Research on underground mine conveyor belt fire prevention – gauteng tender

APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH PROJECT COE 190401 “INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL CAUSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEASURES TO PREVENT, DETECT AND COMBAT CONVEYOR BELT FIRES IN INCLINED EXCAVATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINES” Bid Number MHSC010/2026-2027 Date 05 June 2026 Closing Date 06 July 2026 Closing Time 11h00 am

{"closingDate":"06 July 2026","closingTime":"11h00","briefingSession":"{\"date\":null,\"time\":\"10:00 am\",\"venue\":null,\"is_compulsory\":false}"}

Non-Compulsory Date: 19 June 2026 Briefing Session Time: 10:00 am Microsoft Teams https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/381343815879445?p=my2E8mVk6gr7Wy4ac1

{"name":null,"email":"[email protected]","phone":null,"department":"of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) on mine health and safety (MHS)","address":"sal and other recurrent"}

Returnable Documents: Submission of fully completed Invitation to Bid (SBD 1) Comply Do Not comply, Fully completed SBD 6.1 (Preference Claim Form), Comply Do Not comply, Bidder must complete the detailed pricing Schedule (SBD Comply Do Not comply, UNDERGROUND MINES (CV STATING NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Bid Document Delivery The Tender box Address:

• B7 Maple Place, 145 Western Service Road, Woodmead, Sandton, 2080 Bidders should ensure that bids are delivered timeously to the correct delivery address. If the bid is late, it will NOT be accepted for consideration by MHSC. The tender box is generally open weekdays at the below delivery address.

1.1 Introduction to the mine health and safety council

The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) is a national public entity (Schedule 3A) established in terms

of the Mine Health and Safety Act, No. , as amended. The MHSC is mandated to advise the

Minister of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) on mine health and safety (MHS)

issues in the mining industry, relating to the development and implementation of the MHSC annual MHS

research programme, reviewing and development of MHS legislation and dissemination (knowledge and

technology transfer) of MHSC research outcomes to improve MHS conditions in the South African Mining

Industry (SAMI).

Underground conveyor belts play a vital role in the efficient transport of ore and waste material in the mining

industry. However, due to the presence of flammable materials, heat sources, and constrained ventilation

conditions, conveyor systems also present significant fire risks, especially in inclined excavations where heat

and smoke dynamics are more complex (Smith & Wu, 2022). Fire incidents involving these systems have

been responsible for several fatalities and major operational disruptions, both locally in South Africa and

internationally, highlighting a critical need for improved prevention, early detection, and suppression systems

(Dmre, 2022).

South Africa has witnessed several underground conveyor belt fires with tragic outcomes. One of the most

notable cases involved an underground platinum mine, where a conveyor belt fire resulted in the deaths of

multiple mineworkers. Investigations revealed that although fire-retardant belting was used, inadequate fire

detection, poor airflow management, and delayed suppression contributed to the severity of the incident.

Similarly, at another underground platinum mine, a fire originating from a conveyor belt spread rapidly due

to the presence of combustible dust and ineffective early-warning systems. These incidents highlight not only

the limitations of current fire-retardant materials under certain underground conditions but also the lack of a

comprehensive design framework for conveyor belt systems in inclined excavations (Zhou et al., 2020).

It has become apparent that the fire dynamics of flammable materials, which formed part of such

conflagrations are not always fully understood. Investigations into these incidents have resulted in a number

of aspects being highlighted which have a marked impact on the rate of propagation, the fire intensity levels

and the general dynamics of fire products arising from such scenarios (Drysdale, 2011).

Globally, underground conveyor belt fires have also caused significant loss of life and operational failures. A

landmark case often cited in fire dynamics literature is the King’s Cross Station fire in London, which, while

not a mining event, involved a sloped underground tunnel and exemplified how heat and smoke can behave

unpredictably in inclined confined spaces (Drysdale, 2011). The fire led to the deaths of 31 people, including

firefighters, and sparked major reforms in underground fire safety practices.

In China, studies have documented multiple conveyor-related fire incidents in coal mines where rubberised

belting, poor housekeeping, and faulty electrical installations served as ignition points (Zhou et al., 2020).

These events have prompted research into better sensor placement and airflow control to prevent fire

propagation in enclosed, sloped mine sections.

Furthermore, according to the outcomes of the investigations into the King’s Cross disaster as well as the

abovementioned local incidents, factors that have become apparent as being of particular importance are:

• The type of belting and flammable materials within the installation.
• The fire loading within the excavation.
• The inclination of the installation/excavation (including potential “troughing” effects).
• The size, shape and length of the excavation. The synergistic effects of connected excavations such

as lateral crosscuts, box holes, air passes and cross belts and their potential contribution to the

spread of the fire and combustion products.

