Strategic Funding Partners for MSME Financial Assistance

This tender seeks the appointment of multiple strategic funding partners to provide structured financial assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Limpopo for a period of 36 months. The buyer, a provincial economic development agency, is procuring partners that can co-deliver a managed funding programme, rather than appointing a single lender. Successful partners will be expected to design and operate funding products, cover the full lending cycle from MSME referral and onboarding through credit assessment, disbursement, collections and recoveries, and support the agency's developmental mandate through transparent reporting and monitoring.

Bidders are evaluated in stages. Stage 1 is a pre-qualification check requiring a valid Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration at closing, SARS tax compliance status, B-BBEE documentation, signed Standard Bidding Documents (including SBD 1 and SBD 4), audited financial statements for the previous three years, and evidence of relevant regulatory authorisations such as FSCA, NCR or SARB approvals where applicable. Stage 2 is a functionality assessment with a 70-point threshold out of 100. Points are awarded for prior experience in providing loan finance programmes of R100 million or more per contract (supported by signed references and contracts not older than three years), demonstrated funding capacity (up to 30 points for at least R2 billion in confirmed, accumulative funding sources), a detailed partnership model and implementation methodology, a dedicated team covering business origination, credit and legal risk assessment, disbursement and collections, prior non-financial support experience, and a practical plan for identifying and onboarding MSMEs. Stage 3 evaluates price and specific goals, and Stage 4 involves due diligence on operational, reputational and funding capability before partnership finalisation.

The tender offers a significant opportunity for qualified financial institutions to expand access to finance for Limpopo's small businesses and contribute to local economic growth and job creation. Bidders must submit a detailed financial proposal covering interest rates, fees, referral or profit-share arrangements, and an illustrative cost scenario, all of which will be used for comparison. A non-compulsory briefing session takes place on 3 November 2026 at 11:00, and proposals must be submitted as one original hard copy and one electronic PDF copy on USB, in a sealed envelope, by 11:00 on 20 November 2026. Proposals remain valid for 90 days.