Construction plant hire services – port of durban (36-Month RFP)

Closing date: 18 November 2026 at 14:00

Briefing session: 27 October 2026 at 10:00 (non-compulsory, virtual via Microsoft Teams, ±1 hour)

• Meeting ID: 310 413 632 709 688, Passcode: 9Nj7t3YA
• Confirm attendance and send contact details to [email protected]

Clarification deadline: 09 November 2026 at 12:00 (submit RFP Clarification Request Form to Nozipho Khumalo)

Bid validity: 180 business days from closing date

Non-compulsory virtual briefing on 27 October 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams, ±1 hour. Meeting ID: 310 413 632 709 688, Passcode: 9Nj7t3YA. Confirm attendance to [email protected].

Technical and bidding procedure enquiries:

• Contact: Nozipho Khumalo
• Email: [email protected]

Complaints (before or after closing):

• Email: [email protected]

After closing date, communication only with BEC chairperson at [email protected]

Submission method: Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/).

• Register or sign in, then click "ADVERTISED TENDERS" and toggle "Log an Intent" to activate submission.
• Upload bid documents against the tender; each upload up to 30 MB, multiple uploads allowed.
• Complete all pricing electronically in the eSupplier portal; no paper pricing schedules accepted.
• Submit at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; Transnet not liable for bidder's own technical problems.
• Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Each company must register and submit under its own profile; submitting through another company's profile leads to disqualification.
• For a Joint Venture, any JV party may submit using its registered profile.
• Sign, stamp and date the bottom of each page before uploading; the signatory must be legally authorised (proof of authority, e.g. company resolution, required).
• All returnable documents listed in Section 5 must be returned with the proposal.
• Returnable documents include: SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), Section 5 Proposal Form and List of Returnable Documents, Section 6 Certificate of Acquaintance, Section 7 RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form, Section 8 RFP Clarification Request Form, Section 9 Specific Goals Points Claim Form, Section 11 Protection of Personal Information, and Annexure J electronic pricing schedule.
• A valid SABS/SANS standards certificate for all construction plants is mandatory; failure to submit for any plant disqualifies the bid.
• Bidders must not alter, add or delete RFP documents except as allowed; additional conditions must be in an accompanying letter.
• Bids are deemed offers; any exceptions must be clearly stated.

Evaluation stages:

• Stage 1: Administrative and substantive responsiveness – checks timely submission, completeness of returnable documents, valid signatures, priced offer for all items, material compliance with scope, and technical pre-qualification (valid SABS/SANS certificate for all plants). Failure to pass this stage disqualifies.
• Stage 2: Technical/functionality minimum threshold – 60 points out of 100. Criteria: Maintenance history (40 points), Company Experience (30 points), Plants Availability (30 points), as per Annexure D. Technical scores rounded to 2 decimal places.
• Stage 3: Final weighted scoring – Price (80/90 points) using formula PS = 80(1 - (Pt-Pmin)/Pmin) or PS = 90(1 - (Pt-Pmin)/Pmin); Specific Goals (20/10 points) per Section 9 claim form.
• Stage 4: Price negotiations if the highest-ranked bidder's price is not market-related; sequential negotiation with 2nd and 3rd ranked bidders, or cancellation.
• Stage 5: Objective criteria may justify award to a bidder other than the highest scorer (e.g., poor past performance, underquoted price, integrity pact breach, probity risks, insolvency, conflicts of interest).
• Stage 6: Award and contract conclusion.
• Minimum qualifying score for technical: 60/100.

Scope: Provision of construction plant hire services on an as-and-when-required basis at the Port of Durban for 36 months.

• Detailed scope and plant specifications in Annexure C.
• Service provider must have a proven track record.
• Service level: 95% on random quality/specification checks and on-time delivery.
• Environmental: Transnet seeks understanding of bidder's environmental commitments, including waste disposal, recycling and energy conservation.
• Subcontracting: winning bidder must sub-contract a minimum of 30% of total contract value to South African companies that are EMEs and/or QSEs 51% black-owned.