• The direction and velocity of the airflow within the excavation.
• The positioning of early detection and warning installations.
• The position, capacity and effectiveness of the fire suppression systems and other fire combating

devices (Drysdale, 2011; Smith & Wu, 2022).

Additionally, inclined excavations pose unique risks, as they accelerate the upward movement of heat and

smoke, potentially cutting off escape routes and overwhelming localized suppression systems (Smith & Wu,

2022). Fire detection and suppression standards like NFPA 120 and 122 stress the importance of installing

flame- and smoke-detection sensors at regular intervals, as well as using automated suppression at drive

and transfer points (NFPA, 2023). Research over many years has focused on reducing conveyor belt fire

hazards, particularly the flammability and flame-spread behavior of rubberised belting (ISO 340:2022). This

work led to standards requiring the use of fire-retardant belts in mines, such as SANS 971 and SANS 1366

in South Africa and MSHA Part 14 in the United States (MSHA, 2008). However, incidents still occur, mainly

due to poor maintenance or non-compliant belts (DMRE, 2022).

With the exclusion of one (partly completed test), no significant testing of belts located in inclined planes

within tunnel enclosures could be sourced in the available literature and, as such, the effect of excavation

inclination together with down-casting or up-casting air currents through the excavation has not been

effectively quantified or sufficiently studied to provide definitive design and protective parameters for such

installations. Currently, there is a lack of guidance on the application of parameters such as, for example,

optimal air velocity and location of fire detection sensors within such geometries and on how these should

be considered to reduce risk levels both in new and existing installations alike.

In addition, the abovementioned research indicates that the fire dynamics that could possibly be set up and

the way in which active fire propagates both up and down decline systems can result in totally unpredictable

situations which have the potential of rapidly affecting the safety of any person within or in proximity of these

sites. The effective detection and timely warning in respect of these occurrences as well as the means of

determining the location of an active fire site accurately, have also been demonstrated to be challenging

under these conditions. Thus, it is envisaged that a design and assessment tool can aid to improve

underground conveyor belt fire emergency preparedness and response plans and scenario planning.

This research is expected to lead to more targeted and practical guidance for mine ventilation, engineering,

and fire safety professionals, particularly in relation to risk treatment strategies and key design considerations

for both new and modified inclined conveyor installations.

2. Part a: the contract

2.1 Context of this procurement

The MHSC seeks to appoint a service provider to undertake research project CoE 190401 “Investigation of

the potential causes and the development of the measures to prevent, detect and combat conveyor belt fires

in inclined excavations in underground mines”.

2.2 Contract period

The estimated duration of the project is 18 months. The 15 months will be allocated towards research work

and 3 months on MHSC administrative duties.

2.3 Detailed specifications/scope of work

2.3.1 Conduct a literature review, both nationally and internationally, on the potential causes and the

development of the measures to prevent, detect and combat conveyor belt fires in inclined

excavations in underground mines and related industries. The review should include consideration

of the following:

• The existing standards, legislation, codes of practice, and best practices (national and

international) relating to conveyor belt installations and associated fire protection systems.

• The previous research studies on conveyor belt fires in both underground and surface

mining environments, regardless of whether the conveyors are located in inclined

excavations.

• The findings and recommendations from published or available investigation reports

relating to conveyor belt fires in mines or other relevant underground settings.

• The existing empirical and modelling studies, including computational fluid dynamics

(CFD) simulations, to enhance understanding of fire behaviour in inclined excavations,

specifically focusing on:

▪ Fire dynamics and the influence of physical and environmental factors.

▪ Types and quantities of contaminants produced during such fires.

▪ Thermal impacts on critical infrastructure, including fire detection systems, and how

these systems interpret data during fire events.

▪ Expected performance and effectiveness of various fire suppression systems under

different operational and environmental conditions.

2.3.2 Develop improved minimum design requirements to serve as a baseline and establish alternative

design options through consultation with relevant stakeholders. These designs should provide

enhanced, application-specific guidance for mine ventilation, engineering, and fire safety

professionals regarding the layout of rubberized conveyor belt systems in inclined excavations.

2.3.3 Develop an assessment tool which can be used to assess the effectiveness of the designs

developed in 2.3.2.

2.3.4 Conduct a hybrid stakeholder workshop arranged and hosted by the service provider in Gauteng

to present preliminary findings/outputs and solicit further inputs.

2.3.5 Test the designs developed in 2.3.2 in a controlled physical simulation environment. Use the

assessment tool to identify any design shortcomings, and implement targeted modifications to

address and resolve these deficiencies.

