Water quality sampling services – port of durban tender (60 months) - kwazulu-natal

Closing date: 29 September 2026 at 14:00. Non-compulsory briefing: 07 September 2026 at 10:00 (virtual via Teams, ±1 hour). Clarification deadline: 18 September 2026 at 12:00 (submit RFP Clarification Request Form to Nozipho Khumalo). Bid validity: 180 business days from closing date.

Non-compulsory briefing on 07 September 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams, ±1 hour. Meeting ID: 334 532 954 581 782, Passcode: Kw2Yx6K4. Bidders must confirm attendance and send contact details to [email protected]. Information will not be repeated for late joiners.

Contact person: Nozipho Khumalo. Email: [email protected]. Complaints: [email protected]. Submission portal: https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/.

Submit electronically via the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/). Register your company profile, log an intent to bid, and upload bid documents (max 30MB per upload, multiple uploads allowed). All pricing must be completed electronically in the eSupplier portal; no paper pricing schedules accepted. Submit at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; late submissions will not be accepted. Each company must submit under its own registered profile; submitting via another company's profile disqualifies the bid. For Joint Ventures, any JV partner may submit on behalf of the JV. Returnable documents include: SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), Proposal Form and List of Returnable Documents (Section 5), Certificate of Acquaintance with RFP, Master Agreement & Applicable Documents (Section 6), RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form (Section 7), RFP Clarification Request Form (Section 8), Specific Goals Points Claim Form (Section 9), Protection of Personal Information (Section 10), and Certificate of Attendance of Non-compulsory RFP Briefing (if attended). All documents must be signed, stamped, and dated on each page before uploading. Failure to submit all required documents or comply with submission instructions may render the bid invalid.

Mandatory returnable documents include: Valid SANAS accreditation certificate. Returnable documents used for scoring: B-BBEE certificate/sworn affidavit/CIPC certificate. Essential returnable documents: JV agreement or intention to enter into JV. All documents must be signed, stamped, and dated.

Evaluation is sequential but Transnet may run stages in parallel. Stage 1 – Test for responsiveness: administrative and substantive compliance, including technical pre-qualification (valid SANAS accreditation for chemical analysis per ISO/IEC 17025). Stage 2 – Weighted scoring: Price (80 or 90 points) using formula PS = 80(1 - (Pt-Pmin)/Pmin) or PS = 90(1 - (Pt-Pmin)/Pmin); Specific Goals (20 or 10 points). Stage 3 – Price negotiations if highest-scoring bidder's price is not market-related; may negotiate with next ranked bidders or cancel. Stage 4 – Objective criteria to justify award to other than highest ranked bidder (e.g., poor track record, underquoted price, integrity breaches, probity risks, rotation). Stage 5 – Award and contract conclusion. Final pricing scores rounded to 2 decimal places.

Scope: Provision of water quality sampling services at various locations within the Port of Durban on an 'as and when required' basis for 60 months. The port receives freshwater from eThekwini Municipality; testing determines if water is suitable for drinking. Detailed scope in Annexure C (Scope of Work) and Annexure B (Schedule of Requirements). Technical pre-qualification: Valid SANAS accreditation for laboratory chemical analysis per ISO/IEC 17025. Service level: 95% on random quality/compliance checks and on-time delivery. Green economy: Provide company's environmental commitments (waste disposal, recycling, energy conservation).

Technical pre-qualification requires valid SANAS accreditation for chemical analysis per ISO/IEC 17025. Bidders must demonstrate professional and technical competence, financial resources, equipment, managerial capability, reliability, experience, and personnel. Transnet may conduct due diligence to validate these.

Laboratory must be SANAS accredited for chemical analysis per ISO/IEC 17025. Service level: 95% on random quality/compliance checks and on-time delivery. Water quality testing determines if port water is suitable for drinking.

Pricing must be completed electronically in the eSupplier portal. Prices in ZAR inclusive of VAT. Annual escalation based on CPI (Stats SA P0141). Quantities are estimates; orders on 'as and when required' basis. Deviation from pricing schedule may render bid non-responsive. Discounts only considered if unconditional. No paper pricing schedules accepted.

Pricing must be completed electronically in the eSupplier portal. Prices in South African Rand inclusive of VAT. Annual escalation based on CPI (Stats SA Publication P0141, Headline CPI). Quantities are estimates; orders on 'as and when required' basis. Deviation from pricing schedule may render bid non-responsive. Disbursements not priced will not be accepted. Discounts only considered if unconditional. No paper pricing schedules accepted.

Tax compliance: Submit SARS TCS PIN or CSD number; each JV/consortium/subcontractor party must submit separate TCS/CSD. CSD registration required (except foreign suppliers with no local entity). B-BBEE: Submit B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) for preference points. SANAS accreditation certificate (ISO/IEC 17025) mandatory. JV/consortium: Submit signed JV agreement or written intention with % split and responsibilities. All returnable documents must be signed, stamped, and dated. Security clearance may be required for personnel. Compliance with Employment Equity Act.

All returnable documents must be signed, stamped, and dated on each page. The person signing must be legally authorised. Additional conditions must be in an accompanying letter. Alterations to bid prices are subject to General Bid Conditions clause 15 and legal review. Joint Ventures must submit signed JV agreement or written intention with % split and responsibilities. Clarification requests must be submitted before 12:00 on 18 September 2026. Complaints to [email protected]. Transnet reserves rights to modify services, split award, cancel, validate information, request audited financials, and conduct due diligence on subcontractors. Annual CPI escalation applies.

Transnet requires 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 governed by the Master Agreement (Annexure A), General Bid Conditions (Annexure E), and other annexures. The successful bidder must sign the formal contract and commence services within 2 weeks of award; failure may result in liability for damages. Transnet may cancel the contract and/or place the bidder on the Database of Restricted Suppliers for up to 10 years for incorrect information. Jurisdiction of South African courts. Annual CPI-based price escalation applies. Service level guarantee of 95% on quality and on-time delivery; failure constitutes material breach and grounds for cancellation.

Security clearance may be required for successful bidder's personnel to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET level. Legal review of proposal terms by Transnet's Legal Counsel; material deviations may lead to disqualification. Compliance with Employment Equity Act. Confidentiality obligations under Non-Disclosure Agreement (Annexure G).

Technical pre-qualification: Valid SANAS accreditation for laboratory chemical analysis per ISO/IEC 17025. All returnable documents must be completed and submitted. Bidders must comply with tax, CSD, B-BBEE, and JV requirements.

Evaluation stages: Stage 1 – responsiveness (including technical pre-qualification). Stage 2 – weighted scoring: Price (80/90 points) and Specific Goals (20/10 points). Stage 3 – price negotiations if not market-related. Stage 4 – objective criteria for award to other than highest ranked. Stage 5 – award and contract.