Refurbishment of digital radio high sites at TRANSNET rail infrastructure manager buildings (central regions) – 5-Year as-and-when contract

Enquiries before closing:

• RFP Administrator: Delisiwe Mngomezulu
• Email: [email protected]

Enquiries after closing:

• Attention: Governance, Transnet Freight Rail Tender Office
• Email: [email protected]
• CC: [email protected]

Employer's Agent (also for marking tender documents):

• Name: Delisiwe Mngomezulu
• Role: Commercial Specialist
• Address: 150 Commissioner Street, Carlton Centre, Johannesburg
• Email: [email protected]

Submission is electronic only via the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (https://transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net). Register your company profile, log intent to bid, and upload bid documents against the tender number. Uploads are limited to 30mb each; multiple uploads are permitted. Submit at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; late submissions are not accepted.

Required returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and submitted):

• T2.2-1 Certificate of Attendance: proof of attendance at the compulsory briefing, signed by the Employer's Representative.
• T2.2-2 Method Statement (Technical Approach): detailing execution of all 7 scope categories.
• T2.2-3 Qualifications of employees for critical work.
• T2.2-4 Duration of project/services (MS Project or Smart Sheet template).
• T2.2-5 Previous Experience: completion certificates or letters for comparable projects.
• T2.2-15a Local Content Annexures C, D and E: fully completed and signed per sector.
• T2.2-21 Breach of Law declaration: whether found guilty of a serious breach of law in the past five years.
• T2.2-23 Job Creation Schedule.
• Valid Tax Clearance Certificate and TCS PIN.
• Valid B-BBEE Certificate or sworn affidavit.
• Valid CIDB CRS number.
• Proof of CSD registration (supplier number and unique registration reference).
• Letter of Good Standing with the Workmen's Compensation Fund (or separate letters for each JV member).
• Standard forms: SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest), SBD 8 (Past SCM Practices), SBD 9 (Independent Bid Determination), and Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire.
• Joint venture: certified copy of signed JV agreement.

Disqualification risks:

• Failing to attend the compulsory briefing session.
• Submitting via another company's profile; each bidder must submit under its own registered profile.
• Submitting an alternative tender offer (not considered).
• Tenders not in English.
• Telephonic, telegraphic, facsimile or emailed tenders are not accepted.
• Late submission, regardless of reason.

Evaluation stages in order:

1. Eligibility: attendance at compulsory briefing; CIDB grading 8GB or higher (or capable of being so before evaluation; JV combined grading 8GB or higher).
2. Functionality: minimum qualifying score of 70 points. Criteria and weights:

• Method Statement (T2.2-2): 40 points — covers all 7 categories (digital radio equipment shelter/outdoor cabinets, civil works, cable trays, cooling, security systems, earthing/lightning, DC backup power).
• Qualifications (T2.2-3): 15 points — NQF level 4 to 8 with relevant civil/electrical/mechanical experience; ECSA registration.
• Duration (T2.2-4): 15 points — shorter project duration scored higher (5 working days or less = 100%).
• Previous Experience (T2.2-5): 30 points — completion certificates/letters for earthworks, concrete, pre-fabricated structures or similar; 5 projects = full points.

Functionality scored by at least 3 evaluators, averaged.

3. Price and Specific Goals (90/10 system, applicable for tenders ≥ R50 million):

• Price: 90 points.
• Specific Goals: 10 points, allocated as: B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 contributor (3 points); entities at least 50% black youth owned (2 points); local content (5 points) — with points per sector: steel products/components for construction (1), plastic/PVC pipes (1), steel power pylons at 100% (1), electrical cable products at 90% (1), industrial lead batteries at 50% (1).

4. Due Diligence: Transnet verifies health & safety, risk, environmental and financial standing of preferred bidder.
5. Post-tender negotiations: Transnet may negotiate for a market-related price; failing that, may cancel the tender.

Scope: Refurbishment work to enable digital radio high sites communication network at Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) buildings nationally (central region). Work is on an "as and when" required basis over a five-year period.

Contract type: NEC3 TSC (Term Service Contract) with pricing Option A (priced activities).

Work categories (per the method statement):

1. Digital Radio Equipment Shelter and outdoor cabinets.
2. Civil works for structural enhancement (including surface preparation for foundations).
3. Support structures: cable trays (indoor and outdoor).
4. Cooling: air conditioning systems.
5. Technological security systems.
6. Earthing, lightning protection and generator switches.
7. DC backup power systems (rectifiers, batteries, distribution boxes, circuit breakers) and hardening battery solutions.

Key site visits (locations of actual sites):

• Luuipaardsvlei (Johannesburg area) — coordinates 26°7'12.90"S; 27°48'47.30"E.
• Danhauser (Newcastle area) — 28°01'17.00"S; 30°04'38.00"E.
• PMB Testroom and Napier Hill (Pietermaritzburg).
• Trenance and Port Shepstone (Durban area).

Contract skills development: The contractor must achieve a Contract Skills Development Goal (CSDG) as per the CIDB Standard for Developing Skills through Infrastructure Contracts (Gazette Notice No. April 2026). This is a condition of the contract.

Pricing format: NEC3 TSC with Option A (priced activities); pricing instructions and price list provided in Part C2. Specific rates must be fixed; no changes to tender rates after closing.

Bid security: No specific bid security amount stated.

Payment terms: Not stated in the available sections.

Financial due diligence: Transnet may request audited financial statements, bank letters, or proof of financial support from credible institutions (e.g. NEF, IDC) as part of the due diligence process.

Risk assessment: Transnet may assess undue high or low tendered rates and the tenderer's financial standing.

Registration and certifications required:

• CSD registration: mandatory — self-register on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database and provide supplier number and unique registration reference in the tender.
• Tax clearance: valid Tax Clearance Certificate from SARS, plus a TCS PIN for verification.
• B-BBEE: valid B-BBEE certificate from a SANAS-accredited verification agency, or sworn affidavit confirming turnover and black ownership (for EMEs/QSEs per the Codes). For joint ventures, a consolidated scorecard is accepted.
• CIDB grading: 8GB or higher (contractor grading designation) — or capable of being registered before evaluation. Provide valid CIDB CRS number.
• Workmen's Compensation Fund: Letter of Good Standing for the tendering entity, or separate letters for each JV member.

Other compliance:

• Contract Skills Development Goal (CSDG) as per CIDB Standard — condition of contract.
• Declaration of interest and conflict of interest statements (SBD 4 and Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire).
• Bidders must not be on the Register of Tender Defaulters, Transnet's restricted list, or National Treasury's tender defaulters list.
• Contractors must have safety and health compliance: tenderers must wear required PPE (safety shoes, goggles, long sleeve shirts, high visibility vests, hard hats) during site visits.

Preference points (Specific Goals) evidence:

• B-BBEE certificate / sworn affidavit / B-BBEE CIPC certificate.
• Certified ID copies of owners for black youth owned entities.
• Local content annexures C, D and E fully completed and signed.