2.4 Expected reseach outcomes

The expected outcomes of the research are as follows:

2.4.1 Report on the literature review as outlined in 2.3.1.

2.4.2 Report on of the improved designs as outlined in 2.3.2.

2.4.3 Report on the developed assessment tool as outlined in 2.3.3.

2.4.4 Report on the conducted stakeholder workshop 2.3.4.

2.4.5 Report of the test results as outlined in 2.3.5.

2.4.6 Draft final report.

2.4.7 Final report.

3. Part b: the pricing

Pricing instructions

1. Applicable currency: All prices shall be quoted in South African Rand (R).

2. Completion of pricing schedule: Bidders shall complete the pricing schedule in full, inserting

all the information required therein.

3. Price Quotation Basis: total prices quoted must be inclusive of all applicable taxes including

VAT, less all unconditional discounts, plus all costs to deliver the services and/or goods. Where

imported goods/services are to be used, and pricing is subject to exchange rate fluctuations,

the exchange currency against the Rand must be stipulated, as well as the exchange rate at

the time of bidding. The portion of the bid price subject to exchange rate fluctuations must be

stated.

4. Submission of pricing: bidders must submit their pricing proposals with the technical proposal.

The pricing folder must be clearly labelled as such.

BID PRICE SCHEDULE (SBD 3.1 Firm Unit Prices)

The following Schedule of Prices must be completed by the Tenderer. The total price must include

everything necessary to complete the terms of the Specifications or scope of work.

Activities as per expected project outcome estimated price

Project initiation. R

Report on the literature review. R

Report on of the improved designs. R

Report on the developed assessment tool. R

Report on the conducted stakeholder workshop. R

Report of the test results. R

Draft final report. R

Final report. R

Total excluding VAT r

VAT r

Total including VAT r

TOTAL BID PRICE (VAT Inclusive): R..........................................................

Prices quoted are fully inclusive of all costs including applicable taxes and disbursements and

other overheads. (Please note that all prices quoted should be inclusive of Value Added Tax

(VAT) for the duration of the contract. Where applicable the price should include Supply, Delivery,

Maintenance, and any other costs relating to this bid.

Price changes whether because of CPI, PPI, industry extensions or expansions will be allowed in

terms of the signed contract by both parties.)

4. Part c: bid selection process

4.1 Bid preparation and submission

4.1.1 Number of bid documents: 1 X Original and 2 X copies of the same original (Hard

copies) – Three.

4.1.2 Number of bid documents: 1 X (Electronic Copy) of the original document in PDF (USB)

– One.

4.1.3 Number of Bid documents: 1 X pricing proposal (Hard copy) – One.

NB: Both technical proposal and pricing proposal must be submitted separately (two

envelope system).

A digital version on USB containing the bid document and all other supporting

documents (fully submitted bid proposal with its attachments) must be provided of all

tender documentation within the bid envelope. These serve as the original sets of bid

documents and form part of the contract.

4.2 Bid closing

4.2.1 There shall be no public opening by the MHSC of the bids received.

4.2.2 There shall be no discussions with any enterprise until evaluation and

adjudication of the proposal has been complete.

4.2.3 Any subsequent discussions shall be at the discretion of MHSC. Unless specifically

provided for in the proposal document, bids submitted by means of telegram, telex,

facsimile or similar means shall not be considered by MHSC.

4.2.4 All bids shall close on the specified date and time as stipulated in the bid document.

4.2.5 Bids received after closing time and date will be classified as LATE and will not be

considered.

4.2.6 Bids submitted in any other manner other than the specified address (tender box)

shall not be accepted.

4.3 Administrative compliance (returnable documents)

Administrative compliance/responsiveness will be tested based on returnable documents

submitted and signatures on the Bid documents.

At this stage the verification is to review bid responses for purposes of assessing compliance and

governance with RFB requirements, whereby a bidder will be disqualified if they do not fully

comply, it must be determined what documents are required to be returned by Bidders.

Bids will be verified for compliance with the procedural requirements of the bid, which entails the

completion and/or submission of the returnable documents and schedules specified in the

Returnable Documents and Schedules Checklist below. No award will be done without

complete provision of returnable documents and any schedules.

Returnable documents are categorized as follows:

Submission of fully completed Invitation to Bid (SBD 1) Comply Do Not comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed and signed SBD1 (Invitation to Bid)

Fully completed and signed Bidders’ Disclosure form (SBD Comply Do Not comply

4)

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed and signed Bidders Disclosure

(Sbd 4)

Fully completed SBD 6.1 (Preference Claim Form), Comply Do Not comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed preference claim form, points must be

correctly claimed and the points for the specific goals must be supported by a valid B-BBEE

certificate or a certified sworn affidavit. Bidders should ensure the points are correctly claimed for the

specific goals and information is captured correctly and information is true. False information may

result in the bid being disqualified.

Bidder must complete the detailed pricing Schedule (SBD Comply Do Not comply

3)

Substantiation: The bidder must submit and attach to the bid response fully completed pricing

Schedule (SBD 3)

The recommended bidder, where applicable, will be requested to sign and complete the

SBD 7 contract form upon award.

