Short, specific answers to the questions we hear most often about South African government tenders.
BBBEE contributes 20 preference points in an 80/20 tender (up to R50m) or 10 points in a 90/10 tender (above R50m). Level 1 earns the full allocation; lower levels earn proportionally less.
R5 million falls within CIDB grade 5 (up to R6.5m). Grade 4 caps out at R4m — too low. You need a CIDB grade 5 or higher, and the correct class of works (e.g. GB for general building).
Open tenders must be advertised for at least 21 working days (30 for complex tenders). Working days exclude weekends and South African public holidays. The close day itself counts.
Completed SBD forms 1, 4, 6.1, 8, 9; CIPC registration; CSD summary; valid tax clearance; BBBEE certificate or affidavit; banking details; industry registrations where relevant (CIDB, PSiRA, ECSA).
Visit csd.treasury.gov.za, create a user account, capture company details, banking, directors and BBBEE info. Registration is free and mandatory for all suppliers doing business with government.
RFQ (Request for Quotation) is for off-the-shelf goods/services under the quotation threshold. RFB (Request for Bid) is an open competitive tender above the threshold. RFP (Request for Proposal) is an open tender where methodology matters as much as price.
Typically 30–60 calendar days from close to award for an 80/20 tender. Municipal MFMA tenders are often slower due to Bid Adjudication Committee scheduling. High-value awards (R10m+) can take 90+ days.