If you’re chasing logistics tenders in South Africa, you’re competing in one of the country’s busiest procurement arenas. Fuel prices swing, ports clog, and route risks change month to month, but so do opportunities. From school nutrition deliveries and medical cold-chain routes to warehousing, courier, and heavy-haul contracts, smart SMEs are winning consistent work by reading the landscape correctly and submitting sharp, compliant bids. This guide breaks down where to find verified opportunities, how to stay compliant, how to price sustainably (without undercutting yourself), and what it takes to score high on evaluation. Along the way, you’ll get practical examples, up-to-date trends, and a clear path to action, ending with where to find live, verified tenders on eTender SA.
Understanding the Logistics Tender Landscape in South Africa
Public vs. Private Buyers and SOEs
South Africa’s logistics procurement is split across:
- Government departments and municipalities: school nutrition deliveries, medical supplies distribution, waste logistics, community services, and general goods transport.
- State-owned enterprises (SOEs): Transnet (rail, ports, pipelines), PRASA (rail passenger services), SANRAL (road infrastructure logistics), Eskom (materials and spares), and water boards. These often publish structured tenders with technical site meetings, strict safety requirements, and multi-year frameworks.
- Private sector: retail chains, FMCG manufacturers, mines, agriculture, e-commerce players, and 3PLs using RFQs and RFPs via portals or closed vendor lists.
Public buyers focus heavily on compliance, governance, and socioeconomic goals (B-BBEE, local content, subcontracting). Private buyers prioritize performance, cost, and risk mitigation, but many now mirror public compliance for ESG reporting and audit readiness.
Common Logistics Categories and Scopes
Expect tenders for:
- Primary and secondary road freight
- Last-mile delivery and courier
- Cold chain (vaccines, perishables, pharmaceuticals)
- Warehousing and inventory management (inbound, storage, outbound)
- Cross-border transport into SADC via CBRTA permits
- Bulk fuel and hazardous goods (HAZMAT)
- Abnormal loads and heavy haul
- Port drayage, rail support, and intermodal
- Reverse logistics, returns, and waste collection
Scopes can be single-route, multi-route national, or framework agreements with call-offs. Many buyers split lots by region (e.g., KZN North, Gauteng South) to enable SME participation.
Typical Contract Values, Terms, and Volumes
- Values range from R500,000 short-term municipal contracts to R50m+ multi-year SOE frameworks.
- Terms: three to 36 months are common, sometimes with extension options (e.g., 12 + 12 months).
- Volumes: fixed schedules (e.g., daily school deliveries) vs. variable call-offs (e.g., emergency medical stock). You’ll often price per km/ton/km-drop, per pallet, per case, or per lane.
Recent trend: buyers increasingly request indexation clauses (fuel/CPI) and real-time tracking for visibility given port congestion, diesel volatility, and rail constraints. E-commerce growth is pushing more last-mile and regional courier bids with tight SLAs and proof-of-delivery tech requirements.
Where to Find Live Logistics Tenders
National Treasury eTender Portal and eTender SA
- National Treasury eTender Portal: the official source for national and many provincial/municipal opportunities. It’s comprehensive but time-consuming to sift.
- eTender SA: curates verified logistics tenders South Africa-wide, across government, SOEs, and private buyers, saving you hours. Set alerts by category (courier, warehousing, road freight, cold chain) and province.
Practical tip: Use both. Check the official portal for completeness, then rely on eTender SA’s filters, deadline tracking, and document links to act fast.
SOE and Provincial Portals (Transnet, PRASA, SANRAL, Municipalities)
- Transnet: rail, port, and pipeline-related logistics tenders, often requiring safety files, induction, and site access permits.
- PRASA: materials movement, depot logistics, and station supply logistics.
- SANRAL: movement of materials, abnormal loads, storage, and project logistics during roadworks.
- Municipalities and provinces: school nutrition deliveries, clinic supply runs, waste and recycling logistics, disaster relief distribution.
Always register on specific portals and vendor databases: some require prequalification or safety inductions before you can bid.
Private Procurement Platforms and Industry Bulletins
- Private portals and sourcing platforms (Coupa, Ariba, Procure-to-Pay systems) are common in retail, FMCG, and mining.
- Industry bulletins: Road Freight Association (RFA), Supply Chain Today, and chamber newsletters often list RFQs.
