SBD Forms and Documents Needed to Apply for a South African Government Tender (2026)

What are SBD forms, and are they the same for every government tender?

SBD stands for Standard Bidding Document. These are the standardised forms issued by National Treasury's Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) that every organ of state uses so that all bids are submitted and evaluated on the same basis. They are downloaded from the OCPO website or come inside the specific tender (bid) pack on eTenders. The exact set you must complete depends on what is being procured and its value, so the tender document itself lists which SBD forms apply. The ones you will see most often are SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), one of the SBD 3 pricing schedules, SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure) and SBD 6.1 (preference points). Other forms appear when relevant — for example SBD 6.2 for designated local-content sectors, SBD 5 for the National Industrial Participation Programme, and SBD 7 for the contract conditions. Use the forms supplied in the actual tender pack rather than old copies, and complete every field — leaving a form blank, unsigned or partly filled in is one of the most common reasons bids are rejected as non-responsive.

What is SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid)?

SBD 1 is the cover form of the bid. It captures your business details — registered name, CSD supplier number, contact person, physical and postal address, telephone, email, banking details and your CIDB grading where construction is involved. By signing it you confirm that you have read and accept the tender's terms and conditions and agree to be bound by them. It is effectively your formal entry into the tender, so the information must match what is on the CSD and at CIPC exactly. Mismatched names, an outdated CSD number or an unsigned SBD 1 can disqualify an otherwise compliant bid.

What are the SBD 3 pricing schedules (SBD 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)?

The SBD 3 forms are where you set out your price, and the tender will specify which version to use. SBD 3.1 is for firm prices on purchases (goods) — the price you quote stays fixed for the contract and is not subject to escalation or exchange-rate changes. SBD 3.2 is for non-firm prices on purchases, used when prices may be adjusted over a longer contract for things like inflation or currency movements; it sets out the rules for how that escalation is calculated, with a portion of the price kept firm. SBD 3.3 is the pricing schedule for professional services, where you quote a firm price and a ceiling price based on the estimated time and phases to complete the work, including expenses. Price exactly on the form provided, show whether amounts include or exclude VAT as instructed, and make sure the totals add up — pricing errors and using the wrong schedule are common reasons bids are rejected.

What is SBD 4 — and what happened to SBD 8 and SBD 9?

SBD 4 is now the Bidder's Disclosure form. Since 31 March 2022 (under National Treasury SCM Instruction No. 03 of 2021/22) it consolidated three older forms into one: the old SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), SBD 8 (Declaration of the bidder's past supply chain management practices) and SBD 9 (Certificate of Independent Bid Determination). So if a guide or old tender pack still refers to SBD 8 and SBD 9 as separate forms, those declarations now live inside the single SBD 4. The current SBD 4 asks you to disclose: any relationship or interest you or your directors have with persons employed by the state or involved in the tender (conflict of interest); whether anyone in the business is employed by the state; whether the business or its directors have previously been found guilty of an SCM-related offence, had a contract terminated for poor performance, or been restricted or blacklisted from doing business with the state; and a declaration that you arrived at your bid independently and did not collude with other bidders (anti bid-rigging). Answering dishonestly here is a serious matter and can lead to disqualification and being barred from future tenders.

What are SBD 6.1 and SBD 6.2 (preference points and local content)?

SBD 6.1 is the Preference Points Claim Form. South African tenders are scored partly on price and partly on preference points, under one of two systems set by the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022: the 80/20 system (80 points for price, 20 for preference) for tenders with a value up to R50 million, and the 90/10 system for tenders above R50 million. On SBD 6.1 you claim your preference points for the 'specific goals' the organ of state has set for that tender — under the 2022 Regulations each institution decides those goals, but in most tenders they still include your B-BBEE status level, and may include goals such as ownership by designated groups. You support the claim with your B-BBEE certificate or affidavit (see below). SBD 6.2 is a different and narrower form: the Declaration Certificate for Local Production and Content. It only applies in 'designated sectors' that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has earmarked for local production, where a minimum local-content threshold must be met. If the tender is in a designated sector, SBD 6.2 must be signed by your CFO or an authorised senior person; if it is not a designated sector, SBD 6.2 will not form part of the bid.

Which supporting documents do I need besides the SBD forms (CSD, tax, B-BBEE, company registration)?

