Category 1: Compliance and Documents (Gate 1)
These are instant disqualifiers. Miss one and your bid never gets evaluated.
| # | Error | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expired tax compliance Fatal | Log into SARS eFiling. Confirm your TCS PIN is still valid — not expired or suspended. |
| 2 | CSD printout older than 30 days | Check the tender document. If it says "within 30 days", generate a fresh one. |
| 3 | Expired B-BBEE certificate Fatal | Check the issue date. If over 12 months old, it is expired. |
| 4 | Missing mandatory SBD/MBD form Fatal | Compare your folder against the returnable documents list. Tick off every form. |
| 5 | Unsigned form Fatal | Flip through every page of every form. Look for blank signature lines and dates. |
| 6 | Wrong version of SBD/MBD form | Compare your form against the one in the tender document — they can differ. |
| 7 | Missing company letterhead | Some forms require company letterhead. Check the submission rules. |
Category 2: Submission Rules (The Fine Print)
| # | Error | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Wrong binding method | Does the tender specify spiral, comb, or wire binding? Or "no staples"? Check submission rules. |
| 9 | Page numbers missing or incorrect | Numbers must be consecutive and match the index if required. |
| 10 | Missing page initials Fatal | If the tender says "initial every page", check every single page. One missed initial = fail. |
| 11 | Wrong number of copies Fatal | Does the tender ask for "one original plus two copies"? You need three identical sets. |
| 12 | Envelope not sealed or labelled Fatal | For physical submission: sealed? Tender number and description on outside? Correct address? |
| 13 | Electronic file naming wrong | Some tenders require specific file names like "CompanyName_TenderNumber_SBD1.pdf". |
| 14 | File size too large | Check the tender for maximum file size. Compress if needed. |
| 15 | Wrong colour ink Fatal | Some tenders specify "blue ink". Black ink signatures get rejected. |
Category 3: Pricing and Preference Points (Gate 3)
| # | Error | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Price schedule not fully filled | Open SBD 3.1 / MBD 3.1. Every line item filled? No blanks? Maths correct? |
| 17 | VAT included or excluded incorrectly | Does your price include VAT? The tender document specifies. Mismatch = price invalid. |
| 18 | Preference points claim wrong | Did you claim the correct B-BBEE points? Check your level against the claim form. |
| 19 | Local content declaration incomplete | If the tender requires local content, is MBD 6.2 / SBD 6.2 completed and signed? |
Category 4: Functionality (Gate 2)
| # | Error | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Evidence missing for functionality claims | For every claim, is there proof attached? Certificates, CVs, reference letters, photos? |
| 21 | Scoring grid not addressed line by line | Did you answer every sub-criterion? Leaving one blank = zero points for that line. |
| 22 | Exceeding page limit | Some tenders have page limits for functionality responses. Count your pages. |
Category 5: Final Sanity Check
| # | Error | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Missing cover letter or index | Does the tender require a cover letter or table of contents? If yes, is it there and correctly filled? |
💡 Pro tip: Print your entire bid if possible. Errors are easier to spot on paper. Use a red pen to tick every checklist item. Come back after 10 minutes and re-check Category 1 again — the most common failures.
🤖 With Tender Aid: DAI runs a forensic pre-submission audit of your completed workspace against every extracted requirement in under 5 minutes — catching what tired eyes miss at 11pm the night before closing.
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