Tender Summary: Molemole “LED Strategy Review”

Objectives

The primary objective is to appoint a qualified, compliant, and financially viable service provider to conduct a comprehensive review of the Molemole Local Economic Development (LED) Strategy for the 2026/27 financial year. The appointed contractor will deliver evidence-based recommendations, stakeholder engagement frameworks, and a finalized strategic document to guide municipal economic planning, investment attraction, and sustainable development initiatives.

Scope of Work

The project encompasses a municipality-wide assessment and revision of the existing LED strategy. Key deliverables include:

• Identifying and mapping stakeholders and institutions for structured consultation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Analyzing local economic opportunities, sectoral potential, and beneficiary demographics.
• Conducting research on implementable programmes, projects, and investment recommendations aligned with municipal outcomes.
• Producing the final reviewed LED strategy in glossy, full-colour printed format, digital formats (Microsoft Word and PDF), and stored on a USB memory stick.
• Generating secure access links for all submitted work and reports.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must meet strict compliance and procedural thresholds to qualify for evaluation:

• Mandatory registration on the national Central Supplier Database (CSD) with a verified compliance report.
• Valid tax compliance status pin and proof of non-arrears for municipal rates and taxes (or traditional authority residence proof where municipal rates do not apply).
• Completion of all returnable schedules, declaration forms, and independent bid determination certificates.
• Fixed pricing quoted in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT, submitted via the prescribed pricing structure.
• Submission of a single complete tender package; partial or alternative bids will be rejected.
• Achievement of a minimum functionality score of 80% to progress to financial evaluation.

Skills Requirements

Evaluation prioritizes proven industry experience and specialized team composition. Bidders must provide three reference appointments demonstrating prior experience in developing or reviewing LED strategies. The proposed core team must include:

• Project Manager: Minimum four years’ experience in LED strategy development/review; certified NQF Level 7 qualification in Development Studies or higher.
• Economist: Minimum three years’ experience in economic poverty analysis, sectoral/territorial development strategies, or SMME frameworks; certified NQF Level 7 qualification in Economics or Economic Science.
• Agricultural Coordinator: Minimum three years’ experience in agricultural or agro-processing economic development; certified NQF Level 7 qualification in Agricultural Management, Plant, or Crop Production.
• Tourism Specialist: Minimum three years’ experience in tourism; certified NQF Level 7 qualification in Tourism or a directly related field.

Additionally, bidders must submit a detailed implementation methodology outlining project milestones, timelines, resource allocation, and innovative technical approaches. A dedicated skills transfer plan must demonstrate how knowledge and capacity will be built within the municipality’s LED department.

Clarification of Procurement Terms

• 80/20 Point Preference System: A standard South African public procurement framework where 80 points are allocated for competitive pricing and 20 points for designated socio-economic preferences (e.g., local residency, women/youth/disability ownership).
• Central Supplier Database (CSD): The official national registry used to verify supplier legitimacy, tax compliance, and basic procurement eligibility.
• NQF Level 7: Refers to the National Qualifications Framework Level 7, representing advanced diploma or bachelor’s degree-level academic credentials.
• Single-Envelope Submission: Unlike two-envelope systems that separate technical and financial bids, this tender requires all documentation to be submitted together in one sealed package.