Tender Summary: Service Provider for Solar PV Training

Objectives

The primary objective is to appoint a qualified training service provider to deliver accredited instruction for Solar Photovoltaic Installation Testers. The programme aims to equip learners with the practical and theoretical competencies required to safely inspect, test, maintain, and troubleshoot solar PV systems in compliance with national occupational standards and industry safety protocols.

Scope

The service provider must deliver comprehensive training for 15 candidates, structured around three core components: theoretical instruction, hands-on practical training, and formal assessment culminating in the issuance of a Solar Green Card certificate. The training must strictly adhere to Curriculum Code 900279-000-00-00. The contract encompasses timely delivery, fixed pricing in South African Rand (inclusive of VAT), and full compliance with the procuring entity’s general conditions of purchase, including a bid validity period of 90 working days.

Technical Requirements

• Mandatory Accreditation: The training provider must hold current accreditation from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
• Facilities & Equipment: Provision of standard classroom spaces, learning materials, facilitation aids, whiteboards, flipchart stands, and projector screens.
• Regulatory Compliance: Full adherence to applicable occupational health, safety, and environmental legislation.
• Pricing & Documentation: Submission of a completed Bill of Quantities/Pricing Schedule with a firm, fixed-price offer inclusive of all taxes. Deviations from the prescribed pricing format may result in disqualification.
• Evaluation Threshold: A minimum technical score of 60% is required, assessed primarily on documented experience delivering similar training projects.
• Supplier Registration: Local bidders must be registered on the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database (CSD) to qualify for contract award.

Skills Requirements

• Instructor Qualifications: Lead facilitators must possess an NQF Level 4 qualification with verified communication competencies.
• Core Competency Areas: Training must cover four mandated tasks:
  • Conducting inspections and evaluating the functionality of installed solar PV systems.
  • Maintaining, testing, and replacing inverters and transformers.
  • Interpreting test results and rectifying systems for performance optimisation.
  • Testing and troubleshooting faults on solar PV systems under supervision.
• Learner Outcomes: Graduates will be capable of performing safe electrical inspections, diagnosing and recording system faults, executing preventive maintenance, and ensuring optimal PV system operation in line with statutory requirements and standard operating procedures.

Key Terms & Definitions

• QCTO Accreditation: Mandatory approval by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, ensuring the training curriculum aligns with South Africa’s national occupational qualifications framework and meets recognised industry standards.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A public procurement scoring methodology allocating 80 points to competitive pricing and 20 points to designated socio-economic transformation goals (e.g., black ownership, black women-owned enterprises, or certified small/medium enterprise status).
• Solar Green Card: An industry-recognised certification validating that a technician has successfully met standardised competency requirements for solar PV installation, testing, and maintenance.
• CSD Registration: A centralised government database used to verify supplier credentials, tax compliance status, and historical performance prior to contract adjudication.