Panel appointment: private attorney firms for ad-hoc legal services (3-Year term)

Appointment of a panel of private attorney firms to provide ad-hoc legal services to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works & Infrastructure for a period of 3 years. Panel members will be assigned work as needed, with costs negotiated per assignment.

• Closing date and time: 7 July 2026 at 11h00.
• Query submission deadline: 19 June 2026.
• Consolidated responses published: 22 June 2026 on www.kznworks.gov.za.
• Bids remain valid for 120 days from closing date.

No compulsory briefing session will be held. All queries must be submitted in writing to [email protected] by 19 June 2026, quoting the ZNT number. Consolidated responses will be posted on www.kznworks.gov.za by 22 June 2026 under the "questions and answers" tab.

• SCM Enquiries: Lindiwe Ngcobo, Tel: (033) 355 5440, Email: [email protected].
• Technical Enquiries: Vernisha Satyadeva, Tel: (033) 260 3716, Email: [email protected].
• Submission Address: Bid Box, Foyer, Lower Ground Floor, 191 Prince Alfred Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200.
• Document Download: www.kznworks.gov.za or e-Tender Portal.
• Bid Appeals: Email: [email protected], Postal: Private Bag X9082, Pietermaritzburg, 3200.

Submit bids in a sealed envelope to the Bid Box at: Foyer, Lower Ground Floor, 191 Prince Alfred Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3200. The Bid Box is open 8 hours/day, 5 days/week.

• Bids must be deposited before the closing date and time (7 July 2026, 11h00). Late submissions are not accepted.
• Only hard-copy submissions are accepted. Posted, telegraphic, telephonic, telex, facsimile, or e-mail submissions are invalid.
• Each envelope must clearly display: bidder’s name and address, bid number (ZNT 05/25/26), and closing date.
• Bids must be complete and initialed on every page. Use of correcting fluid or erasable pen is prohibited.
• Photocopies of bid documents are allowed, but original signatures are required.
• Bids will be opened in public after the closing time.
• Queries must be submitted to [email protected] by 19 June 2026. Responses will be posted on www.kznworks.gov.za by 22 June 2026.

SIGNATURE OF BIDDER: ................................................... CAPACITY UNDER WHICH THIS BID IS SIGNED: ................................................... (Proof of authority must be submitted e.g. company resolution) DATE: .................................

Evaluation follows a 3-phase process under the 80/20 Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022:

• Phase 1: Administrative Compliance*
• Non-compliance with compulsory bid documents or submission requirements renders the bid invalid.

• Phase 2: Mandatory Criteria*
• Proof of registration with the Legal Practice Council.
• Valid fidelity fund certificate (Legal Practice Act).
• Letter of Good Standing from the Legal Practice Council (≤12 months old).
• Category selection (Annexure B) with 3 proofs of evidence per category. Failure to submit per category leads to disqualification.
• Company profile: minimum 2 practicing attorneys, 5+ years in operation, 1 partner with 10+ years post-admission experience, and 2 qualified support staff (Annexure C and D).
• Record of attendance to matters (Annexure E) with proof of evidence per category.

• Phase 3: Scoring (100 points total)*
• Price: 80 points (80/20 system). Formula: Ps = 80(1 - (Pt - Pmin)/Pmin), where Pt = bid price, Pmin = lowest acceptable bid price.
• Specific Goals: 20 points. Points allocated as:
• Ownership by People Living with Disabilities: 5 points (requires medical certificate + certified ID copy).
• Ownership by Black People: 5 points (requires sworn affidavit).
• Ownership by Women: 10 points (requires sworn affidavit + certified ID copy).

• Bid Appeal Process*
• Appeals must be lodged within 5 working days of award notification to [email protected] or Private Bag X9082, Pietermaritzburg, 3200.

Scope: Appointment of a panel of private attorney firms for ad-hoc legal services for 3 years.

• Requirements for Firms:*
• Must be a legal practice registered under the Legal Practice Act.
• Must have a valid fidelity fund certificate and Letter of Good Standing (≤12 months old).
• Minimum 2 practicing attorneys, 5+ years in operation, and 1 partner with 10+ years post-admission experience.
• Minimum 2 qualified, experienced support staff.
• Must declare any conflict of interest for assignments.
• Must provide proof of experience in selected categories (Annexure B, C, D, E).

• Contractual Terms:*
• Panel appointment is for 3 years from date of appointment.
• Work is assigned on an ad-hoc basis via letters of appointment.
• Costs for each assignment are negotiated with panel members.
• No guarantee of work assignment to panel members.
• Firms may not sub-contract without written consent from the Department.
• Must sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements.
• Must transfer skills to in-house legal advisors and may be required to "twin" with less experienced firms.
• All copyright and intellectual property rights for work performed become the property of the Department.
• Assignments awarded in the last 3 months of the term may continue after expiry.
• Firms must hand over all documents, passwords, and security devices upon assignment completion.

