Panel of electrical substation testing & repair contractors (CIDB 3EP-9EP) for alfred duma municipality – 3-Year contract

The contract involves the appointment of a panel of contractors (CIDB Grade 3EP to 9EP) to provide specialised technical testing and repair services for electrical substations’ primary and secondary plant apparatus to Alfred Duma Local Municipality for three years. Services include transformer assessment/refurbishment, load flow/protection studies, housekeeping, relay testing, battery charger maintenance, and training. Contractors will be assigned specific tasks as required by the municipality. Joint ventures are permitted where a single company does not meet the required standards.

Compulsory briefing session: 15 June 2026 at 10:00 am, Legal Services Boardroom, Lister Clarence Building, 221 Murchison Street, Ladysmith. Bid closing and opening: 7 July 2026 at 11:00 am, Room 206, Lister Clarence Building, 221 Murchison Street, Ladysmith. Bid documents available from 4 June 2026 on the National Treasury e-Tender Portal (www.etenders.gov.za).

Bid enquiries: Mr S Hadebe, Infrastructure & Technical Services, telephone: (036) 637 2231, extension 0787. Submission address: Bid box at Public Entrance Door, Ground Floor, Lister Clarence Building, 221 Murchison Street, Ladysmith. Postal address: P O Box 29, Ladysmith, 3370.

Submit sealed bids in the official bid box at the Public Entrance Door, Ground Floor, Lister Clarence Building, 221 Murchison Street, Ladysmith by 11:00 am on 7 July 2026. Bids must be clearly marked with the contract number (IATS 2025/2026/10) and bidder details. Fax or email submissions are not accepted. Mandatory documents: original bid form (fully completed in black ink, signed), Municipal Rates and Service Charges/Water Statements, Joint Venture Agreement (if applicable), CSD Report, and B-BBEE Certificate/Sworn Affidavit. Corrections must be crossed out in ink and initialed; correcting fluid is prohibited. All pages and annexures must be signed. Failure to attend the compulsory briefing on 15 June 2026 at 10:00 am invalidates the bid.

Evaluation uses the 80/20 preferential points system: 80 points for price, 20 points for B-BBEE Ownership (5 points for HDI ownership, 15 points for local presence in Alfred Duma Municipality). Functionality criteria (100 points total) include: Technical Team and Expertise (30 points: PrEng registration for Lead Electrical Engineer, experience of Primary Plant Specialist, ECSA-registered technicians), Previous Similar Experience (25 points: number of completed primary/secondary plant projects), Testing Equipment (20 points: Omicron CMC 356, High Voltage Insulation Tester, Omicron CPC 100, CT Analyzer), Methodology and Work Plan (20 points), Health/Safety/Environmental Compliance (5 points). Minimum 90% score required to advance to the second evaluation round. Evidence required: CVs, certified qualifications, ECSA registration certificates, appointment letters, completion certificates, equipment lists, calibration certificates, and proof of equipment ownership/access.

Scope: Provide specialised technical testing and repair services for electrical substations’ primary and secondary plant apparatus. Key deliverables: Transformer assessment and refurbishment (visual/identification tests, electrical testing, oil testing, condition reports, mechanical/electrical refurbishment, transport/installation/commissioning, documentation, training). Load Flow Analysis and Protection Study (132kV and 11kV networks using PowerMaster® or DigSilent, protection settings, grading curves). Housekeeping (132kV/11kV panels, terminal connections, wiring cubicles, CT/VT data recording). Protection Relays (OC/EF, DIFF/SOLKOR: cleaning, testing, functional checks, secondary injection, trip speed testing). 132kV Panels (housekeeping, transformer protection tests). Battery Chargers (1st/2nd line maintenance, testing, load tests). Training (protection philosophy, CT testing, relay testing, load flow calculations). Standards: IEC 60076, SANS, SABS. Materials: Must comply with SABS; preference for South African manufactured goods. Performance: Minimal downtime, coordinated outages, OEM-approved components.

Bidder must submit a detailed and structured methodology aligned to transformer refurbishment (20 points). Poor or generic submissions score 5 points. Methodology should cover assessment, testing, refurbishment, transport, installation, commissioning, documentation, and training. Work plans must align with IEC/SANS standards and OEM tolerances.

