Detailed engineering design of the 500 kwt circulating fluidised bed (cfb) test facility — csir RFP 3785/06/11/2026

• Date of issue: 16 October 2026
• Clarification/enquiry deadline: 28 October 2026 at 16:30
• Closing date and time: 06 November 2026 at 16:30
• Compulsory briefing or site visit: none
• CSIR business hours: 08h00 to 16h30
• All dates and times are South African standard time.

Enquiries

• Unit: Strategic Procurement Unit, CSIR
• Email: [email protected]
• No named contact person or telephone number is given.
• Enquiries must be in writing and must use the RFP number and description as the subject reference.
• Enquiries close 28 October 2026 at 16:30.
• Direct contact with CSIR personnel involved in the tender is not permitted during the process.

Submission

• Method: email only
• Submission email: [email protected]
• Business hours: 08h00 to 16h30

Submission channel

• Electronic submission by email only, to [email protected].
• Two separate emails are required: Part 1 — Technical Proposal; Part 2 — Pricing Proposal and Specific Goals claim documentation.
• Each email subject must carry the RFP number and description, and every file or folder must be labelled with the RFP number.
• If the submission exceeds 25MB, split it across multiple emails.
• Files sent through cloud transfer services such as WeTransfer, Google Drive or Dropbox will not be accepted.
• File and folder names must be short and simple.
• All documents must be in English.

Closing

• Closing date and time: 06 November 2026 at 16:30 (South African standard time).
• Late submissions are rejected; submissions sent to the wrong address or email are rejected.
• Proposals must be signed by a duly authorised person, with proof of authority such as a company resolution.

Packaging

• The pricing schedule and specific goals credentials must be submitted as a separate document and must not appear in the technical proposal.
• Technical proposal contents: company profile and a detailed technical proposal.
• Financial proposal contents: completed Pricing Schedule (Annexure D) on official company letterhead, and the CSD registration report for RSA suppliers.

Returnable documents

• Annexure A — SBD 1 Invitation to Bid: signed offer cover page carrying bidder and contact details.
• Annexure B — Technical Specification.
• Annexure C — Technical Evaluation Matrix/Rubrics.
• Annexure D — Pricing Schedule: completed on official company letterhead.
• Annexure E — Proposal Form and List of Returnable Documents, including the mandatory returnable documents table.
• Annexure F — Certificate of Acquaintance with RFP.
• Annexure G — Preference Point Award Form: claims preference points.
• Annexure H — SBD 4 Declaration of Interest: discloses state employment or connections of directors, shareholders or members.
• Annexure I — RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form.
• Annexure J — Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement.
• Annexure K — Draft Service Level Agreement.
• SBD 7 contract form: signed by the successful bidder.

Disqualification risks

• Late or misdirected submissions, or submissions sent as cloud links.
• Any mandatory returnable document omitted or unsigned.
• Counter conditions raised against, or qualifications made to, the RFP conditions.
• Fronting, misrepresentation, or omission of material information.

Three-phase evaluation

• Phase 1 — Elimination: only bidders meeting every elimination criterion proceed.
• Phase 2 — Technical/functional evaluation out of 100.
• Phase 3 — Price and preference points, for bidders that pass Phase 2.

Phase 1 elimination

• Late bids.
• Bids sent to an incorrect location or email address; only [email protected] is accepted.
• Bidders listed on the National Treasury database of restricted suppliers.
• Bidders on the National Treasury Register of Tender Defaulters.
• Bidders that omit the mandatory returnable documents listed in Annexure E.

Phase 2 technical scoring (100 points)

• Implementation plan and methodology: 20
• Company experience in the design of CFB combustion systems: 20
• Client references on similar projects: 20
• Skills and experience of key personnel: 40

Minimum thresholds

• Minimum overall technical score: 70%.
• Minimum score on each individual criterion: 50%.
• Bidders below either threshold are eliminated before price and preference scoring.
• Scoring rubrics are set out in Annexure C.

Phase 3 price and preference

• Price: 80 or 90 points.
• Preference points: 20 or 10 points.
• Scored in accordance with Annexure G, Preference Point Award Form.

Objective criteria

• The CSIR may award to a bidder that did not score the highest points where the bidder's directors, shareholders or officers have not been formally charged with an offence related to the bidder.