- LinkedIn and OEM networks: fleet OEMs, cold-room suppliers, and 3PLs share partnership RFQs, particularly for peak-season subcontracting.
Tip: Build relationships with big 3PLs: subcontracted lanes during peak seasons can turn into formal award slots later.
Eligibility, Compliance, and Registrations
CSD, Tax Compliance, and B-BBEE
- Register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) with accurate banking, director, and commodity codes. Keep it up to date: many buyers validate details directly from CSD.
- Maintain a valid SARS tax compliance status (tax pin). Lapses cause automatic disqualification.
- B-BBEE: EMEs and QSEs can use sworn affidavits: larger entities need verification certificates. Many tenders allocate points for B-BBEE or use specific goals aligned to PPPFA regulations.
Transport Licenses, Permits, and Insurance
- Vehicle operator cards and roadworthy certificates for each unit.
- Driver requirements: valid licenses plus PrDP (Goods – “G”).
- Dangerous goods: DG permits, HAZCHEM, and relevant training: vehicles must be placarded and equipped.
- Abnormal loads: permits per route and escort where required.
- Cross-border: CBRTA permits and SADC carrier documentation.
- Insurance: Goods-in-Transit (GIT), public liability, SASRIA, and fleet cover. Buyers often specify GIT limits per consignment (e.g., R500k/R1m).
Health, Safety, Environment, and Labor Compliance
- OHS Act compliance: safety files, toolbox talks, incident reporting, and vehicle inspections.
- ISO standards are frequently requested or scored (ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 45001 for safety, ISO 14001 for environment). Even if not certified, align processes and show evidence.
- Labor: BCEA and LRA compliance: for road freight, NBCRFLI wage rates and conditions. Provide a COIDA Letter of Good Standing.
- Environmental: spill kits, waste manifests, temperature control logs for cold chain, and idling policies. These are increasingly scrutinized in bid evaluations.
Reading the Bid Pack and Assembling Your Submission
Decode Mandatory Requirements and Technical Specs
Start with the mandatory checklist. If the tender says “non-responsive if missing,” treat it like a hard gate. Typical mandatory items:
- CSD summary report and valid tax status
- Signed SBD/standard forms and declarations
- Technical capability evidence (fleet list, GIT insurance, driver PrDPs)
- Site attendance register for compulsory briefings
Technical specs require careful mapping. Example: a cold-chain tender might specify 2–8°C temperature range, GPS temperature logs, and calibrated data loggers. Your proposal must mirror each requirement and show proof.
Documents and Proof Most Buyers Request
- Company documents: CIPC registration, shareholding, B-BBEE affidavit/certificate
- Safety: OHS plan, risk assessments, incident logs
- Fleet: registration documents, roadworthy certificates, maintenance records
- People: driver licenses/PrDPs, DG training, induction records
- Systems: tracking/TMS screenshots, POD workflows, reporting templates
- Financial: latest financials or bank comfort letter: sometimes solvency ratios
Attend Briefings, Ask Questions, and Track Addenda
Compulsory briefings are critical. They clarify scope, reveal site access rules, and often expose hidden costs (e.g., offloading equipment). Submit questions by the official deadline and monitor addenda daily, requirements change more often than you’d think. Addenda can reset pricing templates or shift delivery windows.
Structure a Clear, Compliant Proposal Pack
- Cover letter: who you are, the lanes you’re bidding, headline value-adds
- Mandatory forms: completed and signed where required
- Technical submission: method statement, fleet and staffing plan, maintenance and safety plans, systems, and reporting
- Past performance: three relevant references with contactable details
- Pricing schedule: the buyer’s format, plus a narrative explaining assumptions, indexation, and exclusions
- Appendices: insurance, certifications, permits, policies
Pro tip: Build a compliance matrix listing each requirement with a page reference in your submission. It helps internal QC and impresses evaluators.
Pricing and Costing Strategies for Logistics Bids
Build a Route-Based Cost Model
Price from the bottom up:
- Distance and time: km per route, average speed, congestion buffers
- Vehicle: depreciation/finance, maintenance, tires, licensing
- People: drivers and crew, NBCRFLI-aligned wages, overtime, allowances
- Overheads: dispatch, tracking systems, admin, depot costs
- Load profile: pallets, drops, handling time, backhaul assumptions
Example: Gauteng–Durban lane, 600 km. Use your actual consumption (e.g., 2.8–3.2 km/l), apply current diesel price, include tolls, and factor driver rest. Then add margin and contingency.
