Expression of interest: engineering, supply, training and support of protection, control and substation automation equipment (hitachi/ge based) to ESKOM distribution

Eskom intends to establish a contract for the engineering, supply, training and support of a previously developed range of approved Protection, Control and Substation Automation Schemes (predominantly based on GE and Hitachi protection relays) including swing frame cabinets, for Eskom Distribution over up to four years. The EOI is a market-testing exercise to identify suitably qualified and capable suppliers. Background: Eskom previously concluded contracts for Phase V equipment with one supplier based on Hitachi and another on GE; due to challenges, contracts could not be extended, and Eskom intends to re-establish supply contracts with the already developed solutions.

A non-compulsory clarification meeting will take place on 20 August 2026 at 09:30 AM via MS Teams (Meeting ID: 373 343 072 495 152, Passcode: m8qM2mX6, Dial-in: +27 21 834 0825,,335961895#, Phone conference ID: 335 961 895#).

Submissions must be uploaded electronically via the Eskom E-tendering page (https://etendering.eskom.co.za) before the closing date and time. All documents must be in PDF and Excel format; upload size per document is 500 MB, total submission restricted to 4 GB. No zip/compressed files and no hard copies will be accepted. If resubmitting, only the latest version will be accepted; previous submissions become null and void. Ensure submission status is marked as complete. The EOI must be signed by a person duly authorised to act on behalf of the company. The response sheet (Part B) must be completed.

This is a market-testing exercise; no formal scoring is stated. Respondents must demonstrate capability to engineer, manufacture, supply, test, deliver, support and, where required, install the existing approved protection, control and substation automation schemes without adversely affecting design intent, functionality, performance, interoperability, safety, reliability or compatibility with Eskom's installed base. Where specific makes, models, part numbers or configurations are essential, respondents must confirm ability to supply and support them; proposed equivalents must be clearly identified with sufficient technical evidence for Eskom's assessment. Offered solutions may be inspected for preliminary short-listing; selected organisations may be invited to submit a detailed offer through a closed EOI process. Eskom reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and to amend or terminate the process.

Scope: engineering, supply, training and support of previously developed Protection, Control and Substation Automation Schemes (predominantly based on GE and Hitachi protection relays) including swing frame cabinets, for Eskom Distribution over up to four years. Supplier must review and take over responsibility for previous designs, modify designs as necessary, design new schemes aligned to existing architecture, manufacture, deliver and erect schemes including swing frame panels and PIU junction boxes, provide training, technical product support, spares and service guarantees. Required items (Table 1) include: Hitachi/GE IED training, protection relay configurations, gateway configurations, HMI configurations, networking device configurations, GPS device configurations, and various schemes (HV Feeder, Transformer, Tap Change, Multipurpose Feeder, Cable Feeder) with options and spares. Engineering drawings of approved schemes (Table 3) are available for Hitachi and IST solutions; exact part and type numbers are listed in the drawings. Drawings can be requested from Eskom and will be supplied as PDFs subject to signature of a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Respondents must demonstrate capability to reproduce and support the required schemes without adversely affecting their approved design intent, functionality, performance, interoperability, safety, reliability or compatibility with Eskom's installed base. Proposed equivalents must be supported by sufficient technical evidence for Eskom's assessment and approval.

Indicative pricing required for a 4-year production contract with estimated quantities: HV Feeder Prot Scheme (5FZD3920/5FZD5920) qty 55; Transformer Scheme (5TM3100/5TM5100) qty 40; Tap Change Scheme (5TC3100/5TC5100) qty 40; Multipurpose Feeder Scheme (5RF3100/5RF5100) qty 75; Cable Feeder Scheme (5CF3100/5CF5100) – incomer with FO diff qty 40; Low Impedance Buszone Scheme (5BP3700/5BP5700) qty 5; High Impedance Buszone Scheme (5BZ3600/5BZ5600) qty 15; Gateway Scheme with Panel Scheme and Config 5 qty 40; GPS Basic Kit qty 30. Provide combined costs of shell and scheme where applicable.

No specific compliance requirements (e.g., CSD, B-BBEE, CIDB) are stated in the document. Respondents must be suitably qualified and capable of performing the scope. A Non-Disclosure Agreement must be signed to receive engineering drawings.

This EOI is a market-testing exercise and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by Eskom to contract. Eskom reserves the right to cancel the process at any time, to reject any or all submissions, and to select or disqualify any participant without notice. Information submitted may be used by Eskom without acknowledgement and without granting the respondent any rights, including intellectual property rights. Submissions are not confidential. Respondents are solely responsible for all costs incurred in responding. Eskom is not bound to accept any submission or give reasons for decisions.