Scope

• Multidisciplinary professional engineering services for a 500 kWt circulating fluidised bed (CFB) test facility, from design inception through detailed design to procurement-ready documentation.
• Base scope: professional engineering services for Stages 1 to 4.
• Stages 5 and 6 are provisional, activated only by written CSIR instruction subject to funding approval; there is no entitlement to perform or claim payment for them without that instruction. If the project proceeds, they may cover design support, construction monitoring, design-change management and commissioning support.
• The design must be safe, operable, maintainable and constructible, and suitable for later fabrication, installation, commissioning and performance testing.
• Purpose of the facility: demonstrate the fuel flexibility and emission control capability of a CFB combustor against a conventional pulverised coal plant.
• The programme is jointly funded by the CSIR, Eskom, SANEDI and Coaltech.

Design basis

• Thermal capacity: 500 kW.
• Primary fuel: coal; secondary fuel: biomass; coal discard and biomass assessed at a nominal higher heating value of about 8 MJ/kg.
• Operating temperature: 850°C.
• Oxidising agent: air.
• Sorbent: limestone, with dolomite also used.
• Nominated design fuel data: average coal quality at Grootvlei Coal Power Station (31 August 2010 to 31 August 2024) — moisture 3.66%, ash 30.28%, volatile matter 19.77%, fixed carbon 46.29%, carbon 52.74%, hydrogen 2.52%, nitrogen 1.28%, sulphur 0.98%, oxygen 8.55%, higher heating value 20.37 MJ/kg. Subject to verification in Stage 1.
• The design must define normal, minimum, maximum, start-up, shutdown, upset and emergency operating conditions for each approved fuel and blend.

Plant configuration

• Three sealed hoppers for coal, biomass and sorbent, each mounted on load cells so feed rates are derived from weight loss.
• Crushed coal below 6 mm, biomass and limestone below 1 mm fed by variable-speed screw feeders into the base of the combustion chamber (riser).
• Crushed silica sand of +100 to 200 microns forms the bulk of the bed material, retaining heat and controlling bed temperature.
• Major equipment: CFB combustor with internal refractory lining, cyclone, standpipe, recirculation hopper, loop seal, hoppers, screw feeders, heat exchangers, blower, start-up burner, flue gas stack, bag filter and water-cooling system.

Flue gas monitoring

• An online flue gas analysis system is required before release to atmosphere, measuring and recording: O2 0–20% vol, CO2 0–20% vol, CO 0–10 000 ppm, SO2 0–3 000 ppm, NO 0–1 000 ppm, N2O 0–1 000 ppm, NO2 0–100 ppm, CH4 0–2 000 ppm, NH3 0–5 000 ppm, HCl 0–200 ppm, HCN 0–100 ppm, and H2O/moisture 0–20% vol on a wet basis.

Design work required

• Design Basis Verification Report within the agreed inception period, recording assumptions, gaps, discrepancies, investigations, resolutions and matters needing CSIR approval; no unverified assumption may enter the detailed design without being identified and approved by the CSIR.
• Process simulations and heat and mass balances; hydraulic and pressure-drop calculations; sizing of fans, blowers, feeders, cyclone, loop seal and heat exchangers; refractory and insulation design; erosion, corrosion and materials-selection assessments; thermal-expansion and piping-stress analysis; structural load cases; electrical load schedules, short-circuit calculations and earthing design; control, alarm and safety-interlock philosophy; hazardous-area classification where applicable; and fire-risk assessment.
• Each calculation must state inputs, assumptions, applicable codes, acceptance criteria, conclusions and the responsible registered professional.
• Compliance with relevant South African standards and regulations, evidenced by a compliance matrix.
• A multidisciplinary HAZOP study on approved P&IDs and the agreed design basis, with terms of reference; all safety-critical actions incorporated before the final design package is issued, and unresolved actions listed with responsible persons and target dates.
• Materials justification for high-temperature, corrosive and erosive CFB service, with attention to scale-up potential, cost effectiveness, erosion and corrosion.
• Instrumentation sufficient for comprehensive performance monitoring and data collection.
• A commissioning philosophy and draft performance-test procedure covering pre-commissioning, cold and hot commissioning, safety-interlock testing, instrument calibration, start-up, steady-state operation, shutdown and emergency shutdown.
• A performance-test basis defining test fuel, duration, stable-operation criteria, allowable deviations, measurement locations, data-acquisition interval, measurement uncertainty, acceptance calculations and reporting.
• Final acceptance criteria covering thermal input, operating stability, controllability, material handling, emissions monitoring, safety-system functionality and completion of statutory documentation.
• Stable operation at 500 kW thermal input means sustained running at a constant design-fuel feed rate for 3 to 5 hours with excess air, air split, limestone feed and solids circulation stable.
• Alternative or improved designs may be proposed, but any deviation from the reference must be highlighted and justified.
• All final drawings require formal CSIR approval and sign-off before project close-out.