Submission of fully completed Contract Form (where Comply Do Not

applicable) comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit and attach the fully completed and signed and

initialled SBD 7 (Contract form)

4.4 Mandatory compliance – central supplier database

Bidders are required to be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) of National

Treasury prior to submitting their bid (open tenders). Failure to being registered on the CSD

and failure to submit the requested proof of registration on CSD information will lead to

disqualification. (Please provide proof of registration on the Central Supplier Database). Only

suppliers who are registered with the Central Supplier Database (CSD) will be considered for

this bid. Bidders who are not registered on CSD, will be disqualified.

4.5 Mandatory compliance – tax status verification

Bidders are required to submit their tax compliance status with their bid in the form of a Tax

Verification PIN from SARS or CSD supplier number which must be captured in the SBD 1.

MHSC only conducts business with bidders whose tax matters are in order. Failure to comply in

terms of tax obligations will render your bid non-responsive and disqualified. It is the responsibility

of the bidder to ensure they are tax compliant at time of submitting their response.

4.6 Protection of personal information act, (popia)

MHSC adheres to the Protection of Personal Information Act, (POPIA) requirements

regarding personal information which came into effect 1 July 2021. As MHSC, we are committed

to protecting your privacy and ensuring that personal information collected is used properly,

lawfully, and transparently.

4.7 Occupational health and safety

The service provider acknowledges that he is fully aware of the provisions of the Mine Health and

Safety Act .MHSC promotes a culture of occupational health and safety in the mining

industry. The service provider acknowledges that he is fully aware of the provisions of the OHS

Act and that he is an employer in his own right with duties and responsibilities as

prescribed in the Act.

5. Part d: bid evaluation process

The evaluation process will be conducted in various stages. To move to the next stage of evaluation,

the previous stage of evaluation must have been fully complied with.

5.1 Required experience

The service provider must have at least 5 years’ experience in conducting applied research and the

project team must have members with expertise in the following areas:

5.1.1 Mine Ventilation Engineer or Environmental Control Engineer with a minimum of 10 years of

experience in the design, installation, and assessment of conveyor belt systems and fire

protection systems within inclined excavations in underground mines.

5.1.2 Mechanical Engineer with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the design, installation, and

maintenance of conveyor belt systems and fire suppression systems in inclined underground

mine environments.

NB: Bidders should note that the above is not an evaluation criterion, however bidders should

take note of the requirements to be able to render the services. The evaluation criteria are

stipulated in the next section below.

References

• DMRE (2022) Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate Annual Report. Department of Mineral

Resources and Energy, Pretoria.

• Drysdale, D. (2011) An Introduction to Fire Dynamics. 3rd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
• ISO 340:2022 Conveyor belts — Laboratory scale flammability characteristics — Requirements

and test method. International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva.

• MSHA (2008) 30 CFR Part 14 – Test and Evaluation of Mining Belts. Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

• NFPA (2023) NFPA 120: Standard for Fire Prevention and Control in Metal/Nonmetal Mining

and NFPA 122: Standard for Fire Prevention and Control in Coal Mining. National Fire

Protection Association, Quincy, MA.

• Smith, J. & Wu, L. (2022) ‘Heat transfer and smoke migration in inclined underground

excavations’, Journal of Fire Safety Engineering, 18(4), pp. 233–247.

• Zhou, H., Li, X., Wang, D. & Chen, J. (2020) ‘Analysis of conveyor belt fire incidents in Chinese

coal mines’, Safety in Mines Research Journal, 51(2), pp. 45–59.

5.2 Evaluation process

The evaluation process will comprise of the following phases:

• Phase 1: Functionality Evaluation.
• Phase 2: Pricing and Specific goals Evaluation

5.2.1 Functionality/technical evaluation phase 1

For the proposal to be considered for the next level of evaluation, bidders must score minimum of 70%

overall in the below technical/functional evaluation criteria in order to progress to the next evaluation

phase.

The tender will be evaluated in accordance with PPPFA in line with the following functional criteria on 80/20

principle.

