Forensic handwriting/document examination services for national department of health

Closing date: 02 September 2026 at 11:00 AM. Issue date: 27 August 2026. Offer validity: 60 days from closing date. Final Expert Report due within 21 working days from receipt of all required documents and specimen signatures.

Submit via email to [email protected]. For queries, respond directly to the sender of the RFQ using the email address from which you received it.

Submit via email to [email protected] only. Submissions to any other email address, including the sender's personal email, will not be accepted and may be disqualified. Late submissions will not be considered. Required returnable forms: completed and signed SBD 3.3 (Pricing Schedule for Professional Services) and SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim). Also submit company profile, expert CV, qualifications, experience list, reference letters, methodology proposal, and one sample report.

Interested service providers must submit: Company Profile (where applicable); signed detailed CV of the proposed Expert; certified copies of relevant qualifications; evidence of formal training in forensic document examination; certified proof of professional membership; list of similar assignments with client name, nature, year; contactable reference letters; methodology and approach technical proposal; one sample report authored by the expert; completed and signed SBD 3.3 pricing schedule.

Three-stage evaluation. Stage 1: Administrative compliance (Tax PIN, SBD forms, CSD registration). Stage 2: Functionality (minimum 70% to proceed) weighted: Relevant Experience 10%, References 15%, Qualification of an Expert 30%, Methodology & Approach 25%, Sample Reports 20%. Stage 3: Price and Preference Points (80/20 system): Price 80 points, B-BBEE Status Level 20 points. B-BBEE points: Level 1=20, 2=18, 3=14, 4=12, 5=8, 6=6, 7=4, 8=2, non-compliant=0. Failure to submit complete SBD 6.1 and supporting documentation results in no preference points.

Appointment of one (1) individual Forensic Handwriting Expert / Document Examiner. Examine two disputed signatures on an Affidavit and an Attendance Register. Compare with known genuine specimen signatures (provided to successful bidder). Conduct forensic examination using recognised methodologies, analysing style, legibility, proportions, spacing, fluency, line quality, pen pressure, letter formations. Produce a comprehensive expert report using an internationally recognised opinion scale, suitable for internal disciplinary, legal, or arbitration proceedings. Deliverables: Forensic Examination and Analysis, Draft Expert Report, Final Expert Report (within 21 working days). Optional: Expert Attendance and Testimony at disciplinary hearing or arbitration.

The appointed service provider shall: receive and take custody of original disputed documents and specimen signatures; conduct detailed forensic examination using recognised methodologies; analyse general features including style, legibility, proportions, spacing, fluency, line quality, pen pressure, letter formations; systematically compare disputed signatures with known genuine specimens; identify similarities/dissimilarities; examine for alterations, tracing, simulations, inconsistencies; compile a detailed expert report with internationally recognised opinion scale; ensure report is suitable for internal disciplinary legal and/or arbitration proceedings.

The expert must submit: company profile (where applicable); signed detailed CV indicating qualifications, formal forensic document examination training, professional membership, relevant experience; certified copies of relevant qualifications; evidence of formal training in forensic document/questioned document examination; certified proof of membership of a recognised professional body; list of similar assignments with client name, nature, and year completed; contactable reference letters on client letterhead, signed and dated, including contact details, scope of work, and confirmation of satisfactory performance; methodology and approach technical proposal; one sample report authored or co-authored by the expert demonstrating technical writing capability.

Pricing schedule (SBD 3.3) requirements: Bidders must provide fixed, all-inclusive prices for core deliverables: Forensic Examination and Analysis, Draft Expert Report, Final Expert Report. Total Bid Price (VAT included) must be provided. Optional/contingent services (Expert Attendance and Testimony, Travel and subsistence) must be priced separately and excluded from Total Bid Price. Prices must be in ZAR, firm for the full contract period. Payment on deliverable/output basis upon satisfactory completion and written acceptance.

Fixed, all-inclusive prices for core deliverables (Forensic Examination and Analysis, Draft Expert Report, Final Expert Report). Total Bid Price (VAT included) must be provided. Optional/contingent services (Expert Attendance and Testimony, Travel and subsistence) priced separately and excluded from Total Bid Price. Prices in ZAR only. Payment on deliverable/output basis upon satisfactory completion and written acceptance. Prices firm for full contract period. Travel costs based on AA rates; accommodation limited to three-star establishments. Invoices must show cost of services and VAT as separate line items.

Tax Compliance Status PIN issued by SARS. Proof of Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration. Completed and signed SBD 3.3 (Pricing Schedule for Professional Services) — mandatory for price evaluation. Completed SBD 6.1 and valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit to claim preference points. General Conditions of Contract (GCC) apply. Replacement of key personnel requires prior approval and equivalent qualifications.

Stage 3 Price and Preference Points Evaluation (80/20): Price 80 points, B-BBEE Status Level of Contributor 20 points. B-BBEE points table: Level 1 = 20, 2 = 18, 3 = 14, 4 = 12, 5 = 8, 6 = 6, 7 = 4, 8 = 2, non-compliant = 0. A completed SBD 6.1 and valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit must be attached to claim points. Failure to submit complete SBD 6.1 and supporting documentation results in no preference points.

No health and safety requirements are specified in the tender document.

The appointment of the successful service provider will be subject to the General Conditions of Contract (GCC) for government procurement, as issued by National Treasury. All bidders are deemed to have read and understood these conditions. By submitting a quotation, suppliers acknowledge that the GCC will form part of the contract. The NDoH is not bound to accept the lowest or any proposal and reserves the right to cancel or re-advertise this RFQ at any stage.

Special conditions: If bidder replaces key personnel during contract, replacement must have equivalent or higher qualifications and experience, subject to prior consultation and approval by the Department. Travel costs must be based on Automobile Association (AA) rates, accommodation limited to three-star establishments or equivalent. When invoicing, bidder must indicate cost of services and VAT as separate line items.

Stage 1 Administrative Compliance: bidders must submit Tax Compliance Status PIN issued by SARS, completed and signed applicable SBD forms, and proof of Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration.

Stage 2 Functional Criteria: quotations evaluated on Relevant Experience (10%), References (15%), Qualification of an Expert (30%), Methodology & Approach (25%), Sample Reports (20%). Bidders must meet a minimum threshold of 70% to proceed to price and preference evaluation. Scoring matrix details: Expert Experience - 5 or more similar assignments = 5, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, 2 = 2, 1 = 1, none = 0; References - 3+ fully compliant letters = 5, 2 = 4, 1 = 3, letters missing one/two requirements = 2, missing three+ = 1, none = 0; Qualification - formal training + membership = 5, formal training + relevant qualification = 4, formal training + related qualification = 3, relevant qualification but no formal training = 2, irrelevant qualification = 1, none = 0; Methodology - addresses all five elements with clear approach = 5, four = 4, three = 3, two = 2, one = 1, none = 0; Sample report - demonstrates authorship, methodology, expert opinion suitable for legal = 5, authorship + methodology = 4, technical report writing = 3, limited relevance = 2, not relevant = 1, none = 0.