Objectives

The primary objective of the tender is to appoint a qualified and accredited service provider to conduct comprehensive food safety audits across all University of Johannesburg (UJ) food premises for a period of three years (2026-2028). The audits aim to ensure compliance with national standards, improve food safety practices, and maintain high standards of hygiene and safety across multiple campuses and off-site venues.

Scope

The scope includes:

• Conducting three food safety audits per year at 48 food outlets, including kitchens, supermarkets, cafes, and off-site venues across four campuses (Auckland Park, Doornfontein, Soweto, and others).
• Auditing various kitchen classifications (small and medium-large units) with specific sampling requirements (random samples, microbiological testing for TVC/TPC, Staphylococcus Aureus, Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli).
• Preparation of detailed food safety reports, risk scoring, and analysis based on microbiological and hygiene standards.
• Adherence to national standards, including transport of food, regulation of lessees and employees, and accreditation requirements.
• Implementation of audit checklists, site visits, microbiological testing, and reporting procedures.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Accreditation by SANAS or equivalent, with specific accreditation from Foundation FSSC 22000.
• Adherence to ISO 19011 principles of integrity, independence, confidentiality, evidence-based approach, and risk management.
• Conducting microbiological testing and microbiological risk assessments.
• Use of approved audit checklists, sampling methods, and microbiological testing protocols.
• Preparation of comprehensive audit reports with risk scores, microbiological data, and graphical analysis.
• Implementation of microbiological testing, microbiological alert protocols, and microbiological risk scoring.
• Provision of qualified, trained, and experienced auditors with relevant food safety and microbiological testing expertise.
• Compliance with occupational health and safety laws, environmental standards, and food safety legislation.

Skills Requirements

The skills and qualifications required for the tender include:

• Proven experience in food safety auditing, microbiological testing, and microbiological risk assessment.
• Accredited food safety auditors with relevant qualifications and certifications.
• Knowledge of microbiological testing procedures, microbiological standards, and microbiological alert protocols.
• Ability to develop and implement audit checklists, sampling plans, and microbiological testing methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills for microbiological data interpretation and report writing.
• Experience in microbiological laboratory testing and microbiological risk scoring.
• Capability to provide microbiological alert and microbiological risk management strategies.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills.