Impact evaluation of yes programme – professional services tender in gauteng

Closing date: 19 August 2026 at 16:00.

• No briefing session is mentioned.
• Questions may be posed up to 7 calendar days before closing date; thereafter no queries will be responded to.

Bid-related enquiries: Bridget Mohlala, Research Branch, dtic, Block A, First Floor, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, 0002. Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 012 394 3850.

Technical enquiries: Kaemete Tsotetsi, Research Branch, dtic, Block A, First Floor, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, 0002. Email: [email protected].

Submission emails: Functional proposal to [email protected]; Financial proposal to [email protected].

Quotations must be submitted by email in two separate emails (two-envelope system):

• Functional proposal to [email protected], containing the functional proposal and compulsory forms: SBD 1, SBD 4, SBD 6.1, General Conditions of Contract, and proof for preference points claims.
• Financial proposal to [email protected], containing only financial information.
• Each email must clearly indicate the bidder's name, closing date and time, and RFQ number.
• Failure to comply with the two-envelope requirement automatically invalidates the bid.
• Quotations must be dated and signed, preferably on company letterhead.
• Quotations received after the closing date and time will not be considered.
• Quotations must be valid for a minimum of 120 days from the RFQ closing date.
• All prices must be VAT inclusive unless the provider is not VAT registered.
• The POPIA consent form must be completed and submitted with the quotation.

Service providers must submit their proposal by email to [email protected]. The functional proposal must contain the functional proposal and compulsory forms: SBD 1, SBD 4, SBD 6.1, General Conditions of Contract, and relevant proof to substantiate preference points claims. The financial proposal must be submitted in a separate email to [email protected]. Failure to comply with the two-envelope requirement invalidates the bid. Also required: POPIA consent form, proof of disability (if claiming HDI points), proof of race and women (CSD report), SMME proof (SARS return, B-BBEE certificate, or sworn affidavit), local procurement proof (address proof), and B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.

Evaluation follows a two-phase process after pre-qualification:

• Phase 1 (Functional evaluation): minimum threshold of 60%. Criteria and weightings: Team Leader qualifications (10), Key team members qualifications (10), Team Leader experience (20), Key team members experience (20), Case studies (10), Methodology (30). Total 100 points. Scoring scale 0 (non-compliant) to 5 (excellent).
• Phase 2 (Price and preferential procurement): 80 points for price, 20 points for specific goals (80/20 system).
• Only bids scoring 60% and above in Phase 1 proceed to Phase 2.
• Points are rounded to two decimals.

Purpose: Conduct an impact evaluation of the Youth Employment Service (YES) to determine its effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability, particularly the contribution of private sector partnerships to youth employment.

Scope: Evaluate YES programme activities and outcomes since inception, focusing on the past three years; experiences of large corporate funders (50+ funders supporting 100+ youth per annum); government and ecosystem stakeholders; youth beneficiaries across sectors and provinces.

Methodology: Mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative research:

• Stakeholder analysis and interviews with corporate sponsors, youth participants, public stakeholders, international donors, YES leadership.
• Literature and document review of YES internal data, PYEI/DTIC/SETA documentation, academic literature.
• Qualitative data collection: 30+ semi-structured interviews, 2+ focus groups, a two-day validation workshop.
• Quantitative survey of corporate partners: sample size of 285 for 95% confidence level and ±5% margin of error; stratified sampling recommended.

Deliverables and timeframes:

• Inception Report (Week 1-2)
• Data collection (Week 3-6)
• Preliminary analysis and interim reporting (Week 7-8)
• Validation workshop (Week 9)
• Drafting and review (Week 10-11)
• Final report submission (Week 12)

Key staff qualifications: Master's degree or equivalent in development economics or economic modelling; postgraduate qualifications in Socio-Economic Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Cost Benefit Analysis; minimum 5 years' experience in impact evaluation of youth employment or related fields.

