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Q:If people are not responding to tenders, what is Treasury doing about this? (Context: Out of 2 000+ tenders only 200 awarded).
Treasury does not police these matters. However, we encourage departments to add the details when a tender is awarded or cancelled. This allows for data analysis to inform planning.
International suppliers
Q:International suppliers cannot access the portal. How do they find tenders if we are not advertising on our department’s website and in the newspapers?
The eTender Publication Portal is web-based and is accessible anyone, regardless of location, as long as they have internet connectivity.
Q:When we issue tenders in foreign countries, we need to find suppliers in those countries, therefore we need to advertise using other mediums. Will this be a deviation?
All competitive bids and their results, irrespective of the audience, must be published on the eTender Publication Portal. In addition, other publications could also be considered, should the need arise, but it should only be in cases where specific audience are targeted. If bids are not published on the eTender Publication Portal it will be seen as a deviation.
gCommerce
Q: When will the gCommerce site be available for departments to use?
The gCommerce site is already available for voluntary adoption. At present, the solution is being piloted at Correctional Services and the Department of Health. The National Treasury is currently in the process of getting the legal instruments in place to enable the solution in all OoS. For more information, please forward your request to gCommerce@treasury.gov.za.
Q:Does gCommerce use primary and secondary users?No. The creation of users is based on delegation of authority.
Q:On eCommerce you pay by credit card. How are payments effected on gCommerce?Departments must follow their current payment processes and systems. The main aim is to integrate gCommerce with various payment systems such as BAS, Walker, Oracle, Sage etc.
Q:How will purchases on the gCommerce site be handled? With invoice and checkout, do we still manage the suppliers as normal?
gCommerce is integrated with BAS. An approved user can select the goods required and create a purchase order. The system checks budget availability in BAS and work flows to the