RFP – SCHOLARSHIP FUND SERVICE PROVIDER

October 2026.

Globeleq Scholarship Fund Programme

Qualified service providers are invited to design, implement and manage our Scholarship Fund Programme across South Africa.

Closing date: 20 October 2026 at 16:00 (SAST)

1.Background

Globeleq South Africa Management Services (GSAMS) invites suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit proposals to design, implement and manage the Globeleq Scholarship Fund Programme across its renewable energy sites. The programme aims to expand access to tertiary education and skills-development opportunities for deserving young people from communities surrounding GSAMS facilities. It will support students pursuing studies in priority fields that contribute to South Africa’s socio-economic development and address scarce-skills needs in beneficiary communities.

The programme will serve eligible learners and students who reside in communities surrounding the following renewable energy facilities:

• Aries Solar Power
• Boshof Solar Power
• De Aar Solar Power
• Droogfontein Solar Power
• Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm
• Klipheuwel Wind Farm
• Konkoonsies Solar Power
• Soutpan Solar Power

2. Scope of Work

The appointed service provider will be responsible for designing, implementing, administering, monitoring and supporting the long-term sustainability of the Globeleq Scholarship Fund Programme across the listed GSAMS sites. Bidders must explain how they will deliver each requirement below, identify the proposed outputs and reporting frequency, describe the systems and controls they will use, and state any material assumptions or dependencies.

• Programme design and mobilisation: provide an implementation plan, governance arrangements, roles and responsibilities, timelines, risks and mitigation measures.
• Scholarship management system: implement and maintain a secure, centralised platform for applications, beneficiary records, funding, academic information and reporting.
• Beneficiary recruitment and selection: manage outreach, applications, eligibility screening, selection and appointment, and provide recruitment and selection reports.
• Beneficiary administration: maintain a complete beneficiary database and dashboard, including student profiles, funding information and programme participation.
• Academic monitoring: track enrolment, attendance, performance, retention, progression and graduation, and provide monthly and quarterly academic performance reports.
• Student support: coordinate mentorship, tutoring, career guidance and psychosocial support, and report on participation, interventions and outcomes.
• Financial administration: manage scholarship allocations in accordance with approved guidelines and report on fund utilisation.
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning: measure performance against agreed targets and key performance indicators, conduct annual impact assessments, and provide annual and final programme evaluation reports.
• Alumni and employment tracking: track graduates, further study, employment and job-placement outcomes, and provide alumni and employment reports.

2.1 Monitoring and Evaluation

The appointed service provider must implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework that measures the programme’s effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The bidder’s proposal must describe the proposed indicators, data sources, collection methods, quality controls, reporting tools and approach to protecting beneficiary information. At a minimum, the framework must cover the following:

• Establish and maintain a beneficiary database containing student profiles, academic records, funding information and programme participation details.
• Monitor student enrolment, attendance, academic performance, retention, progression and graduation throughout the scholarship period.
• Review beneficiary academic results and attendance records quarterly and annually.
• Identify students at risk and implement appropriate academic, mentorship or psychosocial support interventions.
• Track scholarship fund utilisation and ensure that funds are allocated and managed in accordance with approved guidelines.
• Measure programme outcomes against agreed targets and key performance indicators.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of mentorship, career guidance and student-support initiatives.
• Assess the programme’s contribution to increased access to tertiary education and scarce-skills development in communities surrounding GSAMS sites.
• Submit quarterly and annual monitoring and evaluation reports covering achievements, challenges, lessons learned, corrective actions and recommendations.
• Conduct an end-of-programme impact assessment covering graduate success, employability outcomes and the programme’s overall socio-economic impact on local communities.

3. Bidder Submission Requirements

Bidders must submit a complete proposal that responds directly to the scope of work and evaluation criteria. The proposal should follow the structure below so that responses can be evaluated consistently. Any assumptions, exclusions, dependencies or proposed deviations must be stated clearly. Omitting required information may result in disqualification.

3.1 Mandatory Proposal Documents

• Technical proposal: a clear methodology and approach addressing every scope requirement, with an implementation plan, deliverables, reporting arrangements, timelines, risks and mitigation measures.
• Financial proposal: a detailed budget and pricing schedule that identifies all fees, costs, applicable taxes and pricing assumptions.
• Organisation profile: background, relevant capabilities, organisational structure and the resources available for this assignment.
• Project team: proposed roles, responsibilities, qualifications and relevant experience.
• Tax compliance : valid Tax Compliance Status documentation.
• Company registration: current Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) registration documents.
  – B-BBEE status: a valid B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, as applicable.
  – Banking details: current proof of banking details.
  – References: the contactable references required in section 3.2.

3.2 Relevant Experience

The bidder must provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the following:

• At least three years’ experience managing scholarship, bursary, education or comparable beneficiary-support programmes. For each relevant assignment, provide the client, programme description, scope, location, contract period and
  bidder’s role.
• At least three contactable client references for similar projects completed within the past three years. Provide each referee’s name, organisation, position, email address, telephone number, project name and completion date.

4. Bid Submission Details

Bidders must submit complete proposals in accordance with the instructions below. The bidder is responsible for ensuring that its submission is received by the deadline and contains all required documents.

Submission email addresses: Harrisinah.Theka@globeleq.co.za & Nonini.Makhothe@globeleq.co.za

• Submission method: Email the complete proposal to both addresses listed above.
• Email subject line: Globeleq Scholarship Fund Programme RFP – [Bidder Name].
• Closing date and time: Proposals must be received by 20 October 2026 at 16:00 (SAST). Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Clarification questions: Submit all questions in writing by email to both addresses listed above.
• Completeness: Before submission, bidders should confirm that all documents listed in section 3 are included and that the proposal addresses each evaluation criterion in section 5.

5. Evaluation Criteria

Responsive proposals will be evaluated against the weighted criteria below. Bidders should provide clear, verifiable evidence for each criterion and cross-reference the relevant section of their proposal.

Relevant experience in scholarship, bursary and education programme management – 25%

Programme implementation methodology and approach – 20%

Scholarship management system and centralised data platform – 15%

Monitoring and evaluation approach – 15%

Project team qualifications and experience – 10%

Local ownership – 5%

Black women ownership – 10%