INTRODUCTION
When the government needed a state of the art, world class headquarters office unit for the Department of Basic Education (DOBE), it looked for a long-term partner that could provide integrated workplace management solutions as part of a full turnkey solution.
To meet the requirements of the tender, the Tsebo Solutions Group – a leading workplace management solutions provider operating in 27 countries across Africa Middle East – had to draw on the full extent of its local expertise, on global standards, and on its integrated solutions to fulfil an innovative publicprivate partnership (PPP) contract. The DOBE engaged with Sethegko, a private party, which in turn partnered with Tirasano – comprising Tsebo and a private financial service provider (FSP), together forming the operational sub-contractor that would be responsible for providing a full turnkey solution.
THE CHALLENGE
The government tender contained the prerequisite that the operating sub-contractor be there from the start and provide insights into the design, construction and outfitting of the building, and that they provide superior services and solutions to maintain the building (Sol Plaatje House) and the rest of the property. This included safeguarding Jansen House, an on-site, 100-plus-year-old heritage building, a large conference centre, additional office space and land amounting to 40 000 m2 of lettable area.
The tender also stipulated that 30% of the operating expenses (OPEX) be spent on developing Broadbased Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) in the local community, as well as a mandate to uplift local people through corporate social investment and skills development initiatives. All of this needed to be achieved through a concession agreement at a set monthly rate over the term of the contract, with 100% of the risk being held by the contractor.
The 25-year contract would ultimately result in a key deliverable that Sethegko hand over the fully operational property and buildings to the government in mint condition.
