How to Apply for a Tender in South Africa
How to apply for a government tender in South Africa, step by step — from CSD registration and tax compliance to finding a tender, completing the SBD forms and submitting a bid that isn't disqualified.
Tender guides — compliance, SBD forms and how to bid
Plain-English guides to getting compliant and bidding on South African government tenders — CSD registration, SARS tax compliance, B-BBEE, CIDB grading and the SBD forms that come in every tender pack. Each one covers what the requirement is, why a bid is thrown out without it, and the step to take next.
Every guide
Types of Tenders in South Africa
Open bids, RFQs, RFPs, closed and negotiated procedures — the types of tender used in South African government procurement, and how to tell them apart.
The Tender Process in South Africa
How a South African government tender works stage by stage: advert, briefing, submission, the compliance gate, evaluation and award, and where bids are lost.
CSD Registration
Step-by-step guide to registering your business on South Africa's Central Supplier Database (CSD) — it's free, online, and mandatory to bid on government tenders.
Tax Clearance Certificate for Tenders
How to get a tax clearance certificate for South African government tenders. SARS replaced the paper certificate with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN — here's how to get yours, free, on eFiling.
How to Get a B-BBEE Certificate for Tenders
How to get a B-BBEE certificate or affidavit for South African government tenders — including the free EME/QSE sworn affidavit route and how B-BBEE points are scored.
CIDB Registration & Grading for Construction Tenders
What CIDB grading means, which grade you need for a construction tender, and how to register with the Construction Industry Development Board in South Africa.
SBD Forms Explained
What the SBD forms in a South African tender actually are — SBD 1, SBD 4, SBD 6.1 and the rest — what each one asks for, and how to complete them without getting your bid disqualified.
SBD 4
SBD 4 is the Bidder's Disclosure, formerly the Declaration of Interest. What it asks you to declare, and why a declared connection is not a disqualification.
SBD 6.1
What SBD 6.1 is: the Preference Points Claim Form under the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022, how 80/20 and 90/10 work, and what specific goals are.
SBD 9
SBD 9 is the Certificate of Independent Bid Determination — the declaration that you priced your bid without colluding. Since 31 March 2022 it usually sits inside SBD 4.
What is an RFQ? Request for Quotation vs RFP vs Tender in South Africa
What a request for quotation (RFQ) is in South African government procurement, how it differs from an RFP and a formal tender, and when you will see each one on eTenders.
