Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to strengthen governance, risk, and compliance within the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) by appointing external professionals to independently investigate allegations of fraud, corruption, and unethical conduct. The initiative aims to ensure accountability, uphold institutional integrity, and support internal disciplinary processes through rigorous, legally compliant investigative work.

Scope

SANBI invites bids to appoint three (3) qualified service providers to deliver investigative services over a twelve-month period. Providers will be engaged on an as-needed rotational basis rather than exclusively. The scope includes:

• Receiving, triaging, and managing allegations submitted via hotline platforms, emails, telephones, and other reporting channels.
• Conducting comprehensive, impartial investigations into misconduct involving SANBI officials.
• Producing detailed investigative reports with evidence-based findings and recommendations.
• Providing expert witness testimony and supporting documentation during internal disciplinary hearings and potential legal proceedings.
• Delivering services across SANBI’s operational locations as directed.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must comply with a structured two-stage evaluation process. Administrative submissions must include completed SBD forms, Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration confirmation, valid COIDA compliance certificates, public liability insurance proof, and joint venture agreements where applicable. The evaluation proceeds as follows:

• Functionality Assessment (Maximum 100 points): Evaluates company profile and investigation experience (20 points), past client portfolio and verifiable references from the last five years (30 points), personnel qualifications and track record (40 points), and technical quality of the proposed project plan (10 points). A minimum score of 70 points is mandatory to qualify for the next stage.
• Price and Preference Evaluation: Qualifying bids are scored using an 80/20 system, where 80 points are allocated to competitive pricing and 20 points to designated socio-economic goals. Pricing must be submitted as a fully inclusive hourly rate schedule covering all personnel tiers, transport, and VAT.

Skills Requirements

The appointed firm must demonstrate proven expertise in corporate and forensic investigations. Key personnel and capability requirements include:

• A Project Team Leader with a minimum of five years’ relevant investigation experience.
• Project Team Members with a minimum of six years’ relevant investigation experience.
• Mandatory certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or Certified Forensic Practitioner for key investigators.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and related anti-fraud legislation.
• Ability to develop a detailed project plan outlining investigation methodologies, resource allocation, implementation timelines, risk mitigation strategies, and contingency measures.
• Provision of up-to-date CVs, client reference letters, and a clear organizational overview demonstrating capacity to manage fraud hotline administration and complex case loads.

Explanation of Key Terms

• Rotational Appointment: Three successful bidders will be contracted simultaneously but engaged sequentially based on workload demand, ensuring continuous investigative coverage without granting exclusive rights to a single provider.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A standard South African public procurement scoring mechanism where 80% of the final evaluation points are awarded to the lowest acceptable price, and 20% are allocated to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) targets, specifically rewarding 100% black-owned and 100% female-owned enterprises.
• PRECCA: The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, South Africa’s primary legislation criminalizing bribery, fraud, extortion, and related corrupt practices. Investigators must adhere strictly to its procedural and evidentiary standards.
• CSD Registration: Mandatory enrollment in the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database, which serves as the official national registry for all entities authorized to conduct business with South African government departments and state-owned entities.