The service provider must share Transnet's mission and business objectives, working in a partnership of teamwork, joint participation, flexibility, innovation and open communication. The provider must study current processes to enhance practices and support systems.

Technical evaluation criteria: Maintenance history (40 points), Company Experience (30 points), Plants Availability (30 points), as per Annexure D. Minimum qualifying score of 60 points required. Bidders must demonstrate a proven track record.

Pricing must be completed electronically in the Transnet eSupplier portal; no paper schedules accepted. Prices in ZAR inclusive of VAT. Rate-based schedule; quantities are estimates. Prices fixed for first 12 months, then annual CPI escalation (Stats SA P0141). Any disbursement not priced will not be accepted. Discounts only considered if unconditional.

Pricing must be completed electronically in the Transnet eSupplier portal; no paper pricing schedules accepted.

• Prices quoted in South African Rand inclusive of VAT.
• Pricing schedule is rate-based; quantities are estimates only; orders on as-and-when-required basis.
• All items in the pricing schedule must be priced; failure to price all items may result in disqualification.
• Prices fixed for first 12 months; annual escalation based on CPI (Stats SA Publication P0141, Headline CPI) applied at each anniversary.
• Any disbursement not specifically priced will not be accepted.
• Discounts considered only if unconditional.
• Transnet may negotiate market-related price with highest-ranked bidder, then 2nd and 3rd, or cancel the RFP.
• Delivery lead time from purchase order must be stated.

CSD registration: Required (self-register at https://secure.csd.gov.za); foreign suppliers with no local entity exempt.

Tax compliance: Must have valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or CSD number; tax matters must be in order. Each JV/consortium/subcontractor party must submit separate TCS/CSD.

B-BBEE: Submit B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) as per SBD 1; JV evaluated on consolidated scorecard.

SABS/SANS: Valid certificate for all construction plants as per scope of work; mandatory pre-qualification.

Employment Equity Act: Must comply, including Section 53.

Supplier Integrity Pact and Non-Disclosure Agreement: Must be signed.

Security clearance: Successful bidder, personnel and subcontractors may need CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET clearance.

Legal review: Proposal terms subject to review; material deviation may disqualify.

No collusion, no canvassing of Transnet officers between closing and award.

Must not be restricted from doing business with organs of state.

Must not be insolvent, in receivership, under business rescue, or wound up.

Must have legal capacity and no conflicts of interest.

Foreign suppliers: Complete questionnaire in SBD 1; if no local presence, tax PIN not required.

Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act is required. The bidder must address risks related to quality, continuity of supply, and OHS compliance in the proposal. Annexure I provides the Health and Safety Specification.

Transnet requires an understanding of the bidder's environmental commitments, including waste disposal, recycling and energy conservation. ESG information may be requested for record and analysis, not for evaluation.

Contract will be based on Transnet's Master Agreement, General Bid Conditions, and other annexures. Material deviation from standard terms may lead to disqualification. The successful bidder must contract on transformation initiatives, including subcontracting at least 30% of contract value to EMEs/QSEs 51% black-owned. Failure to meet this condition may prevent contract conclusion. Transnet may cancel the contract and place the bidder on the restricted suppliers database for up to 10 years if incorrect information was provided. The bidder must maintain required insurance and renewals; failure may lead to immediate termination. The contract is subject to South African law and jurisdiction.

Winning bidder must sub-contract a minimum of 30% of total contract value to South African EMEs and/or QSEs 51% black-owned. Failure to meet this condition may prevent contract conclusion.

Technical pre-qualification: Valid SABS/SANS standards certificate for all construction plants as per scope of work. Failure to submit for any plant results in disqualification.

Evaluation stages: Stage 1 responsiveness, Stage 2 technical threshold (60 points), Stage 3 weighted scoring (price 80/90, specific goals 20/10), Stage 4 price negotiation, Stage 5 objective criteria, Stage 6 award.