Objectives

The primary objective is to develop comprehensive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) toolkits for three specific occupational qualifications: Cook, Kitchen Hand, and Food Handler. These toolkits will enable the client organisation to formally assess, validate, and certify competencies acquired by individuals through informal workplace experience, ensuring alignment with national skills development legislation and occupational quality council standards.

Scope of Work

The appointed service provider will execute a twelve-month project encompassing end-to-end toolkit development and implementation support. Key activities include:

• Conducting an inception meeting with the Education and Training Quality Assurance (ETQA) team to finalise development processes and expectations.
• Designing and drafting three distinct RPL toolkits, each containing assessment instruments, facilitation guides, and implementation frameworks tailored to the respective qualification.
• Facilitating structured validation phases to ensure practicality, accuracy, and fitness for purpose.
• Delivering training workshops and capacity-building sessions for accredited providers and internal staff.
• Producing final deliverables including an inception report, detailed methodology and timeline, draft and validated toolkits (Word and PDF formats), training materials, attendance registers, feedback summaries, and a final report documenting lessons learned and future recommendations.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must adhere to strict digital submission and evaluation protocols:

• All proposals must be submitted exclusively via the designated online tender portal. Physical, email, or courier submissions will be disqualified.
• Files must be uploaded in specified formats (PDF for technical/mandatory documents, Excel for pricing), clearly named, and cross-referenced to evaluation criteria.
• A minimum functionality score of 70 out of 100 points is mandatory to qualify for price evaluation.
• Evaluation weighting focuses on methodological approach (20%), proof of lead practitioner qualifications (40%), and verified client references (40%).
• Pricing must be all-inclusive, itemised, submitted on official corporate letterhead, and fully aligned with the stated scope of work.
• Compliance mandates include valid tax clearance status, Central Supplier Database registration, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment documentation, and completion of all prescribed standard bidding forms.

Skills & Competency Requirements

The bidding entity must demonstrate proven expertise in curriculum development, assessment design, and RPL implementation. Required competencies include:

• A dedicated project team with documented experience in project management and RPL-related work.
• The lead RPL practitioner must hold a valid ETDP SETA RPL Advisor statement of results or an Occupational Certificate in Education, Training, and Development Practices.
• Submission of three to five verifiable reference letters detailing past projects involving RPL toolkits, assessment instruments, or similar curriculum development work. Each reference must be signed, dated, specify scope and duration, and be accompanied by the corresponding purchase order as proof of execution.

Key Terminology

RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning): A formal assessment mechanism that identifies, validates, and certifies skills and knowledge gained through non-formal or informal workplace experience, providing alternative access to occupational qualifications and redressing historical learning barriers.

ETQA: Education and Training Quality Assurance body responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and improving the quality of education and training within the sector.

QCTO: Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, the national statutory body that governs the development, quality assurance, and certification of occupational qualifications under the National Qualifications Framework.