Learnership Programme for Persons with Disabilities

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has issued RFQ 202137 to appoint an experienced, accredited service provider to manage the end-to-end implementation of an accredited learnership programme for 24 unemployed persons with disabilities. The service provider will recommend a suitable accredited learnership or qualification that meets SETA or QCTO requirements and B-BBEE Skills Development criteria, define learner profiles and selection criteria, and assist with recruiting and selecting eligible learners. Core responsibilities include verifying learner eligibility, registering learners with the relevant SETA, QCTO, or quality assurance body, delivering theoretical training, facilitating workplace-based learning, and providing qualified facilitators, assessors, and moderators. The provider must also monitor attendance and progress, provide learner support, administer learner records, issue regular progress reports to SABS, and facilitate certification. Accessible learning materials and reasonable accommodation, including accessible venues, assistive technology, and other support, must be planned and managed throughout the programme.

Bidders must meet mandatory requirements, including proof of valid registration or accreditation with the relevant SETA, QCTO, or quality assurance body covering the proposed qualification. Qualifying bids are scored on functionality (minimum threshold of 70%) and then on price and specific goals under the 80/20 preference point system. Functionality criteria are weighted as follows: company experience in accredited learnerships (25%), project management, monitoring, and reporting capacity (25%), programme methodology and implementation plan (30%), and contactable client references from the last five years (20%). Proposals must include a company profile, accreditation details, implementation methodology and schedule, recruitment and disability support approach, B-BBEE alignment, reporting methodology, references, and a detailed cost breakdown covering learner costs, training, registration, assessment, materials, administration, support, reasonable accommodation, stipends, certification, and project management. Quotations must be VAT-inclusive, and SABS will not make advance payments. Required documents include the CSD registration report, a valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, SBD 4, SBD 6.1, a signed non-disclosure agreement, and acceptance of SABS general conditions of contract. Quotations must be submitted by email to Ntobeko Mweli (Ntobeko.Mweli@sabs.co.za) by 11:00 on 9 November 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

The programme is expected to contribute up to 6 points to SABS's B-BBEE Skills Development scorecard, subject to verification, and to support the organisation's transformation and disability inclusion objectives. For the successful provider, the tender offers a structured, sizeable learnership opportunity with clear deliverables, including learner completion records, certification, and close-out reporting. Bidders should note that the RFQ document contains some inconsistencies: Section 2 refers to repairing and commissioning a 2800KVA electric transformer at the Groenkloof site, and the non-disclosure agreement references RFQ 201921. These appear to be template carry-over errors, but interested bidders should confirm the scope and reference number with the SABS procurement contact before submitting. The tender is also listed as draft status in the source data, so its publication status should be verified on eTenders.