• Firm must have a minimum of 2 practicing attorneys.
• Firm must have been in existence and in practice for a continuous period of at least 5 years.
• At least 1 partner must have 10+ years of post-admission experience.
• Firm must have at least 2 qualified, experienced support staff members.
• For multiple areas of specialty, firms must provide 3 proofs of evidence per category (e.g., 3 examples from construction, 3 from procurement, 3 from commercial).
• CVs for practicing attorneys and support staff must follow the format in Annexure C and D.
• Record of attendance to matters (Annexure E) must include proof of evidence (e.g., samples, communication records, invoices) for each category.

• Must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) at www.csd.gov.za. Failure to register by closing date results in disqualification.
• Must be registered with SARS and have a valid Tax Compliance Status PIN. All tax obligations must be in order.
• Must not be listed on the Register of Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers.
• Must not have been terminated or involved in litigation with the Department in the last 3 years.
• Joint ventures are not allowed. Applicants may be sole proprietors, partnerships, or registered entities.
• Foreign suppliers must confirm tax liability in South Africa if applicable.
• B-BBEE: EMEs and QSEs must complete the applicable sworn affidavit to claim preference points. B-BBEE Level Contributor status must be confirmed (e.g., 100% Black Owned = Level One, 51%+ Black Owned = Level Two, <51% Black Owned = Level Four).

• B-BBEE compliance is required for preference points under the 80/20 system.
• EMEs (Exempted Micro Enterprises): Annual total revenue ≤ R10 million. Must complete a sworn affidavit confirming:
• % Black Owned, % Black Female Owned, % Black Designated Group Owned.
• Breakdown of Black Designated Groups (Youth, Disabled, Unemployed, Rural, Military Veterans).
• B-BBEE Level Contributor status (e.g., 100% Black Owned = Level One, 51%+ Black Owned = Level Two, <51% Black Owned = Level Four).
• QSEs (Qualifying Small Enterprises): Annual total revenue between R10 million and R50 million. Must complete a sworn affidavit with the same details as EMEs.
• Definitions:
• Black People: Africans, Coloureds, and Indians who are South African citizens by birth, descent, or naturalisation (before or after 27 April 1994).
• Black Designated Groups: Unemployed black people, black youth, black people with disabilities, black people living in rural/underdeveloped areas, black military veterans.
• Affidavits must be signed and dated by a Commissioner of Oaths and are valid for 12 months.

• Contract duration: 3 years from date of appointment to the panel.
• Only legal practices registered under the Legal Practice Act are eligible.
• Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 applies to the selection process.
• Individual contracts may be signed with each panel member.
• Successful firms must sign confidentiality and indemnity agreements.
• Work is assigned on an ad-hoc basis via letters of appointment. Costs are negotiated per assignment.
• No guarantee of work assignment to panel members.
• Department reserves the right to interview shortlisted panel members for specific assignments.
• Department may award assignments to multiple panel members at its discretion.
• Sub-contracting requires written consent from the Department, except where required by law (e.g., correspondent attorneys).
• Firms must ensure skills transfer to in-house legal advisors.
• More experienced firms may be required to "twin" with less experienced firms for skills transfer and sector transformation.
• Assignments awarded in the last 3 months of the term may continue after expiry.
• Firms must declare any conflict of interest. Department may cancel agreements if conflicts are discovered.
• All copyright and intellectual property rights for work performed become the property of the Department.
• Firms must hand over all documents, information, passwords, and security devices upon assignment completion. Department may amend documents without obligation to the firm.
• Firms with female partners, partners from previously disadvantaged groups, or disabled partners are encouraged to apply and will be given preference.
• General conditions of tender, contract, and order apply.

• Bidders must comply with Treasury Regulations 16A and the KwaZulu-Natal Supply Chain Management Policy Framework.
• Bids must be complete and submitted in sealed envelopes with bidder details, bid number, and closing date.
• Late, faxed, e-mailed, or electronically submitted bids are invalid.
• Bids must be deposited in the designated Bid Box before the closing date and time.
• Proof of posting is not accepted as proof of delivery.
• Bidders must initial every page of the bid document.
• Alterations must be initiated; correcting fluid and erasable pens are prohibited.
• Bids will be opened in public after the closing time.
• Only compliant bidders (per administrative and mandatory criteria) will be considered.

CLOSING DATE : 7 July 2026 TIME: : 11h00am