NO criteria weighting

1 criteria 1: company experience 5

Experience of the service provider / collaborator in applied

Research or consulting (company profile stating number of

Years in applied research or consulting must be attached):

• More than 5 years’ experience of the service provider in applied research = 5

points

• 5 years’ experience of the service provider in applied research = 3 points
• Less than 5 years’ experience and no company profile = 0 points

2 criteria 2: reference letters 5

Signed and verifiable reference letters on valid letter heads

With contactable details from organisations where previous

Similar or related research work was conducted by the

Service provider (attach verifiable reference letters):

• 5 or more reference letters = 5 points
• 4 reference letters = 4 points
• 3 reference letters = 3 points
• Less than 3 reference letters or no reference letters = 0 points

Note: Letters that do not meet all the criteria as stipulated above will not be

considered, and will qualify for 0 points

3 criteria 3: team member experience in mine ventilation 15

Engineering or environmental control engineering

Mine ventilation engineer or environmental control engineer

With a minimum of 10 years of experience in the design,

Installation, and assessment of conveyor belt systems and

Fire protection systems within inclined excavations in

Underground mines (cv stating number of years of experience

Must be attached):

• More than 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and assessment of

conveyor belt systems and fire protection systems within inclined excavations in

underground mines = 5 points

• 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and assessment of conveyor belt

systems and fire protection systems within inclined excavations in underground

mines = 3 points

• Less than 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and assessment of

conveyor belt systems and fire protection systems within inclined excavations in

underground mines = 0 points

4 criteria 4: qualification of the mine ventilation engineer or 10

Environmental control engineer

Qualification of the mine ventilation engineer or

Environmental control engineer (attach copies of the

Qualifications):

• Master’s Degree or above = 5 points
• Honours degree or Post Graduate diploma = 4 points
• Bachelor's degree or B-tech = 3 points
• Less than Bachelor's degree or no qualification = 0 points

5 criteria 5: team member experience in mechanical engineering 15

Mechanical engineer with a minimum of 10 years of experience

In the design, installation, and maintenance of conveyor belt

Systems and fire suppression systems in inclined underground

Mine environments (cv stating number of years of experience

Must be attached):

• More than 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and maintenance of

conveyor belt systems and fire suppression systems in inclined underground

mine environments = 5 points

• 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and maintenance of conveyor

belt systems and fire suppression systems in inclined underground mine

environments = 3 points

• Less than 10 years’ experience in the design, installation, and maintenance of

conveyor belt systems and fire suppression systems in inclined underground

mine environments = 0 points

6 criteria 6: qualification of the mechanical engineer 10

Qualification of the mechanical engineer (attach copies of the

Qualifications):

• Master’s Degree or above = 5 points
• Honours degree or Post Graduate diploma = 4 points
• Bachelor's degree or B-tech = 3 points
• Less than Bachelor's degree or no qualification = 0 points

7 criteria 7: quality of the project proposal (methodology, 40

Project scope and project schedule)

The project proposal must address the following four

Requirements:

1. Clearly defined methodology (design/approach to be taken, participants,

datasets, study sites, instruments, procedures, etc).

2. The proposed methodology must be feasible (number of participants or

accessibility of participants, accessibility of study sites, access to datasets, data

collection access, sample sizes, etc.).

outcomes, clear timelines, and costing.

(Attach project proposal as per the provided proposal

Template)

• The proposal sufficiently addresses all the four requirements = 5 points
• The proposal does not address all the four requirements = 0 points

Note: Proposals that reproduce the scope of work text verbatim, without interpreting

or translating it into a clear methodological approach, will not be considered to have

provided a valid methodology and will be scored = 0 points.

Total 100

5.2.2 Price and preference (specific goals) evaluation phase 2

• Bid price proposals are compared on an equal and fair basis, considering all aspects of

the bid pricing requirements. Qualifying bids are ranked on price and specific goals

points claimed in the following manner:

(i) Price - with the lowest priced bid receiving the highest price score as set out in the

Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022.

(ii) Preference - preference points are allocated in accordance with the Preferential

Procurement Policy Framework Act (Act ) and its Regulations 2022 as claimed in the

specific goals claim form (SBD 6.1) are added to the price ranking scores. The points for

specific goals must be supported by a valid B-BBEE certificate or certified sworn affidavit.

A maximum of 80 points will be allocated for price on the following basis:

80/20

Pt−Pmin⬚

Ps=80(1− ) Type equation here.

Pmin⬚

Where;

Ps = Points scored for price of tender under consideration

Pt = Price of tender under consideration

Pmin = Price of lowest acceptable tender

A maximum of 20 points will be allocated for specific goals on the following basis:

• The tenderer must indicate how they claim points for each preference point

system in line with the specific goals of the RFQ as outlined in SBD

6.1.

6. Part e: bid conditions

6.1 Conditions and instruction to the bidder

a) Response preparation costs: MHSC is NOT liable for any costs incurred by a bidder in the process

of responding to this Bid Invitation, including on-site presentations.

b) Counter Conditions: MHSC. draws bidders’ attention that amendments to any of the Bid Conditions

or setting of counter conditions by bidders will result in the invalidation of such bids.

c) Collusion, Fraud and corruption: Any effort by Bidder/s to influence evaluation, comparisons, or

award decisions in any manner will result in the rejection and disqualification of the bidder

concerned.

d) Cancellation prior to awarding: MHSC reserves the right to withdraw and cancel the Bid Invitation

prior to making an award. The cancellation grounds include insufficient funds, where the award price

is outside of the objective determined fair market-related price range or any process impropriety.

