Appointment of a professional service provider for a once-off feasibility study on beneficiating marula fruit in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo. The scope covers market, risk, and stakeholder analysis, plus proof-of-concept prototypes for cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food applications. Closes 17 November 2026.
Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), through its Planning and Economic Development department, invites suitably qualified professional service providers to undertake a once-off feasibility study on the beneficiation of marula fruit. Marula is an indigenous bioresource that the district's 2024 LED Strategy identifies as a key attribute of its agro-processing sector. The purpose of the assignment is to determine the feasibility and strategic potential of marula beneficiation in the district, including opportunities for value addition, market participation, enterprise development, community benefit, and future agro-processing investment. The study is intended to give the Municipality the technical, commercial, and institutional insight needed to decide whether and how to proceed with further project development, detailed technical design, partnership structuring, and investment mobilisation.
The scope of work covers a feasibility assessment of the opportunity, enabling conditions, potential risks, market prospects, stakeholder considerations, and broad implementation requirements. The service provider must deliver a set of defined outputs: an Inception Report confirming the methodology, workplan, and stakeholder engagement approach; a Situational Analysis and Opportunity Assessment Report on resource availability, markets, and the stakeholder landscape; and a Draft Feasibility Study Report covering risks, opportunities, and recommended options. The assignment also requires development and validation of proof-of-concept prototypes for selected cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food applications. A Stakeholder Engagement Summary, followed by a Final Feasibility Study with a presentation and a high-level roadmap for next steps, completes the deliverables. The provider will work closely with SDM staff, the four local municipalities, relevant service providers, and identified stakeholders. Bidders must submit a company profile, time estimates for milestones, and a detailed methodology.
Bids are evaluated in three stages: returnable documents, functionality, and price and preference. Functionality is scored out of 100 points, with a minimum of 60 required to progress. The main criteria are company experience in feasibility studies (40 points), experience of key staff in similar projects (20 points), qualifications of key staff (20 points), and the quality of the methodology and workplan (20 points). The preference system is 80/20, with 80 points for price and 20 for specific goals. Bids must be delivered to the bid box at AB Sikhosana Fire Station, Groblersdal, by 11:00 on 17 November 2026, and the bid remains valid for 90 days. Mandatory documents include the MBD forms, a valid SARS tax compliance status or PIN, CSD registration, and company registration documents. Bids valued above R10 million also require audited financial statements, and all bidders must provide a municipal services account verification consent form.
Consulting firms, research organisations, and multidisciplinary teams with proven experience in feasibility studies, agricultural economics, agro-processing, food science, or natural product development. Applicants should have staff with relevant postgraduate or tertiary qualifications, such as agricultural sciences, horticulture, food science and technology, agro-processing, agricultural economics, chemical engineering, or economics. Experience with local economic development, indigenous resources, or rural development in Limpopo or similar districts is advantageous. Bidders must be able to meet the 60-point functionality threshold, which requires evidence of completed feasibility studies. Joint ventures and consortia are permitted but must submit separate tax and CSD documentation for each partner. Small and emerging businesses may partner with established firms to meet the experience requirements, and they can also benefit from the specific-goals preference points, such as locality within the SDM jurisdiction and ownership by women, youth, or persons with disabilities.
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