Self-assessment
CIDB Self-Assessment (Contractors)
10 yes/no questions for construction contractors who work, or want to work, on public contracts: your CIDB registration, grade and class, keeping it valid, tender and subcontractor practice, and prompt payment. You get a score for each area and a list of gaps with what to do about each one.
1. Registration and grade
Answer Not applicable throughout if you are not a contractor and do not tender for public construction work.
1. Are you registered on the CIDB Register of Contractors, with the grade and class of work (for example general building, civil engineering, electrical) that match the work you tender for?
CIDB grades run from 1 to 9. The grade sets the largest public contract you can bid for. Sources give different rand values for each grade, so check the current table on cidb.org.za. (CIDB Act, Register of Contractors)
2. Does your grade rest on both your work history (largest contract completed in the last five years) and your available capital, knowing the lower of the two decides the grade?
(CIDB Regulations)
3. Is your registration valid and renewed on time, and do you track the expiry date?
Sources disagree on the renewal cycle and one reports suspension the day after expiry. Check the current rule with the CIDB. (CIDB Regulations)
4. Do you keep your CIDB details (company information, directors, owners, tax status) up to date, and give the CIDB the information it asks for?
(CIDB Regulations)
2. Tendering and delivery
1. For each tender, do you check that the project is registered with the CIDB where the rules require it, and that your grade meets the requirement?
(Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement)
2. Do your tenders and conduct comply with the Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement and the code of conduct for the industry, including no collusion or bribery?
(CIDB Code of Conduct, Competition Act s4)
3. When you use subcontractors, do you appoint them fairly and register-check them against the grade and class required?
(CIDB, Standard for Uniformity)
3. Quality, payment and related duties
1. Do you pay subcontractors and suppliers promptly, within the terms agreed, with CIDB best-practice guidance suggesting payment within 30 days of a claim?
Proposed prompt payment regulations were reported in 2015, and I could not confirm they were made. The 30-day figure comes from CIDB best-practice guidance. (CIDB best practice, contract terms)
2. Do you meet the other laws that apply to a construction business, such as the Construction Regulations under the OHS Act, COIDA registration, UIF, and a valid B-BBEE certificate or affidavit?
(OHSA, COIDA, B-BBEE)
3. Do you keep a project file for each contract with the contract, programme, quality records, completion certificate and payment records?
(CIDB, good practice)
Sources
- Construction Industry Development Board Act 38 of 2000 (Acts Online)
- CIDB grades explained (Tenderflow)
- CIDB registration requirements in South Africa (Company Partners)
- CIDB grading explained for construction businesses (SME South Africa)
- The CIDB intervenes: new best practice standard for contractors (Cox Yeats)
- Construction Industry Development Board
Turn these gaps into tracked tasks
Assign owners and due dates, keep the evidence, and show your progress to clients and auditors.