Panel of managed ICT support service providers — sap, digital, infrastructure, security and professional services (nhbrc 10/2026)

Closing

• 26 October 2026 at 11:00.

Briefing session

• 07 October 2026 at 11:00.
• Non-compulsory, hybrid (virtual link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/346615701254454?p=qfWM0U9ssXLFxgK68B).
• Information and clarifications given at the session form part of the bid.

Clarification enquiries

• Accepted up to 19 October 2026.
• Responses issued on weekdays, Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30.

Document availability

• Bid documents downloadable from the NHBRC website (www.nhbrc.org.za/current-tenders) and the National Treasury e-Tender Portal from 30 September 2026.

Administrative enquiries

• Department: Supply Chain Management
• Contact: Mr Kabelo Phalane
• Email: [email protected]

Clarifications

• Email: [email protected]
• Email: [email protected]

Submission

• Method: online via the National Treasury e-Tender Portal
• Portal: https://www.etenders.gov.za/
• Attention: Supply Chain Manager

Head office

• NHBRC Head Office
• Sunninghill
• Gauteng

Submission channel

• Online only, via the National Treasury e-Tender Portal: https://www.etenders.gov.za/
• Format: PDF upload containing returnable SCM documentation, supporting documents and a signed pricing schedule.
• Mark the proposal for the attention of the Supply Chain Manager.
• No physical or emailed proposals will be accepted.
• Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Non-compliance with the online submission rules invalidates the bid.
• Bidders should make proposals easily identifiable by company name or logo.
• Bid validity: 90 days from the closing date.

Returnable documents

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): completed and signed cover offer.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): completed and signed disclosure of interests.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): completed and signed even if no points are claimed.
• SBD 7.2 (Contract Form): completed and signed.
• CSD registration report / MAAA number.
• Latest CIPC documents.
• Valid SARS-issued tax compliance PIN.
• Certified identity documents of company directors.
• Signed teaming agreement, where applicable.
• Category 1 only: letter from SAP confirming the bidder is an authorised SAP Support Partner.
• Signed pricing schedule per category bid for.

Disqualification risks

• Mandatory documents not submitted, incomplete or unsigned.
• Submission of false, fraudulent or misleading information.
• Bids received after the closing date and time.
• Non-compliance with the online submission requirements.
• An entity being involved, directly or indirectly, in more than one bid.
• Material change in control or composition after submission without prior written NHBRC approval.
• Failure to prove absence of fronting within 14 days of notification.

Evaluation stages

• Stage 1: Compliance check of mandatory bid requirements. Bids failing Stage 1 are disqualified and do not proceed.
• Stage 2: Functional evaluation per service category. Each category is evaluated independently.
• Price is not scored; the evaluation excludes price.

Minimum qualifying score

• 70 out of 100 points per service category. Bidders below this threshold are disqualified.
• Bidders scoring 70 or more are included on the NHBRC Panel for Managed ICT Support Services for that category.

Functional weighting (per category)

• Bidder overall experience: 30%
• Client references: 20%
• Resource overall experience: 30%
• Resource certifications and qualifications: 20%

Scoring scale

• 5 = Excellent; 4 = Very good; 3 = Good; 1 = Poor; 0 = Non-compliant.

Bidder overall experience scoring

• More than 80% of the required resources for the selected category: 5 points.
• More than 50%: 3 points.
• More than 20%: 1 point.
• 10% or less: 0 points.

Client reference scoring

• More than two valid reference letters: 5 points.
• Two valid reference letters: 3 points.
• One valid reference letter: 1 point.
• None: 0 points.
• A valid letter is on the client's letterhead and signed by a delegated client representative; NHBRC may verify it.

Resource experience scoring

• Experience exceeding the role requirement: 5 points.
• Experience equal to the role requirement: 3 points.
• Experience below the role requirement: 1 point.
• No experience provided: 0 points.

Resource qualification scoring

• Relevant qualification above NQF Level 6: 5 points.
• Relevant qualification at NQF Level 6: 3 points.
• Qualification below NQF Level 6: 1 point.
• No qualification provided: 0 points.

Other evaluation provisions

• NHBRC may conduct due diligence, verification and pre-announced or unannounced site visits before award or during the contract.
• NHBRC may require a formal presentation by any bidder at a date it determines; the bidder bears all costs.
• NHBRC reserves the right to negotiate with shortlisted bidders before or after award.

Purpose

• Appointment of a panel of service providers to deliver managed ICT support services to the NHBRC for two (02) years.
• Services cover application system enhancements, infrastructure support and professional services, and must be technically robust and functionally reliable.
• The panel supports the ICT Unit with outsourced specialist resources as and when required.

Categories and required roles

• Category 1 — SAP Support Services: SAP BASIS Administration; SAP ABAP Developer; SAP FICO; SAP HCM & Payroll; SAP SCM/MM/SD; SAP PI/PO & Integration; SAP Fiori & Portal; SAP Security & GRC; SAP Solution Manager.
• Category 2 — Digital Services: .NET Developer (Full Stack C#); DevOps Engineer; Integration Specialist; Database Administrator; BI/Data Engineer.
• Category 3 — ICT Infrastructure & Desktop Support: IT Technicians; Azure Senior Engineer.
• Category 4 — ICT Security & Governance: ICT Security and Governance Lead; Information Security Specialist; ICT Risk and Compliance Specialist; Cybersecurity Analyst (SOC/Threat Monitoring); Identity & Access Management Specialist; Security Architect (Enterprise/Cloud Security); IT Auditor (ISO 27001/COBIT/NIST); Data Protection & Privacy Specialist (POPIA/GDPR).
• Category 5 — Professional Services: Digital Transformation Programme Manager; Senior Project Manager; Project Administrator/Coordinator; Enterprise/Solution Architect; Senior Business Analyst; Change Management Specialist; GIS Specialist.