Key deliverables

• Detailed engineering drawings; process flow diagrams; piping and instrumentation diagrams; general arrangement diagrams in 3D including supporting structure and hoisting; a complete set of plant layout and component detail drawings; and sufficiently detailed isometric pipework drawings.
• Detailed process datasheets and process line lists.
• Instrument data sheets covering analysers, control valves, flow elements, level switches, on-off valves, pressure elements, temperature elements and weight sensors.
• All process, mechanical, structural, electrical and control system design calculations.
• HAZOP studies.
• Compliance matrix against relevant South African standards and regulations.
• Equipment bill of quantities or bill of materials.
• Detailed construction cost estimates.
• Signed project close-out report.

Key deliverables

• Detailed engineering drawings.
• Process flow diagrams (PFDs).
• Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
• General arrangement diagrams in 3D format.
• Complete set of drawings showing plant layout and component detail drawings.
• Sufficiently detailed isometric pipework drawings.
• Detailed process datasheets.
• Detailed process line lists.
• Instrument data sheets covering analysers, control valves, flow elements, level switches, on-off valves, pressure elements, temperature elements and weight sensors.
• All process, mechanical, structural, electrical and control system design calculations.
• Hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies.
• Compliance matrix against relevant South African standards and regulations.
• Equipment bill of quantities or bill of materials.
• Detailed construction cost estimates.
• Signed project close-out report.

Evaluation weightings for experience and personnel

• Company experience in the design of CFB combustion systems: 20 of 100.
• Client references on similar projects: 20 of 100.
• Skills and experience of key personnel: 40 of 100.
• Implementation plan and methodology: 20 of 100.
• Minimum overall technical score 70%; minimum 50% on each individual criterion.

Proposal content

• Technical proposal: company profile and a detailed technical proposal.
• Financial proposal: completed Pricing Schedule (Annexure D) on official company letterhead and, for RSA suppliers, the CSD registration report.

Service scope

• Full professional engineering services from Stages 1 to 6 for the detailed design of the 500 kWt CFB test facility, meeting all requirements in Annexure B.

Design quality expectations

• The design must be safe, operable, maintainable and constructible, and suitable for fabrication, installation, commissioning and performance testing.
• Technical evaluation is weighted out of 100: implementation plan and methodology 20, company experience in CFB combustion system design 20, client references on similar projects 20, and skills and experience of key personnel 40.

Pricing format

• Detailed pricing must follow the Pricing Schedule/Bill of Quantities in Annexure D, completed on official company letterhead.
• Prices in South African Rand, inclusive of all applicable taxes and net of all unconditional discounts.
• Escalation and exchange-rate exposure must be clearly indicated, with the currency and rate of exchange used.
• Prices must cover travel, freight, insurance until acceptance, duty where applicable and all obligations under the resulting contract.
• Payment follows the CSIR Payment Terms and Conditions.
• The pricing schedule and specific goals credentials must be submitted as a separate document and must not appear in the technical proposal.
• Pricing and calculation errors are at the bidder's own risk.

Pricing

• Prices in South African Rand, inclusive of all applicable taxes and net of all unconditional discounts.
• Escalation and exchange-rate exposure must be clearly indicated, with the currency and rate of exchange used stated.
• Prices must cover travel, freight, insurance until acceptance, duty where applicable, and all obligations under the resulting contract.
• Detailed pricing must follow the Pricing Schedule/Bill of Quantities in Annexure D, completed on official company letterhead; pricing outside that schedule is not accepted.
• The pricing schedule and specific goals credentials go in a separate document, not in the technical proposal.
• Arithmetic and pricing mistakes are at the bidder's own risk.

Payment

• Payment is made in accordance with the CSIR Payment Terms and Conditions.
• No goods or services may be delivered without an official CSIR purchase order or signed supplier agreement; invoices must quote the CSIR purchase order number or they will be returned to the supplier.

Financial due diligence

• The CSIR may call for audited financial statements or other documents to assess whether the bidder can execute the contract.

