Government Tenders and Requests for Quotations (RFQs)

Theme: Economy Date Added: 2018-12-12

What is it?

Government entities publish information on larger tenders, Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Requests for Information (RFI) as well as simpler and/or smaller Request for Quotes (RFQ).

Key Points

  • RFPs, RFIs and tenders are normally larger than RFQs
  • Includes technical specifications, delivery timelines
  • Are often posted in a tender bulletin and on entity websites
  • Normally published as a PDF

Why is it Important?

When government entities want to buy a product or service from an external provider they can issue various types of invitations to propose or quote, depending on the complexity and size of the purchase. As a prospective supplier or interested citizen it is often difficult to find these tender invitations, RFPs, RFIs or RFQs, to see what government is procuring. By analysing procurement archives, procurement officials can also gain insights into their supply chain process.


How can it be accessed and used?

Tenders, Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI)

For more complex and/or larger purchases government entities normally issue a tender invitation/ invitation to bid, RFP or RFI. To access information on these invitations you can browse the national e-TenderPublication or in PDF via the tender bulletin. There are also numerous private online tender portals.

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

For less complex and/or smaller purchases government entities often issue an RFQ. RFQ information can typically only be accessed by visiting the government entity website and downloading individual PDFs. As examples from some of the metropolitan municipalities:

  • Nelson Mandela Bay: Posts summary RFQ information in HTML on the website and allows you to export details as PDF.
  • City of Johannesburg: RFQs are published as PDFs on their website.
  • eThekwini Municipality: RFQs are published as PDFs for 2018 here. Previous years' RFQs for 2017 and earlier can be viewed on another page.
  • City of Cape Town: For the procurement of goods and services up to R200,000, RFQs can be accessed on this portal, but you will need to register to view details. More assistance is available here.
  • Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality: RFQs are posted as PDFs on the city website.
  • Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality: Seems to publish a summary of quote requests in a weekly PDF.
  • City of Tshwane: Has archived quotations on the city website.

Informal Tenders/RFQ's - Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

Location: Nelson Mandela Bay
Format: HTML PDF
Year: 2018Last Checked:None
Online: Access URL
Column/
File Names:
  • BUYER: Supply chain person responsible for the procurement
  • CLOSING DATE: Deadline for submitting a quote
  • DESCRIPTION: Description of what is to be procured
  • finance
  • spending
  • municipality
  • province

Resource contact name:Office of the Chief Procurement Officer

Creation or start date:2018-12-12

Resource contact updated at:2018-12-14

Spatial coverage  South Africa http://www.geonames.org/953987/south-africa.html

Where else has the resource been used?

Year Project Name::
2018 ICT Tenders: Consultants back on call
2017 Public procurement and experiments in transparency: How not to profit from the poor
2017 Warning against tender scams