What these tenders cover
Most are for cleaning offices, clinics, hospitals, schools, courts and police stations, usually for 24 or 36 months. Alongside them you will find hygiene and sanitary services, deep cleaning, pest control and fumigation, and tenders to supply cleaning materials and chemicals.
Why they are hard to find
eTenders lists cleaning under "Services: Functional (Including Cleaning and Security Services)", mixed in with guarding and other work, and many buyers only advertise on their own websites. This page pulls out every open tender with cleaning, hygiene or pest control in the title, wherever it was posted.
What buyers usually ask for
Besides CSD registration, tax compliance and B-BBEE, cleaning bids nearly always ask for a COIDA letter of good standing, UIF registration and proof that you pay at least the minimum wage set for the contract cleaning sector. Your pricing must show those wages per cleaner, per site. Many buyers hold compulsory site briefings: miss one and your bid is disqualified.