Suppliers to government must register on its central supplier database

Government has launched an e-Tender Publication portal and the central supplier database (CSD) that provides for electronic platforms to centralise its procurement process. The portal and the CSD were set up by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) on 1 April 2015 and went online on 1 September 2015.

All suppliers to any organ of state will eventually be required to have their details reflected on the CSD. There is no specific definition of “supplier”, but the broad wording used by the National Treasury and the clear intention to streamline the entire procurement and supplier process suggests that any person that supplies goods or services to any state body must be registered on the CSD. If you deal with government, we suggest you register.

e-Tender Publication portal

The e-Tender Publication portal will be a single platform to publish tenders (www.etenders.gov.za). The portal will carry the tender notices, documents and applicable terms. The portal will also publish award notices and minimum information prescribed by the OCPO. Make it a favourite.

CSD

The CSD will serve as the single source of key supplier information from 1 April 2016 providing accurate, up-to-date, complete and verified information to procuring organs of state. It aims to reduce the administrative burden for both businesses and government. The CSD will, for example, have interfaces to SARS (to enable tax clearance status verification) and to the CIPC (for vetting business registration and ownership).

CSD registration

Suppliers who are currently registered on a supplier database of any organ of state will automatically be transferred to the CSD before April 2016. While the migration takes place, suppliers will be required to register with departments according to usual practice.

New suppliers have the option to use the self-registration CSD portal. Once registered and verified, a unique supplier number and security code will be allocated to the suppliers.

The National Treasury has set out details for the CSD registration and implementation process including the required information for suppliers to provide on the CSD.  It is also foreseen that B-BBEE information will be included in the CSD.