Training & SETA Tenders Explained: A Practical Guide

Winning education and training tenders can unlock steady revenue and impactful work for training providers, NGOs, and consultancies. This guide explains how training tenders — especially those issued or funded by SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities) — work, where to find them, what evaluators look for, and how to prepare compliant, competitive bids.

What are training and SETA tenders?

Training tenders are formal procurement opportunities issued by government departments, public bodies, companies, or funding agencies to procure training, assessment, curriculum design, or other learning-related services. SETA tenders are a common subset: SETAs administer skills development funds and often issue requests for proposals (RFPs) or call for service providers to deliver learnerships, skills programmes, artisan training, assessments, and quality assurance services.

Why target training & SETA tenders?

• Access to funded projects that can cover training delivery, materials, assessor costs and administration.
• Potential for multi-year contracts and repeat business.
• Opportunities to scale impact: reach learners, workers, and employers through accredited programmes.
• Enhanced credibility: winning a SETA-funded contract often boosts your reputation with other clients.

Common types of training tenders

• Learnerships and apprenticeships
• Accredited skills programmes and unit-standard training
• Assessment and moderation services
• Curriculum and materials development
• Trainer, assessor and moderator accreditation and capacity building
• M&E, impact assessments and programme evaluations

Where to find training & SETA tender opportunities

• SETA websites and newsletters — subscribe to the SETA(s) relevant to your sector.
• National and provincial government tender portals and e-tender platforms.
• Municipal and state-owned enterprise procurement pages.
• Industry associations, LinkedIn groups and sector bulletin boards.
• Commercial tender aggregation services and local tender publications.

Eligibility & compliance: what evaluators check

Before you start writing, check the RFP eligibility criteria. Typical compliance checks include:

• Proof of company registration and legal status (CIPC documents or equivalent).
• Tax compliance or SARS tax clearance.
• Proof of accreditation/registration with the relevant SETA or quality council, where required.
• B-BBEE status or preference documentation.
• Relevant insurance, safety and labour compliance documents.
• Curricula, trainer CVs and proof of prior delivery (references, certificates of completion).

How evaluation usually works

Evaluation models vary but commonly include:

• Mandatory compliance pass/fail (documents, accreditation, tax clearance).
• Functionality or technical scoring (quality of approach, methodology, qualifications, past performance).
• Price evaluation (total cost, value for money).
• Preferential scoring (B-BBEE points, local content, enterprise development).

Providers typically must pass mandatory criteria and achieve a minimum functionality score before price and preference points are considered.

Step-by-step: preparing a winning bid

1. Understand the brief: Read the RFP thoroughly — scope, deliverables, timelines, reporting and evaluation criteria.
2. Confirm eligibility: Check accreditation and any prerequisite registrations or proof that may take time to obtain.
3. Gather documents: Company docs, tax clearance, B-BBEE certificate, trainer CVs, accreditations, relevant certificates and past contract references.
4. Design the technical proposal: Describe your training methodology, learning outcomes, assessment strategy, quality assurance and learner support. Be specific about delivery modes (face-to-face, blended, online), contact hours and materials.
5. Cost realistically: Build a transparent budget with line items for facilitator fees, venue, learner materials, assessment, admin, and VAT. Clarify assumptions and unit costs.
6. Address monitoring & reporting: Detail how you will track attendance, competency achievement, learner feedback and produce SETA reports and claims.
7. Edit and cross-check: Ensure all annexures are attached, pages are numbered, and submission instructions are followed exactly.
8. Submit on time: Late submissions are usually disqualified; allow for upload or courier delays.

Useful bid-writing tips

• Answer the evaluation criteria directly — use headings that mirror the RFP to make it easy for evaluators to score you.
• Use evidence: include short case studies, quantified outcomes and contactable referees.
• Keep your pricing transparent and defend assumptions in a budget narrative.
• Focus on impact and sustainability: show how learners will be supported to apply skills and how employers benefit.
• Plan for compliance monitoring: set aside time and budget for reporting, assessments and moderation visits.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Submitting incomplete documentation or missing mandatory annexures.
• Being vague about learning outcomes or assessment strategies.
• Underpricing and then being unable to deliver to quality standards.
• Failing to demonstrate past performance or provide references.
• Ignoring the evaluation criteria structure in the proposal format.

Post-award: deliver and manage the contract

Winning a tender is only the start. Successful contract delivery includes:

• Signing a clear service level agreement (SLA) that matches your proposal.
• Onboarding staff and trainers, finalising learner registration and confirming venues or platforms.
• Maintaining records for attendance, assessments, and learner certification.
• Managing invoicing and claims against SETA or funder schedules.
• Preparing for audits and site visits — maintain accessible, accurate documentation.

Quick checklist for a SETA training tender

• RFP read and key dates captured
• Eligibility confirmed (accreditation, registrations)
• All statutory documents (CIPC, tax clearance, B-BBEE)
• Trainer CVs and qualifications
• Curriculum, assessment plans and learner materials
• Detailed budget and pricing schedule
• References and evidence of past projects
• Submission format and delivery method verified

Final thoughts

Tenders for training and SETA-funded opportunities offer strong potential but require disciplined preparation and compliance. Treat each tender as a project: plan early, gather evidence, match your response to the evaluation criteria, and price realistically. Over time, building a portfolio of delivered projects and solid references will improve your success rate.

Want a simple template?

Use the quick checklist above to start. If you want a one-page bid template or a proposal review checklist, consider downloading a template or working with a bid specialist to polish your first few submissions — that initial investment often pays off in better win rates.

Good luck — and remember that clarity, evidence and compliance are the three pillars of a winning training tender.