Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to gather market information on accounting software solutions capable of supporting VAT C1-C4 processes. Specifically, it aims to identify solutions that enable entry-level VAT vendors, small businesses, micro-enterprises, and informal operators to create, receive, view, store, and exchange structured VAT e-Invoices within an interoperable network. The initiative seeks to assess the availability, maturity, suitability, and feasibility of such software, including their ability to support interoperability, integration options, and commercial models.

Scope

The scope of this tender includes:

• Market research on VAT accounting software capabilities supporting structured e-Invoicing and interoperability within the South African market.
• Evaluation of software that can facilitate invoice issuance, receipt, and exchange for vendors not yet participating in the interoperability network.
• Assessment of proof-of-concept or sandbox environment participation.
• Understanding the functional, technical, and commercial aspects of available solutions.
• Testing basic VAT accounting functionalities suitable for small and micro-VAT vendors.
• Gathering information on interoperability network support, offline capabilities, and security.

Technical Requirements

Service providers should describe their solutions' technical capabilities, including:

• Support for structured e-Invoice generation and receipt based on accepted standards or data models.
• Participation in interoperability networks or access point models supported.
• Demonstration of network access capability, including proof-of-concept or sandbox readiness.
• Offline operation and synchronization features.
• Ability to create and process invoices and credit notes, including partial credit notes.
• Basic VAT data capture fields and general ledger postings.
• VAT summaries and reporting readiness.
• Mobile and web application support.
• Security, privacy, and data protection compliance, including POPIA and data sovereignty considerations.

Skills and Capabilities Requirements

Service providers should demonstrate:

• Capability to support entry-level VAT vendors and small businesses with simple, scalable accounting solutions.
• Support for invoice issuance to vendors outside the interoperability network and proof-of-concept participation.
• Ability to operate offline and synchronize data when connectivity is restored.
• Support for manual invoice entry and issuing invoices to non-participating vendors.
• Basic revenue, expense tracking, and general ledger functionalities.
• Provision of solutions via mobile and web platforms, including free or entry-level tiers.
• Understanding of onboarding requirements, including bank account dependencies and verification processes.
• Knowledge of interoperability standards, data models, and network access mechanisms.
• Experience in demonstrating software solutions and supporting proof-of-concept testing.
• Adherence to confidentiality, data protection, and South African data sovereignty laws.