Alongside the SBD forms, a typical tender requires: (1) CSD registration — you must be registered on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database at secure.csd.gov.za, which is free and mandatory for doing business with the state. Registration gives you a unique supplier number, and many tenders ask you to attach your CSD summary/supplier report. (2) Tax compliance — SARS replaced the old paper Tax Clearance Certificate with the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) system. You obtain a TCS PIN through SARS eFiling, which lets the buyer verify your tax status online in real time; your tax status is also reflected on the CSD. Without valid tax compliance your bid can be marked non-responsive. (3) B-BBEE proof — either a verification certificate from a SANAS-accredited agency, or, for an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME, annual turnover up to R10 million) or a 51%-plus black-owned Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE, turnover R10 million to R50 million), a sworn B-BBEE affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths, or a free B-BBEE certificate issued by CIPC for EMEs. (4) Company registration — your CIPC registration documents (the company registration / disclosure certificate), confirming the entity and its directors. Some tenders also ask for certified IDs of directors, proof of bank account, and financial statements.

Do I need CIDB registration for a construction or infrastructure tender?

Yes. Any contractor bidding for public-sector construction or infrastructure work must be on the CIDB Register of Contractors, run by the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb.org.za). Your CIDB grading is shown as a number from 1 to 9 plus a class-of-work code: the number indicates the value of work you are allowed to tender for (Grade 1 is the smallest and Grade 9 has effectively no upper limit), and the letters indicate the type of construction you are registered to do (for example GB for general building or CE for civil engineering). Grading is assessed mainly on your financial capability (best annual turnover and available capital) and, for the higher grades, your track record on similar completed projects. The exact rand value bands for each grade are set by the CIDB and have been revised over time, so confirm the current thresholds and class codes on the official CIDB website before relying on a specific figure. You must be registered in the correct grade and class before you bid — being under-graded for the contract value will disqualify you.

What is the complete document checklist for a government tender bid?

Use this as a final checklist before you submit (confirm the exact list against the specific tender pack, because requirements vary): SBD forms: - SBD 1 — Invitation to Bid, fully completed and signed - SBD 3.1 / 3.2 / 3.3 — the correct pricing schedule for the procurement, with totals checked - SBD 4 — Bidder's Disclosure, fully completed and signed (this now covers the former SBD 8 and SBD 9) - SBD 6.1 — Preference Points Claim Form, with your specific-goals/B-BBEE points claimed - SBD 6.2 — Local Production and Content declaration (only if the tender is in a designated sector) - Any other SBD forms the tender lists (e.g. SBD 5, SBD 7) Supporting documents: - Active CSD registration and supplier number (attach CSD summary report if requested) - Valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN - B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (EME/QSE) or CIPC B-BBEE certificate - CIPC company registration / disclosure documents - CIDB registration certificate in the correct grade and class (construction/infrastructure tenders) - Anything else specified in the tender: certified director IDs, bank confirmation letter, financial statements, technical/experience evidence, returnable schedules Final checks: every form signed and dated, no blank pages, details match your CSD and CIPC records, and the bid is submitted in the format and before the closing time stated in the tender.

Step by step

1. Register on the CSD. Register your business on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database at secure.csd.gov.za. It is free and mandatory. Capture your details accurately; they are verified against SARS, CIPC and Home Affairs, and you will receive a unique supplier number used on the tender forms.
2. Get your SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN. Through SARS eFiling, request a Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN (use the 'Good Standing' option, which replaced the old 'Tender' option). This replaces the old paper Tax Clearance Certificate and lets the buyer verify your tax status online. Make sure your tax affairs are up to date so the status reads compliant.
3. Sort out your B-BBEE proof. Obtain a B-BBEE verification certificate, or — if you are an EME (turnover up to R10 million) or a 51%-plus black-owned QSE — a sworn affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths, or a free CIPC B-BBEE certificate for EMEs. You will need this to claim preference points on SBD 6.1.
4. Check CIDB registration if it is construction work. For construction or infrastructure tenders, confirm you are on the CIDB Register of Contractors in the correct grade (1–9) and class of work for the contract value. Confirm current grade thresholds on cidb.org.za before bidding.
5. Download the exact tender pack. Get the specific bid documents from eTenders (etenders.gov.za) or the buying institution. Use only the SBD forms supplied in that pack — do not reuse old versions, as forms change over time.
6. Complete every SBD form in the pack. Fill in SBD 1, the correct SBD 3 pricing schedule, SBD 4, SBD 6.1, and SBD 6.2 if the tender is in a designated sector, plus any other listed forms. Complete every field, answer every disclosure question honestly, and sign and date where required.
7. Assemble the supporting documents. Attach your CSD report, evidence of tax compliance, B-BBEE certificate/affidavit, CIPC company documents, CIDB certificate (if applicable) and any other returnable documents the tender specifies, such as certified IDs, bank confirmation or financial statements.
8. Review against the checklist and submit. Do a final check: nothing blank, everything signed and dated, details matching your CSD and CIPC records. Submit in the exact format required (physical, email or via the eTenders portal) and before the stated closing date and time — late or incomplete bids are disqualified.

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