No formal evaluation criteria are stated; the EOI is for market research and short-listing. Respondents must demonstrate capability to reproduce and support the required schemes without adversely affecting design intent, functionality, performance, interoperability, safety, reliability or compatibility with Eskom's installed base. Proposed equivalents must be supported by technical evidence.

This document defines the technical evaluation criteria for assessing supplier responses to the Request for Information (RFI) for the manufacture, configuration, testing, supply, delivery, erection and training of a previously developed range of approved Protection, Control and Substation Automation Schemes (predominantly based on GE and Hitachi protection relays) including swing frame cabinets, to Eskom Distribution. The evaluation determines supplier capability in: a) manufacture, configure, supply, deliver and erection of schemes including swing frame panels based on Eskom's existing approved designs; b) modify and adapt designs for future requirements; c) provide training on Eskom's existing approved designs; d) provide technical product support, training, etc. This document applies to Eskom's Distribution Division.

The evaluation is qualitative (RFI-based) and not intended for final tender award scoring. Suppliers are assessed on documented evidence submitted in response to the RFI. A structured scoring model is used: 4 = Fully compliant, 2 = Partially compliant, 0 = Non-compliant/No Response. Evaluation categories and weights: 1) Capability to supply and support existing Eskom scheme designs by OEM/Value Added Reseller – 60%; 2) Experience with Protection and Automation scheme manufacturing, configuration, and training – 30%; 3) Ability to supply items for a proposed production contract and costing provided – 10%.

Scope: manufacture, configuration, testing, supply, delivery, erection and training of a previously developed range of approved Protection, Control and Substation Automation Schemes (predominantly based on GE and Hitachi protection relays), including swing frame cabinets, to Eskom Distribution. The supplier must be able to: a) manufacture, configure, supply, deliver and erect schemes including swing frame panels based on Eskom's existing approved designs; b) modify and adapt designs for future requirements; c) provide training on Eskom's existing approved designs; d) provide technical product support and training. The document applies to Eskom's Distribution Division.

The evaluation is qualitative (RFI-based) and not intended for final tender award scoring. Suppliers are assessed based on documented evidence submitted in response to the RFI.

Category 2 (Experience with Protection and Automation scheme manufacturing, configuration, and training) requires: evidence of previous experience in the past 2 years with manufacturing of Protection Schemes, Gateway schemes or similar type equipment as required by this contract; evidence that protection/automation schemes can be manufactured and supplied within 15 weeks (written evidence and factory layout diagram); evidence of technical expertise in configuration and support of protection and SCADA gateway devices (table with CVs as supporting evidence); evidence of technical training capabilities (table listing course details).

Category 3 (Ability to supply items for a proposed production contract as per currently accepted designs and costing provided) requires the bidder to populate tables from the RFI for the following items: Hitachi/GE IED Training; Hitachi/GE Protection relay configurations; Hitachi/GE Gateway configurations; Hitachi/GE HMI configurations; Networking device configurations; GPS device configurations; P2. HV Feeder Scheme (5FZD3xxx or 5FZD5xxx) and all associated options and spares; P3. Transformer Scheme (5TM3x00, 5TM5x00) and all associated options and spares; P4. Tap Change Scheme (5TC3x00, 5TC5x00) and all associated options and spares; P5. Multipurpose Feeder Scheme (5RF/BC/EG3x00, 5RF/BC/EG5x00) and all associated options and spares; P6. Cable Feeder Scheme (5CF/BS/VT31x0, 5CF/BS/VT51x0) and all associated options and spares; P7. Low Impedance Buszone Protection (5BP3x00, 5BP5x00) and all associated options and spares; P8. High Impedance Busbar Protection (5BZ3x00, 5BZ5x00) and all associated options and spares; P12. Substation Gateway (5AGW3x00, 5AGW5x00); P13. Pole Mount Gateway (5AGW3300, 5AGW5x00); P1 and P15. Networking Devices (Switches, Routers, Serial Port Servers) all associated options and spares; P16. GPS Time Synchronisation Devices all associated options and spares; Junction Boxes (5JB3x00 and 5JB5x00) all associated options and spares; Swing Frame Panels all associated options and spares; Transport and Erection of Panels; Costing Table populated.

For category 1 (Capability to supply and support existing Eskom scheme designs), the bidder must provide: a letter from the OEM/VAR confirming that the Hitachi/GE IEDs required for this contract can be supplied timeously; and a letter from the OEM and/or VAR confirming that the Hitachi/GE IEDs supplied can be supported and that guarantees/warranties will be upheld by the OEM.

The contract requires that the Hitachi/GE IEDs supplied can be supported and that guarantees/warranties will be upheld by the OEM.