Fuel, Tolls, and Indexation Clauses
- Diesel volatility has been a major risk. Reference DMRE-published fuel price changes and propose a fair fuel adjustment formula (e.g., base price at bid date with monthly adjustment if variance >X%).
- Tolls: include SANRAL rates and note the decommissioning of Gauteng e-tolls: still consider other toll plazas on N3/N4/N1 corridors.
- CPI indexation: for multi-year contracts, request annual CPI-linked adjustments on labor and overheads.
Pricing Alternatives, Value-Adds, and Risk Buffers
- Offer tiered pricing: per km, per pallet, and per drop, or discounts for minimum monthly volumes.
- Value-adds: live tracking links for consignees, digital PODs, weekend cut-off flexibility, shared warehousing space during peaks.
- Risk buffers: weather, protests, port congestion, and load shedding impact SLAs. Define force majeure and reasonable waiting time charges upfront to avoid scope creep.
Never underprice to “get in.” Buyers are increasingly screening for sustainability, unsustainably low bids get flagged or fail during due diligence.
Evaluation Criteria and How to Maximize Your Score
Functionality Scoring and Thresholds
Most public buyers use a functionality threshold (often 70%). Common criteria:
- Fleet capacity and suitability (age, spec, backup units)
- Technical approach and risk management (route plans, safety)
- Systems (tracking, temperature monitoring, reporting)
- Past performance and references
- Localization and proximity to depots or routes
Maximize your score by matching each criterion with evidence, photos, registration docs, system screenshots, and named supervisors per region.
PPPFA 80/20 vs 90/10 and B-BBEE Points
Public sector awards often follow PPPFA with either 80/20 (for lower-value contracts) or 90/10 (for higher-value). Price forms the base points: specific goals (often aligned to B-BBEE, youth/women/people with disabilities, or local enterprise development) add the rest. Since the 2022 regulations, organs of state set their own specific goals, read them carefully and align your commitments with verifiable plans.
If you’re an EME/QSE with strong B-BBEE credentials, highlight this early and ensure your affidavit/certificate is valid and consistent with CSD.
Local Content, Designated Sectors, and Subcontracting
Where designated sectors apply (e.g., rail rolling stock components, steel products, some PPE), you must meet prescribed local content thresholds. For logistics tenders that include the supply of designated items (like pallets or uniforms), complete the MBD 6.2 forms and supporting annexures properly.
Subcontracting: For some contracts, buyers may mandate subcontracting a portion to EMEs/ QSEs or township/rural enterprises. Structure this upfront with clear roles, SLAs, and oversight so it’s credible and auditable.
Capacity, Partnerships, Funding, and Mobilization
Proving Capacity With Fleet, People, and Systems
- Fleet: list each vehicle, spec (reefer, curtain-sider, tautliner, van), capacity, year model, and backup plan. Include maintenance arrangements and 24/7 breakdown support.
- People: driver rosters, relief drivers, training (PrDP, defensive driving, DG where relevant), and induction records.
- Systems: GPS/telematics, TMS/WMS, geo-fencing, temperature loggers, and customer portals for PODs.
Evidence beats promises: attach sample route reports, KPI dashboards, and maintenance schedules.
JV, Consortium, and Subcontracting Models
If the scope exceeds your current footprint:
- JV/Consortium: shared liability and integrated management: good for multi-province awards.
- Subcontracting: you hold the prime contract and manage accredited partners per region or lane.
- Vendor-managed capacity: lease vehicles or use dedicated subcontractors under your SOPs and branding.
Put formal agreements in place covering safety, insurance, GIT limits, rates, and service levels. Buyers want clarity on who does what, where, and how quality is controlled.
Funding Working Capital, Guarantees, and Insurance
- Working capital: logistics is cash-hungry, fuel, wages, and maintenance often need 30–60 days of float. Explore purchase order finance, invoice discounting, and fuel cards with negotiated rebates.
- Guarantees: some public buyers require performance guarantees (5–10% of contract value). Engage your bank or a surety provider early.
- Insurance: confirm GIT limits, public liability, employer’s liability, SASRIA, and fleet cover align with tender requirements.