Registration and tax

• Self-registration on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database is mandatory, with the unique registration reference number supplied; only foreign suppliers with no local registered entity are exempt. Registration is done online at www.csd.gov.za.
• A SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or a printed TCS certificate must be submitted; where no TCS PIN exists but the bidder is registered on the CSD, the CSD number must be provided.
• No award to a bidder who is not tax compliant. A recommended bidder found non-compliant is notified in writing and has seven working days to provide SARS proof of compliance or of an arrangement to settle outstanding obligations, failing which the bid is rejected.
• The CSIR may withdraw an award or cancel the contract if the bidder was not tax compliant at award, submitted a fraudulent tax clearance certificate, fails CSD verification, or does not remain tax compliant for the contract term.
• No bids from persons in the service of the state, companies with such directors, or close corporations with such members.

Restricted suppliers and defaulters

• No award to bidders listed on the National Treasury database of restricted suppliers or the Register of Tender Defaulters, including where a member, director, partner or trustee is listed.

Joint ventures

• A joint venture agreement signed by both parties, naming the lead partner and the split of work.
• A valid B-BBEE certificate or consolidated B-BBEE scorecard.
• Tax Compliance Status or CSD report for each partner.
• Proof of ownership or shareholder certificates, and company registration certificates.

B-BBEE and fronting

• Preference points are claimed on the Preference Point Award Form (Annexure G); the split is 80 or 90 points for price and 20 or 10 points for preference.
• Fronting is prohibited. Where fronting indicators under the Department of Trade and Industry Guidelines on Complex Structures and Transactions and Fronting are established, the bidder must prove within 14 days that fronting does not exist; failure may invalidate the bid or contract and may bar the bidder from public-sector business for up to ten years.

Other compliance

• Affiliations, memberships and accreditations supporting the submission must be included.
• Omission of material information, factual inaccuracy or misrepresentation may disqualify the bid or cancel the contract.
• Failure to comply with any RFP term invalidates the proposal.

B-BBEE and fronting

• Preference points are claimed on the Preference Point Award Form (Annexure G); the split is 80 or 90 points for price and 20 or 10 points for preference.
• Joint ventures must submit a valid B-BBEE certificate or consolidated B-BBEE scorecard.
• Fronting is prohibited. Where fronting indicators under the Department of Trade and Industry Guidelines on Complex Structures and Transactions and Fronting are established, the bidder must prove within 14 days that fronting does not exist; failure may invalidate the bid or contract and may bar the bidder from public-sector business for up to ten years.

Safety-related design requirements

• The design must define normal, minimum, maximum, start-up, shutdown, upset and emergency operating conditions for each approved fuel and blend.
• Safety interlock design, alarm philosophy, hazardous-area classification where applicable and fire-risk assessment form part of the minimum design work.
• A multidisciplinary HAZOP study must be run on approved P&IDs and the agreed design basis; all safety-critical actions must be built into the design before the final package is issued, with unresolved actions listed with responsible persons and target dates.
• The commissioning and performance-test procedure must cover safety-interlock testing, start-up, steady-state operation, shutdown and emergency shutdown.
• Final acceptance criteria include safety-system functionality.

Scope staging

• Professional engineering services for Stages 1 to 4 form the base scope.
• Stages 5 and 6 are provisional and activated only by written CSIR instruction, subject to funding availability and approval; the bidder has no entitlement to perform, commence or claim payment for provisional services without that instruction.
• If the project proceeds to procurement, construction and commissioning, the bidder may be instructed in writing to provide design support, construction monitoring, design-change management and commissioning support.

CSIR rights

• Extend the closing date.
• Correct mistakes in the bid documents before closing or at any stage of the process.
• Carry out site inspections, product evaluations or explanatory meetings to verify the nature and quality of the offer, before or after adjudication.
• Award to a bidder that did not score the highest points, in terms of Section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA.
• Request audited financial statements or other documents for due diligence on the bidder's ability to execute.
• Award the RFP as a whole or in part, or to multiple bidders.
• Cancel or terminate the process at any stage.
• Negotiate after the tender on technical, transformation, price and contractual elements.
• Decline to award to a bidder linked to a security breach that materially harms other entities, or whose directors or officers face formal charges.

Proposal format

• Proposals must follow the format specified in the enquiry; additional or alternative proposals may be submitted alongside.
• Technical proposal: company profile and a detailed technical proposal.
• Financial proposal: completed Pricing Schedule (Annexure D) on official company letterhead and, for RSA suppliers, the CSD registration report.

Enquiries

• Written enquiries only, to the email and in the format shown on the cover page.
• Contact with CSIR personnel involved in the tender is not permitted during the process, other than through existing service arrangements or at the CSIR's request.