Technical Team and Expertise (30 points): Lead Electrical Engineer (PrEng registration: 10 points; Candidate Engineer with relevant experience: 5 points; No registration: 0 points). Primary Plant Specialist (+10 years experience: 10 points; 5–10 years: 5 points; <5 years: 0 points). Supporting Technical Team (ECSA-registered Technician: 10 points; No registration with experience: 5 points; No experience/registration: 0 points). Previous Similar Experience (25 points): 5+ projects: 25 points; 3–4 projects: 15 points; 1–2 projects: 5 points; 0 projects: 0 points. Evidence required: CVs, certified qualifications, ECSA registration certificates, appointment letters, completion certificates, and contactable references (no subcontracting letters).

All work must comply with IEC 60076 series, SANS, and SABS standards. Materials must be the best obtainable for their duties and adapted for specific use; preference for South African manufactured goods. Inspections/tests: Supplier premises open for inspections at reasonable hours; pre-bidding testing costs borne by bidder. If goods/services fail inspections, supplier bears costs and must replace non-compliant items. Purchaser may reject non-compliant goods/services. Supplier must permit record audits by purchaser-appointed auditors. Intellectual property: All documentation/projects developed for the municipality vest with the municipality.

Pricing must include VAT and remain valid for 120 days from bid closing. Bid documents must be completed in black ink; all pages and annexures signed. Prices must be legible. If items are not bid for, a line must be drawn through the space in pen. Payment terms: Invoices with delivery notes, payment within 30 days. No price variations allowed except as authorized. Local suppliers responsible for all taxes/duties until delivery; foreign suppliers responsible for all taxes/duties outside South Africa. SARS clearance certificate required prior to award.

Prices must include VAT and remain valid for 120 days from bid closing. Payment terms: Invoices with delivery notes, payment within 30 days of submission. No escalation allowed. Penalties: R500.00 per month for missed milestones. Performance security: Required within 30 days of contract award (bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit, or cashier’s cheque). Tax compliance: SARS clearance certificate required; no contracts awarded to bidders with tax or municipal arrears. Local suppliers responsible for all taxes/duties until delivery. Foreign suppliers responsible for all taxes/duties outside South Africa.

Mandatory: CIDB Grading 3EP to 9EP (Electrical Engineering – Power). CSD registration (active). B-BBEE Certificate/Sworn Affidavit. Tax compliance (SARS clearance). Municipal compliance (no arrears on rates/taxes/services). Joint Venture Agreement (if applicable, signed by all parties). Proof of municipal rates/taxes payment or Tribal Authority/lease agreement. Disqualifiers: Failure to attend compulsory briefing, incomplete/unsigned bid documents, late submissions, fax/email submissions, non-compliance with tax/municipal obligations, fraud/corruption convictions in past 5 years, or listing on National Treasury’s tender defaulter database. Pre-Qualification document completion is compulsory.

Compliance required with Occupational Health and Safety Act and environmental regulations (oil handling/disposal). Supplier must provide: Comprehensive Safety Plan and Risk Assessment, spill containment measures, safe disposal of contaminated oil/materials, and site safety supervision at all times. Environmental compliance includes oil disposal and spill control. All work must ensure minimal downtime and coordinated outages.

Contract duration: 3 years from signing. Payment: As per agreed project milestones on inception report; no escalation. Penalties: R500.00/month for missed milestones. Funding: Alfred Duma Local Municipality (service providers notified if external funds are secured). Dispute resolution: Mediation by Municipality/independent person, then South African court if unresolved. Performance security: Required within 30 days of award (bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit, or cashier’s cheque). Warranty: 12 months for goods/services. Variation orders: Allowed for changes ≤15% of contract value without price escalation. Termination: For default, insolvency, or force majeure (with written notice). Subcontracts: Must be notified in writing; supplier remains liable. Assignment: Requires purchaser’s written consent. Governing law: South African law; contract language: English.

Functionality evaluation (100 points total): Technical Team and Expertise (30 points: Lead Electrical Engineer PrEng/Candidate Engineer/No Registration; Primary Plant Specialist +10/5/<5 years; Supporting Team ECSA-registered/No registration with exp/No exp). Previous Similar Experience (25 points: 5+/3-4/1-2/0 projects). Testing Equipment (20 points: Omicron CMC 356, High Voltage Insulation Tester, Omicron CPC 100, CT Analyzer). Methodology and Work Plan (20 points: detailed/structured vs poor/generic). Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance (5 points: Safety Plan/Risk Assessment, Environmental compliance). Preferential points (20 total): 80/20 system (80 price, 20 B-BBEE Ownership: 5 HDI, 15 local presence in Alfred Duma Municipality). Minimum 90% functionality score required to advance.