases:

Phase 1 – Pre-compliance: administrative requirements, tax compliance, CSD registration.

Phase 2 – Mandatory requirements: valid proof of professional registration for the project team leader and Expert 1 with SACNASP, HPCSA, or SACI. Failure disqualifies.

Phase 3 – Functionality (100 points): minimum qualifying score 60% to proceed. Criteria:

• Proposed detailed project plan, methodology, risk identification and mitigation, and project management (20 points).
• Experience of Project Team Leader (20 points).
• Experience of Key Expert 1 (20 points).
• Experience of Key Expert 2 (20 points).
• Reference letters from contactable institutions (20 points).

Phase 4 – Price and Preference Points: 80/20 system. Price formula: Ps = 80[1 - (Pt - Pmin)/Pmin]. Specific goals up to 20 points for more than 50% ownership by Black people, women, or people with disabilities.

Award to the bidder with the highest total points on price and preference, provided all phases are met.

The department requires a professional service provider to develop an updated National Chemicals Profile for South Africa over 24 months.

Scope of work:

• Data Acquisition & Mapping: identify chemicals data sources (government databases, SARS customs/trade, industry associations, research bodies); develop a consolidated inventory of datasets covering industrial chemicals, agrochemicals, POPs candidates, ozone-depleting substances, heavy metals, and environmentally persistent pharmaceuticals; trend analysis, risk characterisation, and identification of priority chemicals.
• Regulatory & Institutional Capacity Assessment: assess policy/regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements; map roles and responsibilities; recommend improvements.
• Technical Infrastructure: assess facilities for hazardous waste treatment, recovery, storage, recycling, and destruction; assess laboratory capacity, capabilities, and accreditation.
• Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Analysis: analyse impacts on GDP, employment, and industrial development per sector (agriculture, construction, electronics, textiles, mining, manufacturing, upstream petrochemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics); desktop assessment of health and environmental impacts; assess monitoring systems and financing.
• Overview of Issues and Concerns Related to Chemicals: identify major chemical-related risks to human health and environment.
• Analysis & Gap Assessment: data cleaning, harmonisation, metadata documentation, gap analysis, and capacity needs assessment.

Deliverables:

• Inception Report.
• National Chemicals Profile comprising sub-reports (Data Acquisition & Mapping, Regulatory & Institutional Capacity, Technical Infrastructure, Environmental and Socio-economic Impact, Overview of Issues, Analysis & Gap Assessment).
• Stakeholder Engagement Report with proof of engagement.
• Monthly progress reports.

The service provider must submit an Inception Report defining methodology, stakeholders, communication plan, data sources, and work plan. The methodology must cover data acquisition and mapping, regulatory and institutional capacity assessment, technical infrastructure assessment, environmental and socio-economic impact analysis, overview of issues, and analysis and gap assessment. Monthly progress reports are required.

Project Team Leader: minimum Master's degree in chemistry, environmental chemistry, environmental science (specialising in chemistry), agrochemicals, Environmental Toxicology, Ecotoxicology, Human Toxicology and Environmental Health, or natural sciences. Experience scoring: 10+ years (5 points), 8-10 years (4), 6-8 years (3), 4-6 years (2), 2-4 years (1), <2 years (0).

Key Expert 1: relevant Master's degree with experience in project management and development of national inventories/chemicals profiles/NIP/NAP/initial assessments or chemicals risk assessment. Same experience bands.

Key Expert 2: diploma in Project Management with experience in project management, regulatory/policy development in chemicals, or socio-economic assessment. Same experience bands.

Reference letters: from contactable institutions on official letterhead, confirming successfully completed projects in specified areas (national inventory, chemicals profile, NIP, NAP, initial assessment, risk assessment, project management, socio-economic assessment). Scoring: 5+ letters (5 points), 4 (4), 3 (3), 2 (2), 1 (1), 0 (0).

