Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified training provider to deliver accredited Category R Skippers License training for personnel within the Overberg District Municipality’s Roads Department. The initiative aims to ensure statutory compliance, enhance operational safety, and equip Malgas Pont operators with the essential knowledge and practical skills required for daily inland waterway operations.

Scope of Work

The successful bidder will design and facilitate a combined theoretical and practical training programme aligned with Unit Standard 12875. The curriculum must cover inland waterway bylaws, right-of-way protocols, collision regulations, mandatory safety equipment, basic navigation, hazard identification, weather assessment, and emergency response procedures. Training must be conducted in Afrikaans, English, and isiXhosa. The service provider is responsible for supplying all learning materials, maintaining accurate attendance and progress registers, conducting formal assessments, and issuing non-expiring competency certificates upon successful completion. All training activities must be fully concluded by 30 September 2026.

Technical Requirements

• Official accreditation from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to conduct Category R (Inland Waters) training and certification.
• Clear indication of maximum group capacity per session and the total number of training days required per cohort.
• Submission of sample training manuals or presentation decks for quality and relevance verification.
• Facilitators must hold current SAQA/ETDP SETA registration and demonstrate over five years of experience as certified assessors with valid External Technology Quality Assurance (ETQA) proof.
• Achievement of a minimum functionality score of 70 out of 100 points during technical evaluation.
• Full compliance with municipal procurement prerequisites, including a valid Tax Compliance Status PIN, Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, B-BBEE documentation, and current municipal account statements.
• Strict prohibition on subcontracting; all training delivery and assessment must be performed directly by the appointed bidder.

Skills Requirements

• Proven instructional expertise in maritime safety and skipper licensing, specifically tailored to inland and sheltered water environments.
• Multilingual teaching capability to effectively convey complex navigational, regulatory, and safety concepts in at least two official South African languages.
• Strong assessment and certification competencies aligned with national vocational education standards.
• Ability to bridge theoretical instruction with hands-on, real-world pontoon operational scenarios.
• Robust administrative and project management skills to ensure precise record-keeping, timely delivery, and strict adherence to the 30 September 2026 completion deadline.

Key Terms & Conditions

• Category R Skippers License: An entry-level maritime certification that legally permits the operation of power-driven vessels exceeding 15 horsepower or sailing vessels longer than nine meters exclusively on inland and sheltered waters such as rivers, dams, and lagoons.
• SAMSA Accreditation: Mandatory authorization from the South African Maritime Safety Authority confirming that the training provider meets national regulatory standards to deliver, assess, and certify this specific licensing programme.
• 80/20 Preferential Procurement System: A South African public sector evaluation framework allocating 80 points to competitive pricing and 20 points to socio-economic development goals, primarily weighted toward Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status levels and supplier location within the Overberg District or Western Cape.
• MBD Documentation: Standardized Municipal Bidding Documents mandated for local government procurement, ensuring uniform compliance across tax clearance, ethical declarations, financial standing, and contractual obligations.