ISO 19443:2018 Third-Party Certification Audits

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ 6784/13/11/2026) for the provision of independent third-party certification audits against ISO 19443:2018. This standard sets specific requirements for applying ISO 9001:2015 quality management in the nuclear energy supply chain for organisations supplying products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS). The audits are to be conducted for Inkwali Fabrication and Maintenance, a Gauteng-based, Level 1 B-BBEE company with approximately 77 staff. The company provides steel precision fabrication, maintenance engineering, plastic welding and pipeline infrastructure services to the mining, chemicals and engineering sectors, and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834-2:2021 and ASME certifications at its Chloorkop facility. The management system implementation has already been completed, so the successful bidder will perform the independent assessment and certification.

The scope follows a staged certification process: project inception, pre-audit document review and report, Stage 1 certification audit and report, closure of non-conformity reports (NCRs), Stage 2 certification audit and report, further NCR closure, a final audit report, and certificate award and handover. Pricing must be submitted in South African Rand, inclusive of all applicable taxes less unconditional discounts, using the CSIR Pricing Schedule (Annexure B), which itemises each milestone plus total travel and accommodation costs. Bidders must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17021 as a certification body to audit against ISO 19443:2018 with South African scope, and must provide copies of Lead Auditor certifications from IRCA, SAACTA, Exemplar or an equivalent body. CVs demonstrating ISO 19443:2018 third-party audit experience within the past five years are also required. Submissions are made electronically via the CSIR Electronic Bid Submission Portal, and bidders must hold valid CSD registration, a tax compliance status, and signed SBD 1, SBD 4 and mutual NDA documentation.

Evaluation follows the 80/20 preference point system, with 80 points for price and 20 points for B-BBEE specific goals, and the award is made on the basis of best overall value. Quotations remain valid for 90 days after closing. For certification bodies, this tender offers a focused opportunity to demonstrate nuclear-sector quality audit expertise, support local manufacturing capability, and build a relationship with a CSIR-supported beneficiary. Bidders should note the strict submission deadline, the 20MB per-file limit, and the requirement that all documents be in English and signed by an authorised representative.