Bidders must indicate a ceiling price based on total estimated time for all phases, inclusive of all expenses and applicable taxes. The pricing schedule (Annexure A / SBD 3.3) lists cost lines for: Project Inception Report; National Chemicals Profiles (Data Acquisition & Mapping Report, Regulatory & Institutional Capacity Assessment Report, Technical Infrastructure Report, Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Analysis Report, Draft Chemicals Profile, Report on Overview of Issues and Concerns Related to Chemicals, Analysis & Gap Assessment Report); Stakeholder Engagement Report; subtotal; VAT at 15%; total project cost. Offer valid for 120 days from closing date. Comprehensive offer must include all costs, expenses, and VAT; travelling costs between home/office and DFFE are not for DFFE account. In case of discrepancies, SBD 3.3 takes precedence. DFFE reserves the right to negotiate price with recommended bidder.

Pricing format: ceiling price based on total estimated time for all phases, inclusive of all expenses and applicable taxes.

Pricing schedule (Annexure A / SBD 3.3) lists cost lines for each deliverable; subtotal, VAT at 15%, and total project cost.

Offer valid for 120 calendar days from closing date; DFFE may extend validity with written notice, and bidders must respond in writing.

Comprehensive offer must include all costs, expenses, and VAT; travelling costs between home/office and DFFE are not for DFFE account.

In case of discrepancy between Annexure A and SBD 3.3, SBD 3.3 takes precedence.

DFFE reserves the right to negotiate price with the recommended bidder only.

CSD registration: proof of registration on the Central Supplier Database must be submitted with the bid.

Tax compliance: bidders must submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or a printed TCS certificate; each party in a consortium/JV/sub-contractor must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number.

B-BBEE: valid B-BBEE certificate issued by SANAS-accredited agency or CIPC, or a sworn affidavit (for EMEs and QSEs), required to claim preference points.

Professional registration (mandatory): project team leader and Expert 1 must hold valid registration with SACNASP (Practising in Nat.Sc), HPCSA, or SACI.

No bids from persons in the service of the state, or companies/close corporations with directors/members in the service of the state.

Bidders listed on the Register for Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers are disqualified.

The scope includes assessing existing chemicals management and environmental monitoring systems, including occupational health and safety measures and transportation of dangerous goods procedures. No separate OHS plan is required for this professional services tender.

The work is driven by South Africa's commitments under multilateral environmental agreements (Global Framework on Chemicals, Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam, Minamata, Vienna/Montreal). The profile must support sound management of chemicals and protection of human health and environment. Deliverables include an Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Analysis Report covering impacts on GDP, employment, and industrial development, and a desktop assessment of health and environmental impacts.

Contract duration: 24 months from signing of SLA and issuing of Official Order.

Bid validity: 120 calendar days; DFFE may extend with written notice, and bidders must respond in writing.

DFFE reserves the right to negotiate price with the recommended bidder.

Bidders must remain tax compliant for the entire contract term.

B-BBEE certificates must be valid and issued by SANAS-accredited agencies or CIPC, or a sworn affidavit with Commissioner of Oaths.

Project must be completed within 24 months after signing of SLA and issuing of Official Order. Validity period is 120 calendar days; DFFE may extend validity with written notice, and bidders must respond in writing. DFFE reserves the right to negotiate price with recommended bidder. Bidders must remain tax compliant for entire contract term; VAT registration requirements apply if applicable. B-BBEE certificates must be valid and issued by SANAS-accredited agencies or CIPC, or sworn affidavit with Commissioner of Oaths.

Mandatory requirements: bidder must submit valid proof of professional registration for project team leader and Expert 1 with one of: SACNASP (Practising in Nat.Sc), HPCSA, or SACI. Bidders who fail to comply will be disqualified.

Evaluation is in four phases: Phase 1 Pre-compliance (administrative requirements, tax compliance, CSD registration); Phase 2 Mandatory requirements (professional registration for project team leader and Expert 1); Phase 3 Functionality (minimum 60% to qualify; criteria include project plan, experience of Project Team Leader, Key Expert 1, Key Expert 2, and reference letters; total 100 points); Phase 4 Price and Preference Points (80/20 system, price formula Ps=80[1-(Pt-Pmin)/Pmin], specific goals up to 20 points for >50% ownership by Black people, Women, or people with disabilities). Award to bidder with highest points on price and preference, provided all phases met.