Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a panel of accredited skills development providers (SDPs) to implement funded capacity building and skills development programs within the province of KwaZulu-Natal over a period of thirty-six (36) months. These programs aim to enhance skills relevant to the agricultural sector, including value chain development, mentorship, enterprise development, business skills, and technical production, with a focus on unemployed youth and black-owned enterprises. The overarching goal is to foster agrarian transformation, job creation, economic development, and support for black-owned agribusinesses across KwaZulu-Natal.

Scope

The scope encompasses:

• Implementation of capacity building and skills development programs aligned with accredited qualifications and learnerships (NQF levels 2-6).
• Delivery of short courses, learnerships, mentorship, and incubation programs supporting agricultural value chain enterprises.
• Partnering with the ADA to facilitate training, assessments, workplace identification, monitoring, and certification.
• Engagement with multiple SETAs and QCTO for accreditation and program delivery.
• Provision of services including facilitation, assessment, workplace monitoring, and certification for qualifications the SDPs are accredited for.
• Partnering with ADA to secure funding if needed during the contract period.
• Focus on unemployed youth, women, and black-owned enterprises to promote inclusive economic growth.

Technical Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate the following technical capabilities:

• Accreditation with relevant SETAs (e.g., MICT SETA, W&RSETA, LGSETA, EWSETA, CETA, BANKSETA, TETA, QCTO).
• Provision of valid accreditation certificates and proof of assessor and moderator registration, certified within the last six months.
• Experience in delivering skills programs, including learnerships, short courses, and artisanal skills aligned with agricultural value chains.
• Team composition with a team leader possessing at least NQF Level 6 qualification and relevant professional experience in business and training management.
• Key personnel CVs indicating qualifications and experience, certified within the last six months.
• Demonstrated experience in transactional advisory, capacity building, and working with public and private sectors.
• Provision of signed referral letters, completion certificates, and contactable references to verify experience.
• Ability to deliver training, assessments, workplace monitoring, and certification in line with accreditation standards.
• Compliance with the minimum functionality score of 60% (e.g., 63 points out of 105) to qualify for further evaluation.
• Provision of proof of financial stability, such as a recent bank statement or financial report.
• Adherence to procurement and contractual conditions, including confidentiality, conflict of interest, and anti-collusion measures.

Summary

In summary, the tender seeks experienced, accredited, and capable skills development providers to deliver comprehensive capacity building programs in KwaZulu-Natal’s agricultural sector, with a focus on youth and black-owned enterprises. The providers must meet accreditation, experience, team, and technical standards, and demonstrate the ability to implement programs effectively over the 36-month period, supporting economic growth and sector transformation.