e) Fronting: MHSC, in ensuring that bidders conduct themselves in an honest manner will, as part of

the bid evaluation processes where applicable, conduct or initiate the necessary

enquiries/investigations to determine the accuracy of the representation made in the bid documents.

smoke, potentially cutting off escape routes and overwhelming localized suppression systems (Smith & Wu,

2022). Fire detection and suppression standards like NFPA 120 and 122 stress the importance of installing

flame- and smoke-detection sensors at regular intervals, as well as using automated suppression at drive

and transfer points (NFPA, 2023). Research over many years has focused on reducing conveyor belt fire

hazards, particularly the flammability and flame-spread behavior of rubberised belting (ISO 340:2022). This

work led to standards requiring the use of fire-retardant belts in mines, such as SANS 971 and SANS 1366

in South Africa and MSHA Part 14 in the United States (MSHA, 2008). However, incidents still occur, mainly

due to poor maintenance or non-compliant belts (DMRE, 2022).

With the exclusion of one (partly completed test), no significant testing of belts located in inclined planes

within tunnel enclosures could be sourced in the available literature and, as such, the effect of excavation

inclination together with down-casting or up-casting air currents through the excavation has not been

effectively quantified or sufficiently studied to provide definitive design and protective parameters for such

installations. Currently, there is a lack of guidance on the application of parameters such as, for example,

optimal air velocity and location of fire detection sensors within such geometries and on how these should

be considered to reduce risk levels both in new and existing installations alike.

schedules must be completed in full. Should the total bid prices differ, or calculation errors be

identified, the one indicated on the price schedule shall be considered the correct price.

viii. Any bidder who has reasons to believe that the bid specification is based on a specific brand must

inform the MHSC before bid closing date.

ix. No service will be rendered, or goods delivered before an official MHSC Purchase Order has been

issued.

x. All questions regarding this bid must be forwarded to the designated email address within at least

24 hours after the bid has been issued.

xi. It is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure that its response reaches MHSC on or before the

closing date and time of the bid.

xii. The MHSC shall evaluate each responsive submission in terms of the method of evaluation stated

in the bid document.

xiii. if the MHSC amends this bid, the amendment will be publicized as the case maybe on the platforms

which the bid was published. No oral amendments by any person will be considered or

acknowledged.

xiv. The MHSC reserves the right to carry out site inspections or call for supporting documentation to

confirm any information provided by a Bidder in its bid. xv. Bidders may not make any alterations

or additions to the content of this bid document, except to comply with the instructions issued by

the MHSC.

Nb: please note that bid responses must be deposited in the tender box as bid

everything necessary to complete the terms of the Specifications or scope of work. TOTAL BID PRICE (VAT Inclusive): R.......................................................... other overheads. (Please note that all prices quoted should be inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) for the duration of the contract. Where applicable the price should include Supply, Delivery,

Clearly defined methodology (design/approach to be taken, participants, datasets, study sites, instruments, procedures, etc).

The proposed methodology must be feasible (number of participants or accessibility of participants, accessibility of study sites, access to datasets, data collection access, sample sizes, etc.).

The proposal must sufficiently address all items of the project scope provided in the project terms of reference.

The proposal must have a project schedule comprising all expected project outcomes, clear timelines, and costing. (ATTACH PROJECT PROPOSAL AS PER THE PROVIDED PROPOSAL TEMPLATE)

The proposal sufficiently addresses all the four requirements = 5 points

The proposal does not address all the four requirements = 0 points Note: Proposals that reproduce the scope of work text verbatim, without interpreting or translating it into a clear methodological approach, will not be considered to have provided a valid methodology and will be scored = 0 points. TOTAL 100 5.2.2 PRICE AND PREFERENCE (SPECIFIC GOALS) EVALUATION PHASE 2

Bid price proposals are compared on an equal and fair basis, considering all aspects of the bid pricing requirements. Qualifying bids are ranked on price and specific goals points claimed in the following manner: (i) Price - with the lowest priced bid receiving the highest price score as set out in the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022. (ii) Preference - preference points are allocated in accordance with the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (Act ) and its Regulations 2022 as claimed in the specific goals claim form (SBD 6.1) are added to the price ranking scores. The points for specific goals must be supported by a valid B-BBEE certificate or certified sworn affidavit. A maximum of 80 points will be allocated for price on the following basis

Points Allocation: 80 points

B-BBEE Details: ly completed Invitation to Bid (SBD 1) Comply Do Not comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed and signed SBD1 (Invitation to Bid)

Fully completed and signed Bidders’ Disclosure form (SBD Comply Do Not comply

4)

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed and signed Bidders Disclosure

(Sbd 4)

Fully completed SBD 6.1 (Preference Claim Form), Comply Do Not comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit the fully completed preference claim form, points must be

correctly claimed and the points for the specific goals must be supported by a valid B-BBEE

certificate or a certified sworn affidavit. Bidders should ensure the points are correctly claimed for the

specific goals and information is captured correctly and information is true. False information may

result in the bid being disqualified.