Mobilization Plans, SLAs, KPIs, and Reporting
A strong mobilization plan wins confidence. Include:
- Go-live timeline with key milestones (vehicle branding, driver onboarding, route pilots)
- SLA and KPI dashboard: OTIF/DIFOT rates, damage/loss % thresholds, temperature compliance, turnaround times
- Escalation paths and communication cadence (daily exceptions, weekly performance, monthly reviews)
- Continuous improvement levers: route optimization, load consolidation, and off-peak scheduling
Offer a 30-day stabilization window with joint sign-off on KPIs to de-risk both parties.
Pitfalls, Red Flags, and Tender Scams to Avoid
Compliance Gaps and Non-Responsive Bids
Small omissions kill bids: unsigned forms, expired tax status, wrong pricing template, or missing proof of GIT. Use a final checklist and a red-team review 48 hours before submission.
Unrealistic Specs, Underpricing, and Scope Creep
If volumes are vague or SLAs are extreme without indexation, ask for clarification. Underpricing to win often leads to losses and termination. Lock down assumptions: maximum waiting time, demurrage, multi-drop limits, and after-hours surcharges.
Bid Bonds, Upfront Payments, and Phishing Scams
Most SA government tenders don’t require bid bonds. Be cautious if a “buyer” requests upfront fees to view documents, add you to a vendor list, or release an award letter. Verify award notices on official portals and call published contact numbers (not those in suspicious emails). Watch for fake domain names and altered banking details.
Post-Award Debriefs and Continuous Improvement
If you lose, request a debrief. Ask for your functionality score breakdown and where you lost points. Update your templates and pricing model accordingly. Over three to five bids, disciplined businesses see significant score improvements and higher win rates.
Conclusion
South Africa’s logistics sector is demanding, but it rewards suppliers who combine compliance discipline with operational excellence and fair, transparent pricing. If you build a clean bid pack, price with a route-based model and sensible indexation, and back it up with real capacity and data-driven reporting, you’ll consistently pass functionality thresholds and compete strongly on price and specific goals.
Your next step is simple: plug into a steady pipeline of verified opportunities. Visit eTender SA today to find verified logistics tenders in South Africa, set smart alerts, and move faster than your competitors.
Logistics Tenders in South Africa: FAQs
Where can I find live logistics tenders in South Africa?
Check the National Treasury eTender Portal for official listings, then use eTender SA to filter verified opportunities across government, SOEs, and private buyers. Also register on SOE and provincial portals (Transnet, PRASA, SANRAL, municipalities) and relevant private procurement platforms. Set category and province alerts to act fast.
What compliance documents are required to bid on logistics tenders in South Africa?
Most bids require a valid CSD registration, SARS tax compliance pin, and B-BBEE affidavit or certificate. Expect proof of fleet roadworthiness, PrDPs, GIT insurance, OHS safety files, COIDA Letter of Good Standing, and where relevant, DG permits, CBRTA cross‑border permits, and ISO-aligned processes or certifications.
How should I price logistics tenders in South Africa sustainably?
Build a route-based model: distance/time, vehicle costs, NBCRFLI-aligned labor, overheads, and realistic load profiles. Include diesel and toll assumptions, and propose indexation (fuel/CPI) for multi‑year terms. Offer tiered pricing or volume discounts, define waiting time and force majeure, and avoid underpricing that jeopardizes delivery.
How are public logistics tenders evaluated and scored?
Most use a functionality threshold (often 70%) assessing fleet capacity, technical approach, systems (tracking/temperature), risk management, and past performance. Awards follow PPPFA 80/20 or 90/10: price plus specific goals (often B-BBEE and localization). Map every requirement, attach evidence, and highlight proximity to depots or routes to boost scores.
Can a small fleet or startup win logistics tenders in South Africa?
Yes. Many buyers split lots by region to enable SME participation, and subcontracting with credible 3PLs is common. Strengthen your bid with clear capacity plans, compliant safety and insurance, and solid references. Use JVs or managed subcontractors, and explore PO finance or invoice discounting to bridge working-capital gaps.
When is the best time to secure subcontracting work for logistics in South Africa?
Peak opportunities typically arise ahead of high-demand periods: November–December retail peaks, back‑to‑school in January, and agricultural harvest windows. Engage large 3PLs and retailers 6–10 weeks before peaks, share capacity profiles and compliance documents, and request onboarding to their vendor lists for rapid call‑offs.