Scope of services

• SAP: technical and functional support for SAP infrastructure, architecture and business processes, including management, maintenance and enhancement.
• Digital services: support and enhancement of the cloud-hosted, .NET and SAP-integrated digital services platform, including integration and interface protocols.
• ICT infrastructure: management of on-premises server environments, cloud infrastructure, and repair and lifecycle management of laptops and other ICT assets.
• ICT security and governance: security posture, governance, compliance and risk management, including IPSec tunnels and Azure Firewall.
• Professional support: structured, controlled and predictable delivery of ICT initiatives.

Environment

• SAP ECC and SAP CRM platforms implemented in 2015, supporting Finance, Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management and Customer Relationship Management.
• Integrated environment includes Microsoft .NET digital services platforms, mobility solutions, ATAS, OpenText ECM and supporting applications.
• Blended support model combining internal ICT resources with external service providers.

Service expectations

• Working hours: 08:30 to 16:30.
• Resources must be available within 48 hours of appointment.
• Underperforming resources must be replaced with a more qualified individual within 48 hours of a formal request.
• Knowledge and skills transfer to NHBRC internal resources throughout the appointment period.
• Travel to other NHBRC regional offices may be required.
• Deliverables and daily duties must be completed within agreed timeframes.
• Bidders must state whether offerings are provided directly or through partnerships.

Panel utilisation

• Work is allocated on a rotational basis according to the specific service required.
• No guarantee of any work assignment during the two-year contract.
• Assignments are structured as work packages defining scope, timeframes, qualifying criteria, duration and deliverables.
• NHBRC may allocate a work package to more than one expert.
• NHBRC ICT and SCM facilitate contracting; project leaders manage work allocation.

Scope exclusions

• Any service not described in the RFP is excluded.

Pricing

• Bidders must submit hourly rates per role for each category bid for, distinguishing intermediate and senior (and junior where applicable).
• The fee structure is indicative and not binding on the NHBRC, but must be submitted with the bid.
• Successful panel members are remunerated according to approved NHBRC fees, which are non-negotiable.
• Fees are shared with successful bidders during drafting of the Service Level Agreement.
• Price is not part of the evaluation.
• NHBRC reserves the right to negotiate hourly charges submitted by bidders.

Bid validity

• Bids remain binding and irrevocable for 90 days from the submission date.

Costs

• All bid preparation and submission costs are borne by the bidder and are not chargeable to the NHBRC.

Registration and tax

• Bidders must be registered on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD) and keep the registration current for the contract duration.
• Bidders must be tax compliant at submission and remain compliant for the contract duration.
• A SARS Tax Clearance Certificate must be provided annually.
• Latest CIPC documents and certified identity documents of company directors are required.

Mandatory documents (disqualifying if omitted)

• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): completed and signed.
• Category 1 only: letter from SAP confirming authorised SAP Support Partner status.

Legislative documents (required, not disqualifying)

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): completed and signed.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): completed and signed whether or not points are claimed.
• SBD 7.2 (Contract Form): completed and signed.
• CSD report / MAAA number.
• Latest CIPC documents.
• Valid SARS-issued PIN code.
• Signed teaming agreement, where applicable.
• Certified identity documents of company directors.

Resource requirements

• Category 1 roles: minimum NQF Level 6 in Information Technology or equivalent, a relevant SAP K3 certificate, and at least 5 years in the role.
• Category 2 roles: minimum NQF Level 6 in Information Technology or equivalent; 5 years in the role for .NET, DevOps and Integration roles; 3 years for Database Administrator and BI/Data Engineer.
• Category 3: IT Technician — diploma or certificate in IT or equivalent with at least 1 year in IT support; Azure Engineer — minimum NQF Level 6 with at least 5 years in the role.
• Category 4: minimum NQF Level 6 in a relevant discipline with role-specific certifications (for example CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, CEH, CompTIA Security+, CISA, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Implementer, Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator, SABSA, Microsoft Azure Security Engineer) and 3 to 5 years in the role depending on the position.
• Category 5: professional services roles as listed, with qualifications and experience per role.
• Certified copies of certifications and academic qualifications must be recent, not older than 6 months.
• A CV must be provided for each resource, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• Key personnel may only be replaced by personnel with similar expertise, with prior written NHBRC permission.
• Key personnel must attach a signed affidavit confirming awareness of the certificate or CV submitted.

Other compliance

• No entity may participate, directly or indirectly, in more than one bid.
• Material changes in control or composition after submission require prior written NHBRC approval.
• Fronting investigations may be conducted; the bidder bears the onus of proving no fronting within 14 days of notification.
• NHBRC applies the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 and the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000; bidders must obtain third-party consent where third-party information is shared.