Adobe package licenses – annual subscription (3 years) – council for geoscience

Closing date: 1 September 2026 at 11:00. Non-compulsory briefing session: 19 August 2026 at 10:00 on MS Teams (meeting ID 359 970 033 489 870, passcode nv6zK32m). Closing date for questions: 24 August 2026. The bid validity period is 120 calendar days.

Non-compulsory briefing session: 19 August 2026 at 10:00 on MS Teams. Join link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/359970033489870?p=3MCTEJMdS15QWDxsIF. Meeting ID: 359 970 033 489 870. Passcode: nv6zK32m.

Bidding procedure enquiries: Ncumisa Yonke, telephone 012 841 1509, email [email protected]. Technical enquiries: Asanda Nase, telephone 012 841 1537, email [email protected]. Submission address: Council for Geoscience, 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria, 0001.

Bidders must submit one original and two copies of the tender document, with each page initialled in the top right-hand corner. Submissions must be placed in the tender box at the Council for Geoscience reception, 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria, before the closing date and time. Bids must be submitted on the official tender documentation only; retyping is not permitted. The two-envelope procedure applies: a technical proposal and a price proposal, each in separate sealed envelopes, enclosed together in one outer envelope. The outer envelope must be marked with the tender description and number. Bids sent by telegram, telex, facsimile or similar means will not be considered. Late bids will be returned unopened. The bid must remain valid for 120 calendar days. Returnable documents include SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim), proof of tax compliance, CSD registration report, certified company registration certificate, shareholding breakdown, and, for joint ventures or consortia, a joint venture agreement. Any returnable document omitted or unsigned may lead to disqualification. Bidders who fail to submit administrative documents may be given two working days to submit them; failure renders the bid unacceptable. SBD 6.1 must be correctly completed with the original submission. Bidders who are not tax compliant may be given seven working days to correct non-compliance in the CSD. The response must follow the prescribed format with an index and schedules in sequence. Bidders must provide a unique reference to locate substantiating evidence for all evaluation stages.

Administrative evaluation criteria documents: Invitation to Bid (SBD 1) - complete and sign; Declaration of Interest (SBD 4) - complete and sign; Preference Point Claim Form (SBD 6.1) - complete and sign; Registration on Central Supplier Database (CSD) - must be registered as a service provider and submit proof of registration. For unincorporated joint ventures, each partner must submit a compliant CSD report. Bidders who do not submit requested administrative documents will be given a maximum of 2 working days to submit; failure will render the bid unacceptable. SBD 6.1 must be completed correctly with original bid submission; no submission or incomplete submission results in no scoring for specific goals. Bidders not tax compliant will be afforded seven working days to correct non-compliance in the CSD; failure will render the bid unacceptable.

Evaluation proceeds in three gates: Mandatory Evaluation (Gate 1), Administrative Evaluation (Gate 2), and Price and Specific Goals (Gate 3). Only bidders who pass Gate 1 proceed to Gate 2, and only those who pass Gate 2 proceed to Gate 3. Mandatory requirements: two verifiable, signed reference letters on client letterhead confirming successful Adobe VIP plan work in the last five years, including description of license procurement and contract period; and a valid authorised Adobe reseller or partner certificate. Administrative requirements: completed and signed SBD 1, SBD 4, and SBD 6.1; proof of CSD registration. Price and Specific Goals: the 80/20 or 90/10 preference point system applies. Price is scored out of 80 or 90 points using the formula Ps = 80 or 90 multiplied by (1 - (Pt - Pmin)/Pmin), where Pt is the comparative price of the bid under consideration and Pmin is the comparative price of the lowest acceptable bid. Specific goals are scored out of 20 or 10 points: 10 points for 51% black ownership, 5 points for 30% black women ownership, and 5 points for 51% black youth ownership. Supporting documents for specific goals: a valid certified SANAS-accredited or DTI B-BBEE certificate, or a sworn affidavit. Specific goals points are only allocated on submission of a duly completed SBD 6.1 and the required certificate. Joint ventures and consortia must submit signed agreements setting out roles, responsibilities, and power of attorney. The Council retains the right not to award to the lowest bidder.

The tender is for the supply and support of Adobe software licenses under the Adobe Value Incentive Plan (VIP) on an annual subscription basis for three years. The Council for Geoscience has three existing VIP plans to continue and simplify centralised license management. Required products include Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe Stock, and Adobe Illustrator. Services include license procurement, VIP enrolment and account setup, license management, deployment and configuration support, compliance and reporting, renewal management, and technical and licensing support during business hours, including support for Windows and macOS environments. Deliverables include VIP enrolment confirmation, active licenses with anniversary dates, access to Adobe Admin Console, license allocation report, renewal schedule, technical support contact details, user documentation, system audit logs, and usage report. Quantities: Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps – 10 users; 3 additional licenses for Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps (for the remaining months, expiring December 2026); 30 additional licenses for Adobe Acrobat Professional (for the remaining months, expiring August 2027); Adobe Stock (10 assets) – 2; Adobe Illustrator – 5.