Company experience: Bidding company must be in existence for at least 10 years with 10 years' relevant experience, evidenced by case studies and reference letters.

Mixed-methods approach required:

• Stakeholder analysis: map and segment stakeholders; conduct interviews with corporate sponsors, youth participants, public stakeholders (Presidency, DTIC, B-BBEE Commission, DHET), international donors, YES leadership.
• Literature and document review: YES internal data, PYEI/DTIC/SETA documentation, academic and grey literature.
• Qualitative data collection: 30+ semi-structured interviews, 2+ focus groups with youth beneficiaries, a two-day validation workshop with YES Board, Presidency, DTIC, major corporates.
• Quantitative survey of corporate partners: sample size of 285 for 95% confidence level and ±5% margin of error; alternative margins ±7% (n=176), ±10% (n=88); stratified sampling recommended.
• Survey covers motivations, operational challenges, perceived returns, willingness to scale.
• National labour data (Stats SA, PYEI reports) used for benchmarking.

Key staff requirements:

• Master's degree or equivalent in development economics or economic modelling; postgraduate qualifications in Socio-Economic Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Cost Benefit Analysis.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in impact evaluation of youth employment, skills development, or active labour market programmes.
• Verifiable expertise in impact evaluations and mixed-methods research, including experimental and quasi-experimental methods.
• Sound knowledge of youth employment and labour market policies, B-BBEE and Skills Development.
• Strong writing and analytical skills with proven experience producing high-quality deliverables.
• Experience with multi-stakeholder engagement.
• CVs must be submitted in a specified format (columns: name/ID, qualifications, years of experience, case studies).

Company requirements:

• Bidding company must be in existence for at least 10 years with 10 years' relevant experience.
• Proof via case studies detailing type, period, magnitude, and results; reference letters advantageous.
• dtic reserves right to vet all documentation.

Pricing must be all-inclusive fixed price, inclusive of VAT, in RSA currency. No price escalations; any contradictory condition leads to automatic disqualification.

• Financial proposal submitted separately to [email protected].
• Annexure A template: items for Inception and document review, Data collection, Preliminary analysis and interim reporting, Validation workshop, Drafting and review, Final report submission; totals excluding VAT, VAT @ 15%, total including VAT.
• Hourly rates must be fixed and firm; travel and accommodation costs per National Treasury prescripts.
• Cost containment: kilometres claims limited to Department of Transport rates; parking not for dtic's account; travel between home/office and dtic head office not for dtic's account.

Pricing format: All-inclusive fixed price for full completion of the project, inclusive of VAT, quoted in RSA currency. No price escalations considered; any contradictory condition leads to automatic disqualification.

• Financial proposal must be submitted separately via email to [email protected].
• Annexure A provides a financial proposal template with items: Inception and document review, Data collection, Preliminary analysis and interim reporting, Validation workshop, Drafting and review, Final report submission, with totals excluding VAT, VAT @ 15%, and total including VAT.
• Hourly rates must be fixed and firm for the full period of the contract; travel and accommodation costs paid in line with National Treasury prescripts.
• Cost containment: claims for kilometres may not exceed Department of Transport rates; parking expenses not for dtic's account; travel between home/office and dtic head office not for dtic's account.
• Payment schedule linked to deliverables, stipulated in the SLA.

Mandatory registrations and forms:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration is compulsory; banking details must be verified.
• Tax compliance: valid tax clearance PIN or CSD number; tax matters must be in order.
• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): signed cover page with bidder details.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses any employment by the state or relationships with procuring institution; false declaration leads to disqualification.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims specific goals; failure to complete table 1 means no preference points claimed.
• POPIA consent form: consent to process personal information.
• B-BBEE compliance: B-BBEE certificate, CIPC B-BBEE certificate, or sworn affidavit as per B-BBEE guide paragraph 17.
• Proof for specific goals: HDI (proof of disability, race/women via CSD report), SMME (SARS return, B-BBEE certificate, or sworn affidavit), Local Procurement (proof of address).
• No bids from persons in service of the state.