Bidder must complete the detailed pricing Schedule (SBD Comply Do Not comply

3)

Substantiation: The bidder must submit and attach to the bid response fully completed pricing

Schedule (SBD 3)

The recommended bidder, where applicable, will be requested to sign and complete the

SBD 7 contract form upon award.

Submission of fully completed Contract Form (where Comply Do Not

applicable) comply

Substantiation: The bidder must submit and attach the fully completed and signed and

initialled SBD 7 (Contract form)

4.4 Mandatory compliance – central supplier database

Bidders are required to be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) of National

Treasury prior to submitting their bid (open tenders). Failure to being registered on the CSD

and failure to submit the requested proof of registration on CSD information will lead to

disqualification. (Please provide proof of registration on the Central Supplier Dat

Supply Chain Management [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 Introduction to the mine health and safety council

The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) is a national public entity (Schedule 3A) established in terms

of the Mine Health and Safety Act, No. , as amended. The MHSC is mandated to advise the

Minister of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) on mine health and safety (MHS)

issues in the mining industry, relating to the development and implementation of the MHSC annual MHS

research programme, reviewing and development of MHS legislation and dissemination (knowledge and

technology transfer) of MHSC research outcomes to improve MHS conditions in the South African Mining

Industry (SAMI).

landmark case often cited in fire dynamics literature is the King’s Cross Station fire in London, which, while

not a mining event, involved a sloped underground tunnel and exemplified how heat and smoke can behave

unpredictably in inclined confined spaces (Drysdale, 2011). The fire led to the deaths of 31 people, including

firefighters, and sparked major reforms in underground fire safety practices.

the way in which active fire propagates both up and down decline systems can result in totally unpredictable

situations which have the potential of rapidly affecting the safety of any person within or in proximity of these

sites. The effective detection and timely warning in respect of these occurrences as well as the means of

determining the location of an active fire site accurately, have also been demonstrated to be challenging

under these conditions. Thus, it is envisaged that a design and assessment tool can aid to improve

underground conveyor belt fire emergency preparedness and response plans and scenario planning.

and fire safety professionals, particularly in relation to risk treatment strategies and key design considerations

for both new and modified inclined conveyor installations.

2. Part a: the contract

2.1 Context of this procurement

The MHSC seeks to appoint a service provider to undertake research project CoE 190401 “Investigation of

the potential causes and the development of the measures to prevent, detect and combat conveyor belt fires

in inclined excavations in underground mines”.

2.2 Contract period

The estimated duration of the project is 18 months. The 15 months will be allocated towards research work

and 3 months on MHSC administrative duties.

2.3 Detailed specifications/scope of work

2.3.1 Conduct a literature review, both nationally and internationally, on the potential causes and the

development of the measures to prevent, detect and combat conveyor belt fires in inclined

excavations in underground mines and related industries. The review should include consideration

of the following:

• The existing standards, legislation, codes of practice, and best practices (national and

international) relating to conveyor belt installations and associated fire protection systems.

• The previous research studies on conveyor belt fires in both underground and surface

mining environments, regardless of whether the conveyors are located in inclined

excavations.

• The findings and recommendations from published or available investigation reports

relating to conveyor belt fires in mines or other relevant underground settings.

• The existing empirical and modelling studies, including computational fluid dynamics

(CFD) simulations, to enhance understanding of fire behaviour in inclined excavations,

specifically focusing on:

▪ Fire dynamics and the influence of physical and environmental factors.

▪ Types and quantities of contaminants produced during such fires.

▪ Thermal impacts on critical infrastructure, including fire detection systems, and how

these systems interpret data during fire events.

▪ Expected performance and effectiveness of various fire suppression systems under

different operational and environmental conditions.

2.3.2 Develop improved minimum design requirements to serve as a baseline and establish alternative

design options through consultation with relevant stakeholders. These designs should provide

enhanced, application-specific guidance for mine ventilation, engineering, and fire safety

professionals regarding the layout of rubberized conveyor belt systems in inclined excavations.

2.3.3 Develop an assessment tool which can be used to assess the effectiveness of the designs

developed in 2.3.2.

2.3.4 Conduct a hybrid stakeholder workshop arranged and hosted by the service provider in Gauteng

to present preliminary findings/outputs and solicit further inputs.

2.3.5 Test the designs developed in 2.3.2 in a controlled physical simulation environment. Use the

assessment tool to identify any design shortcomings, and implement targeted modifications to

address and resolve these deficiencies.