The bidder must provide a comprehensive service description in English, detailing the services offered. The response must follow the prescribed format: Schedule 1 Executive Summary (indicating bidding structure, signatory authority, summary of similar work, and high-level response summary); Schedule 2 SBD 1; Schedule 3 proof of tax compliance; Schedule 4 functional response; Schedule 5 price breakdown (in separate envelope); Schedule 6 SBD 6.1 and certified B-BBEE certificate; Schedule 7 CSD; Schedule 8 General Conditions of Contract. The bidder must provide an index and divide the document neatly in sequence. The bidder must declare in the technical response that it will act honestly, fairly, and with due skill, employ effective resources, treat the Council fairly in conflicts of interest, comply with statutory requirements, make adequate disclosures, avoid fraudulent marketing, conduct business transparently, and not use or disclose information without consent.

The Council may carry out site inspections, product evaluations, or explanatory meetings to verify the nature and quality of the services offered, before or after adjudication. Bidders must agree to an inspection of their resources and works if required. The Council may contact bidders during the evaluation period to clarify information only. Bidders must promptly notify the Council in writing of any discrepancy, ambiguity, error, or inconsistency in the bid documents.

Bidders must be tax compliant and submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or a printed TCS certificate. The Council will verify tax compliance through the CSD; non-compliant bidders may be given seven working days to correct. Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and submit proof of registration. Bidders must submit a valid certified SANAS-accredited or DTI B-BBEE certificate, or a sworn affidavit, to claim specific goals points. For joint ventures or consortia, each party must be registered on the CSD and submit a joint venture agreement. Bidders must complete and sign SBD 1, SBD 4, and SBD 6.1. Bids will not be considered from persons in the service of the state. Bidders must not appear on the Register of Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers. Bidders must provide a declaration on the bid cover letter that they did not have access to any Council proprietary information that could unfairly advantage them.

The bidder indemnifies the Council for Geoscience against any costs or damages the Council incurs as a result of the bidder's breach of the bid conditions. The bidder participates at its own risk and cost; the Council is not liable for any costs or damages suffered by the bidder. No award will be made to a bidder who is not tax compliant; the Council may withdraw an award or cancel a contract if the bidder is found not tax compliant or has submitted a fraudulent tax clearance certificate. No award will be made to a bidder on the Register of Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers. South African law governs the bid and the bidder submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of South African courts. The bidder is responsible for its personnel and sub-contractors complying with all terms and conditions. Confidentiality: no information relating to the bid may be disclosed without written approval; failure may result in disqualification and civil action. The bidder must declare on the bid cover letter that it did not have access to any Council proprietary information that could unfairly advantage it. The Council may terminate the agreement or suspend services if funds are no longer available; the successful bidder is entitled to payment for services delivered up to the date of cancellation or suspension. Misrepresentations in the tender may lead to service termination and a claim by the Council. In the event of conflict between the bidder's proposal and the Service Level Agreement, the SLA prevails. The Council reserves the right to disqualify bidders engaged in collusive tendering, anti-competitive conduct, seeking unlawful assistance, making gifts or inducements to government officials, accepting anything of value, paying contingent fees, or with prior convictions for fraud or forgery.

The Council reserves the right to award to a bidder that did not score the highest total points only in accordance with section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA; to negotiate with one or more preferred bidders regarding terms and conditions including price without offering the same opportunity to others; to accept part of a tender rather than the whole; to carry out site inspections, product evaluations, or explanatory meetings; to correct mistakes ten days before bid closure; to cancel or terminate the tender process at any stage; and to award to multiple bidders based on size or geographic considerations. Bidders in their technical response must confirm they will act honestly, fairly, and with due skill; employ effective resources; treat the Council fairly in conflicts of interest; comply with statutory requirements; make adequate disclosures; avoid fraudulent marketing; conduct business transparently; and not use or disclose information without consent.

Bidders must comply with all applicable tax legislation and remain tax compliant for the entire contract term. Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database. For joint ventures or consortia, each party must be registered on the CSD and submit a joint venture agreement with clear role clarifications. Where sub-contracting is involved, the lead partner must submit a sub-contracting agreement with clear role clarification. Bidders must not be persons in the service of the state. Bidders must provide a declaration on the bid cover letter that they did not have access to any Council proprietary information that could unfairly advantage them.

Evaluation proceeds in three gates: Mandatory Evaluation (Gate 1), Administrative Evaluation (Gate 2), and Price and Specific Goals (Gate 3). Only bidders who pass Gate 1 proceed to Gate 2, and only those who pass Gate 2 proceed to Gate 3. The Council retains the right not to award to the lowest bidder. Price and Specific Goals are consolidated to a total of 100 points under the 80/20 or 90/10 system.