Preference points for specific goals claimed via SBD 6.1. Specific goals include HDI (Race, Women, People with disabilities), Local Procurement, SMMEs, and B-BBEE compliance.

• Proof required: HDI - proof of disability (letter from GP/specialist), proof of race and women (latest full CSD report); SMME - SARS return indicating annual turnover, B-BBEE certificate, CIPC B-BBEE certificate, or sworn affidavit as per B-BBEE guide paragraph 17; Local Procurement - proof of address (municipal rates, bank statement, lease agreement, affidavit, or statement not older than three months); B-BBEE compliance - B-BBEE certificate, CIPC B-BBEE certificate, or sworn affidavit.
• Failure to submit proof means preference points not claimed.

Contract period: 4 months, with project completion within 12 weeks from contract start date. No contract exists before SLA is signed.

• SLA must be signed before work commences.
• dtic obligations: provide Project Manager as contact, review and approve services, supply relevant data.
• Service Provider obligations: act as independent contractor, work closely with Project Manager, attend meetings, provide own equipment, exercise reasonable skill and care, act as faithful advisor, maintain confidentiality, not disseminate information without approval, plan for risks.
• Copyright and intellectual property vest with dtic.
• Subject to General Conditions of Contract (Treasury Regulation 16A) and Special Conditions; Special Conditions prevail in conflict.
• dtic reserves rights: award to non-highest scorer (PPPFA), negotiate with preferred bidders, accept part of tender, conduct site inspections, correct mistakes, cancel tender, award to multiple bidders.
• Incomplete pricing leads to disqualification; pricing in figures and words must match.

Special conditions include:

• SLA must be signed before work commences.
• Key staff must participate actively; replacements with similar qualifications may be required.
• Project plan to be submitted within 10 working days after appointment.
• dtic reserves right to vet qualifications and documentation.
• Copyright and IP vest with dtic.
• Subject to General Conditions of Contract; Special Conditions prevail in conflict.
• Late bids not accepted.
• Amendments to bid conditions may invalidate bids.
• State reserves right to conduct due diligence.
• Communication must be in writing.
• CSD registration compulsory.
• Tax matters must be in order.
• Security clearances may be required (CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET).
• Points rounded to 2 decimals.
• Subcontractors must meet requirements.
• Price negotiation with preferred bidders possible.
• Subject to PPPFA and dtic SCM Policy.
• Joint venture agreements required.
• Public service employees prohibited from conducting business.
• dtic reserves rights to award to non-highest scorer, negotiate with preferred bidders, accept part of tender, conduct site inspections, correct mistakes, cancel tender, award to multiple bidders, and request supplementary information for administrative non-compliance.
• Incomplete pricing leads to disqualification; pricing in figures and words must match.

Quotations must be dated and signed, preferably on company letterhead.

• Quotations received after closing date and time will not be considered.
• No quotation from service providers employed by the state.
• Quotations valid for minimum 120 days from RFQ closing date.
• All prices VAT inclusive unless provider not VAT registered.
• Service providers must be registered on CSD and have verified banking details.
• Prices must be firm for the duration of the contract.
• dtic reserves right to appoint more than one service provider or not to appoint.
• Prices must be reasonable and market-related.

Evaluation uses 80/20 principle and two-envelope system.

• Phase 1: Functional evaluation with minimum threshold of 60%. Criteria and weightings: Team Leader qualifications (10), Key team members qualifications (10), Team Leader experience (20), Key team members experience (20), Case studies (10), Methodology (30). Total 100 points. Scoring scale 0 (non-compliant) to 5 (excellent).
• Phase 2: Price and preferential procurement points (80 points for price, 20 for specific goals).
• Only bids scoring 60% and above in Phase 1 proceed to Phase 2.