Request for information: sewage and water treatment plant upgrade, refurbishment, operation and maintenance at drakensberg and ingula pumped storage schemes

Closing date: 6 November 2026 at 10:00 SAST

Online clarification meeting: 27 October 2026 at 10:00 (Microsoft Teams; meeting ID 349 424 101 630 892 3; passcode Np9nq3hU; link https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3494241016308923?p=J8wObQinZ8CnbuDbk2)

Site walkdown at Drakensberg PSS: 27 October 2026 at 13:00, visitors centre

Site walkdown at Ingula PSS: 28 October 2026 at 10:00, visitors centre

All clarification meetings are non-compulsory, but attendance at both site walkdowns is encouraged.

Online clarification meeting: 27 October 2026 at 10:00 (Microsoft Teams, ID 349 424 101 630 892 3, passcode Np9nq3hU, link https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3494241016308923?p=J8wObQinZ8CnbuDbk2). Site walkdown at Drakensberg PSS: 27 October 2026 at 13:00, visitors centre. Site walkdown at Ingula PSS: 28 October 2026 at 10:00, visitors centre. All non-compulsory; attendance at both walkdowns encouraged.

Enquiries and clarifications (in writing):

• Contact: Chevon Goldstone-May
• Role: Procurement Practitioner
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 021 522 1899

Submission method: online only via the Eskom E-Tender Portal (https://www.eskom.co.za/tenders/). No hard copies accepted.

• Upload documents in PDF format; each document up to 500 MB, total submission up to 4 GB.
• No zip/compressed files allowed.
• Upload under four folders: Technical (scope-related), Commercial (B-BBEE, CSD, CIDB), Financial (indicative pricing), Other (all other required info).
• If resubmitting, only the latest version is accepted; earlier submissions are void.
• Ensure submission status is marked complete.
• Late submissions are not accepted.

Returnable documents (complete and submit):

• Response Sheet (Part B): supplier contact details, company registration number, previous experience and proposed solutions for DPSS STP, Ingula STP and Ingula WTP, indicative pricing, CSD number, B-BBEE certificate/affidavit, CIDB registration proof, environmental compliance documentation, and health and safety information.
• E-Tendering Help Manual (Annexure A) for registration and submission instructions.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only; no contract will be awarded at this stage. Responses will be used to assess market availability, technical feasibility, and indicative costs. No scoring or preference point system is specified.

Scope: market testing for upgrade, refurbishment, operation and maintenance of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme (DPSS) and Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, and the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Ingula.

Dpss stp:

• Existing plant: Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR), Chlorine Contact Tank (CCT), sodium hypochlorite dosing, sludge drying beds.
• Deficiencies: structural deterioration of SBR and CCT, pipework/valve issues, dosing problems, sludge bed issues, non-functional seepage drain.
• Design data: capacity for 100 persons, organic loading 6 kg BOD/day, average dry weather flow 1.25 m3/h, peak flow 5 m3/h, raw sewage pump capacity 4 m3.
• Option 1 (Open System): refurbish existing STP, add buffer tank, upgrade SBR structure, replace aerator, decanter, control system (IEC 61850 compatible), dosing equipment, upgrade CCT and sludge beds, produce as-built drawings and O&M manual.
• Option 2 (Closed System): decommission and demolish existing STP, construct conservancy tank (assumed min 200 m3), remove sewage by tanker to approved municipal facility in Bergville (~40 km away). Evaluate 7, 14, or 21-day storage options.
• Note: two unused 120 m3 SBR tanks at Ingula (125 km away) may be used; include transport/utilization costs if required.

Ingula STP:

• Existing: SBR process (Prentec), one operating SBR (120 m3/day capacity, original 200 m3/day), bar screens, raw sewage sump, CCT, drying beds, obsolete PLC control.
• Issues: effluent non-compliance with WUL, elevated TSS and ammonia (100-125 mg N/l), poor disinfection, manual operation, control system failures.
• Respondents to propose upgrades/refurbishments, possibly automation and online monitoring.

Ingula WTP:

• Backwash discharge from sand filters currently discharged without testing; need holding tank (min 30 m3, preferably Braithwaite) with sampling point, level monitoring, alarms, isolation valves, and controlled discharge (compliant to environment, non-compliant recirculated).

Regulatory compliance (both sites): National Water Act, Government Gazette 36820, NEMA, municipal sludge by-laws, SANS 241, DWS Green Drop, NEMA EIA Regulations 2014 and Listing Notices 1-3, NEM:WA, Waste Classification and Management Regulations 2013, DWS sludge guidance.