2.4 Expected reseach outcomes

terms of tax obligations will render your bid non-responsive and disqualified. It is the responsibility

of the bidder to ensure they are tax compliant at time of submitting their response.

4.6 Protection of personal information act, (popia)

MHSC adheres to the Protection of Personal Information Act, (POPIA) requirements

regarding personal information which came into effect 1 July 2021. As MHSC, we are committed

to protecting your privacy and ensuring that personal information collected is used properly,

lawfully, and transparently.

4.7 Occupational health and safety

• DMRE (2022) Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate Annual Report. Department of Mineral

• Drysdale, D. (2011) An Introduction to Fire Dynamics. 3rd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
• ISO 340:2022 Conveyor belts — Laboratory scale flammability characteristics — Requirements

and test method. International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneva.

• MSHA (2008) 30 CFR Part 14 – Test and Evaluation of Mining Belts. Mine Safety and Health

• Smith, J. & Wu, L. (2022) ‘Heat transfer and smoke migration in inclined underground

excavations’, Journal of Fire Safety Engineering, 18(4), pp. 233–247.

• Zhou, H., Li, X., Wang, D. & Chen, J. (2020) ‘Analysis of conveyor belt fire incidents in Chinese

coal mines’, Safety in Mines Research Journal, 51(2), pp. 45–59.

5.2 Evaluation process

a) Due to changed circumstances, there is no longer a need for the services specified in this

bid.

b) Funds are no longer available to cover the total envisaged expenditure for the project.

c) No bids meet the required specifications.

d) There is a material irregularity in the bid process.

6.9 Financial payment

Payment will be made in accordance with section 38(1)(f) and 76(4)(b) of the PFMA and Treasury

Regulations 8.2.3 (within 30 days from receipt of invoice after completion of deliverables).

6.10 Due diligence

Where circumstances justifies it, MHSC reserves the right to conduct due diligence (interviews,

samples, presentations, site visits) with shortlisted bidders who meet the minimum qualifying score on

the functionality phase evaluation criteria, whereby bidders will present further information or provide

further proof to the evaluation committee. In these cases, MHSC may provide the areas of concern to

the short-listed bidders to address in their presentations.

6.11 Bid award

Awarding of tenders will be published on the National Treasury e-tender portal and MHSC’ website.

bid requirements and may take place without prior notice to the bidder:

• Bidder whose tax matters are not in order (Instruction Note /2018 Tax Compliance Status

will apply).

• Bidders who are not registered with the Central Supplier Database (CSD).
• submitted incomplete information and documentation according to the requirements of this RFB

document.

• submitted information that is fraudulent, factually untrue or inaccurate information.
• received information not available to other potential bidders through fraudulent means.
• failed to comply with mandatory and technical requirements as stipulated in the RFB document.
• misrepresented or altered material information in whatever way or manner.
• promised, offered, or made gifts, benefits to any The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC)

employee.

• canvassed, lobbied to gain unfair advantage.
• committed fraudulent acts; and
• acted dishonestly and/or in bad faith etc.

NB: it is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure the bid response is fully completed and signed

and all required documents are valid and submitted upon closing date. The bidder should

ensure that the tender register is also signed when submitting their bid at the tender box.

7. Part f: standard bidding documents

associates do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. To the extent that MHSC is permitted by

law, MHSC will not be liable for any claim whatsoever and how so ever arising (including, without

limitation, any claim in contract, negligence or otherwise) for any incorrect or misleading information

contained in this document due to any misinterpretation of this document. MHSC makes no

representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or endorsements to any provider/bidder concerning

the document, whether regarding its accuracy, completeness or otherwise and MHSC shall have no

liability towards the responding service providers or any other party in connection therewith.

6.3 Conditions and undertakings by bidder

duplicated. MHSC will accept NO liability regarding anything arising from the fact that pages are

missing or duplicated.

the onus is on the bidder to prove that fronting does not exist. Failure to do so within a period of 7 days from date of notification will invalidate the bid/contract and may also result in the restriction of the bidder to conduct business with the public sector for a period not exceeding 10 years, in addition to any other remedies MHSC may have against the bidder concerned. Is the bidder in the process of selling the bidding company? ❑ YES ❑ NO Does the bidder have any intention of selling the bidding company within the ❑ YES ❑ NO next 12 months? Does the bidder have any intention of selling the bidding company within the ❑ YES ❑ NO next 12 months to 60 months? MHSC reserves the right not to award to any bidder who answers any of the questions above “yes” should the bidder be the overall highest points scorer. However, the decision not to award will be on a case-by-case basis.

4.5 MANDATORY COMPLIANCE – TAX STATUS VERIFICATION Verification PIN from SARS or CSD supplier number which must be captured in the SBD 1.

Direct Enquiries in writing to: Supply Chain Management [email protected]