Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to perform a Probity Review Function at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) until 31 March 2026. The Probity review aims to provide independent assurance on the compliance, integrity, and fairness of SANBI’s procurement processes, supporting effective controls within the framework of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury Regulations. The service is intended to assist SANBI’s management and Supply Chain Management (SCM) in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in tender evaluations and award processes.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of SANBI’s internal control processes related to procurement.
• Reviewing compliance of procurement processes with relevant policies, legislation, and regulations.
• Conducting probity reviews on tenders, including:
• Assessing compliance reports on all received tenders.
• Verifying evaluation scoring against advertised criteria.
• Ensuring evaluation processes are consistent and in line with PFMA and constitutional requirements.
• Checking the accuracy of evaluation and consolidation reports.
• Analyzing documentation to support outcomes.
• Identifying and advising on risks that may compromise the integrity of the award process.
• Recommending remedial actions where deficiencies are identified.
• Providing written recommendations on the outcomes of the probity review.

Technical Requirements

Interested service providers must demonstrate:

• Extensive understanding of probity review processes.
• Ability to deliver according to the scope of work outlined.
• Relevant academic qualifications and active membership of professional bodies such as IIASA or SAICA.
• Thorough knowledge of governance, risk management, and internal controls related to PFMA and Treasury Regulations.
• Project management skills and strong communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
• Capacity to work under pressure with attention to detail and deadlines.

Personnel assigned must meet the following criteria:

• Relevant academic qualifications.
• Active membership of professional bodies (IIASA/SAICA).
• Understanding of governance, risk, and internal controls in the public sector.
• Experience in project management and internal audit functions.

Skills Requirements

• Proven experience in probity and compliance reviews, especially within the public sector.
• Strong analytical and interpretative skills to assess documentation and evaluation reports.
• Excellent communication skills for preparing reports and recommendations.
• Ability to identify risks and suggest appropriate remedial measures.
• Capacity to work independently, maintaining objectivity and independence throughout the review process.