Any enterprise that tenders or seek to do construction business with the public sector must register. But to be able to register with CIDB your enterprise must be a registered with CIPRO. Joint ventures that have been established on a contract specific basis don’t have to register, provided that each of the joint venture is separately registered.

Coming to the registration of projects, you must register any construction work done. These include contracts for the provision of a combination of goods and services, extension construction, installations, repairs, maintenance, renewals and renovations, alterations, dismantling or demolition of buildings and engineering infrastructure. These projects must be above R200 000 for public sector and R300 000 for private sector.

A contractor’s grading reflects a registered contractor capability to perform a contract of a given tender value range. But, it is also possible for a single contractor to have different grading designations, each in respect of a different class of construction works.

But be warned, your company’s ability to finance a particular construction project does not necessarily mean you will qualify to do that project as a contractor’s ability in determined by many factors. For example you might be able to find a project but lack the expertise and capacity to do it. As a result of this you won’t be given this tender just because you can finance it.

Grading designation actually determine which project you can be able to do. This is compatible with your track record. As an emerging enterprise with no experience, you are likely to fall under grading designation one, which means you won’t be able to do bigger projects until you have gained enough experience. For detailed information about grading, you can visit: www.cidb.co.za.

Always remember the Construction Industry Development Board Act prohibits the awarding of engineering and construction works contracts to unregistered contractors. If you are not registered with (CIDB) you don’t qualify to bid for engineering and construction tenders on the public sector.