Appointment of technical consultants to support the DSTI in assessing applications and progress reports for the research and development tax incentive programme for a period of three years

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) administers the research and development (R&D) tax incentive in terms of section 11D of the Income Tax Act. Companies must obtain approval of their R&D activities from the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation before they can claim the tax deduction from the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The Minister is supported by the R&D Tax Incentive Adjudication and Monitoring Committee, which evaluates project applications and makes recommendations for approval.

The DSTI invites bids for the appointment of suitably qualified and experienced technical consultants to support the Department and the Committee in the independent, efficient and technically rigorous assessment of project applications and progress reports submitted under section 11D. The appointment seeks to strengthen the quality, consistency and turnaround times of assessments.

A maximum of 15 consultants will be appointed to provide coverage across a broad range of scientific and technological disciplines, spanning agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing; manufacturing; financial intermediation, real estate and business services; community and social services; transport, storage and communication; mining and quarrying; electricity, gas and water supply; construction; and wholesale and retail trade.

For project applications, consultants must produce a written technical analysis within two weeks of receipt, recommending approval or non-approval with reasons that comply with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000, together with an updated report within a week of receiving any additional information, and an oral presentation to the Committee when required. For progress reports, consultants must produce a written analysis within two weeks of receipt, recommending that approval be maintained or withdrawn, and present orally to the Committee when required.

The DSTI will pay R4 840.00 (VAT inclusive) per completed output, whether for the assessment of a project application or a progress report. The price is fixed for the first twelve months of the contract, after which an annual adjustment based on the average CPI issued by Statistics South Africa will be accepted. Consultants are remunerated on acceptance of deliverables.

Appointment does not guarantee any minimum volume of work or remuneration during the contract period — work is allocated on expertise, availability, performance and departmental requirements. The DSTI reserves the right to appoint one or more service providers to establish the cohort.

Bids will be evaluated in three phases: functionality (minimum threshold of 60%), a compulsory presentation on a supplied case study (minimum threshold of 60%), and then price and specific goals on the 80/20 preference point system in terms of the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022.