DPSS options:

• Option 1 (Open System): refurbish existing STP, add raw sewage buffer tank, upgrade SBR structure, coat surfaces, replace aerator/motor, decanter, control system (IEC 61850 compatible), dosing equipment, upgrade CCT, refurbish sludge beds, produce as-built drawings and O&M manual.
• Option 2 (Closed System): decommission and demolish existing STP, construct reinforced concrete conservancy tank (assumed min 200 m3, assess independently), remove sewage by tanker to Bergville municipal facility (~40 km away), evaluate 7/14/21-day storage, include tanker and disposal costs.

Ingula STP: continue using existing infrastructure, identify upgrades/refurbishments, consider automation and online monitoring.

Ingula WTP: construct backwash discharge holding tank (min 30 m3, preferably Braithwaite) with sampling point, level monitoring, alarms, isolation valves, controlled discharge (compliant to environment, non-compliant recirculated).

Respondents must demonstrate previous experience and describe solutions for DPSS STP, Ingula STP, and Ingula WTP. No specific years or reference projects are stated.

Proposed solutions must achieve required final effluent quality and comply with all applicable DWS and licence discharge requirements. For Ingula WTP, backwash discharge must meet WUL limits before release; non-compliant discharge recirculated. Category 3 is recommended due to technical complexity and quality risk.

Indicative pricing required. For each option (DPSS) and for Ingula STP and WTP, provide capital cost estimates, annual operating and maintenance costs, design life, major refurbishment intervals, estimated 20-year lifecycle cost, and key assumptions/exclusions. For Option 2, include tanker and disposal costs.

Indicative pricing only; no contract award at this stage.

For each option (DPSS) and for Ingula STP and WTP, provide:

• Capital cost estimates
• Annual operating and maintenance costs
• Design life
• Major refurbishment intervals
• Estimated 20-year lifecycle cost
• Key assumptions and exclusions

For Option 2, include tanker costs and disposal costs (with service-level agreement with Bergville municipality).

CSD registration: provide CSD number (MAA...).

B-BBEE: valid certificate from SANAS-accredited agency, or sworn/CIPS affidavit.

CIDB: proof of registration for Civil Engineering (CE) scope.

Environmental: submit documentation per applicable legislation (National Water Act, NEMA, etc.).

Health and safety: comply with Eskom OHS requirements, sign 37(2) agreement, maintain safety file, adhere to site access requirements (valid medical fitness certificate, police clearance not older than 30 days, ID, driver's licence if applicable, COIDA good standing).

Local content: cement and steel 100% local content; overall local content target 100% subject to availability.

Contract Participation Goals: CSDG based on Contract Employment target of 0.25%; CPG may apply for Option 2.

Mandatory subcontracting: indicate potential scope to be subcontracted/outsourced.

B-BBEE: valid certificate from SANAS-accredited agency, or sworn/CIPS affidavit. Local content: cement and steel 100% local; overall local content target 100% subject to availability. Contract Participation Goals: CSDG based on Contract Employment target of 0.25%; CPG may apply for Option 2. Mandatory subcontracting: indicate potential scope to be subcontracted/outsourced.

Health and safety obligations:

• Comply with Eskom OHS Requirements and approved safety file; Eskom may amend OHS Requirements at no additional cost.
• Sign a 37(2) agreement between contractor and employer representatives.
• Contractor's OHS professional to conduct internal audits; employer to conduct inspections.
• Contractor may be audited internally/externally; must avail themselves.
• Site access requirements: valid medical fitness certificate, police clearance (SAPS or accredited, not older than 30 days), ID, driver's licence (if applicable), adherence to Eskom Life-saving rules, risk-based PPE, valid COIDA good standing.
• Maintain health and safety file, good housekeeping, near-miss reporting.
• KPIs: zero fatalities, lost time injury within tolerance, report incidents immediately or before end of shift, complete investigations within 7 days, close audit findings and non-conformances per recommended timeframes.
• Contract completion: final meeting, close all incidents/findings, clean site, submit safety statistics and safety file to both Ingula and Drakensberg PSS safety departments, complete closeout report (Annexure D per 32-726).
• Sole contractors not eligible for COIDA must provide member benefit statement with life and disability cover of at least R500,000.

Environmental compliance (both sites):

• National Water Act, Government Gazette 36820, National Environmental Management Act, municipal sludge disposal by-laws, SANS 241, DWS Green Drop requirements, NEMA EIA Regulations 2014 (Listing Notices 1-3), NEM:WA, Waste Classification and Management Regulations 2013, DWS sludge guidance.
• Option 1 (DPSS) requires Water Use Licence (WUL) for discharge to watercourse; Option 2 avoids WUL but requires service-level agreement with Bergville municipality for disposal.
• Ingula WTP backwash discharge must be monitored and tested; holding tank with sampling point and controlled discharge.

This is an RFI only; no contract will be awarded. Responses will inform Eskom's strategy and budget. No contractual terms are specified.

No evaluation criteria specified; this is an information-gathering exercise.