Steep area extraction solutions for forestry harvesting – request for information (RFI 001/2026)

Closing date and time: 06 November 2026 at 12:00.

Enquiry deadline: 02 November 2026 at 16:00.

Briefing session: none.

Enquiries

• Contact: Lungile Moeketsi
• Email: [email protected]
• Enquiry deadline: 02 November 2026 at 16:00

Submission

• Method: email
• Submission email: [email protected]

Submission method: email, PDF format only.

Submission email: [email protected]

Closing time: 06 November 2026 at 12:00.

Responses must be properly indexed, legible, complete and openable without difficulty.

Late submissions may be rejected at SAFCOL's sole discretion.

All correspondence and documentation must be in English.

SAFCOL may request additional information or clarification from any respondent.

Participation is voluntary; submission creates no obligation on SAFCOL to procure, no preferred-supplier status, and no entitlement to future procurement.

SAFCOL may amend, suspend or withdraw the RFI at any time without liability.

Respondents bear all costs of preparing and submitting a response.

Confidential, proprietary or commercially sensitive information must be clearly marked, with the basis for classification; SAFCOL will handle it per applicable law, but disclosure may be required by law.

Returnable forms: Annexure A (Respondent Response Form) must be completed, including respondent and company details, type of respondent, proposed solution, technical capability, support, experience, pricing and declaration.

No formal evaluation or scoring criteria are stated for this RFI.

Responses are for market research and planning only; submission does not constitute evaluation, pre-qualification, allocation of preference points or determination of supplier status.

SAFCOL will use the information to understand market capabilities and inform future procurement strategies.

SAFCOL seeks information on steep-area extraction solutions for forestry clearfell and thinning operations across its plantations.

Relevant plantations (13) are in KwaZulu-Natal (Ngome, Roburnia), Mpumalanga (Berlin, Nelshoogte, Uitsoek, Bergvliet, Brooklands, Witklip, Tweefontein, Blyde, Wilgeboom) and Limpopo (Woodbush, Entabeni).

Average annual difficult-terrain clearfell volume (next five years): 192,624 m³ (60,605 m³ on 30–40% slopes; 132,019 m³ on 40–100% slopes).

Average annual difficult-terrain thinning volume: 42,725 m³ (14,462 m³ on 30–40% slopes; 28,263 m³ on 40–100% slopes).

Average clearfell tree volume: 1.122 m³ (max 1.792 m³); average DBH 36.0 cm (max 43.83 cm).

Average thinning tree volume: 0.174 m³ (max 0.459 m³); average DBH 20.3 cm (max 28.51 cm).

Existing systems include cut-to-length mechanised operations, motor-manual grapple and cable skidder, outsourced excavator-based shovel yarder, skyline and cable yarding (clearfell), limited yarding in thinnings, handroll, and manual preparation with forwarder extraction.

Current challenges: limited skilled steep-terrain service providers, fluctuating markets, procurement processes, increasing steep-terrain volume, exchange rate and equipment costs, and limited available solutions.

SAFCOL is evaluating modern technologies: excavator-based shovel and grapple yarders, cable yarding, winch-assisted harvesting, tethered machines, skyline systems, and other steep-area extraction solutions.

Respondents must provide: company profile, number of projects completed, similar projects, client references, case studies, lessons learned, and details of equipment and technologies offered.

Information requested includes: market analysis, industry benchmarking (productivity m³/hour, safety, operating costs, environmental impact), local support capabilities (maintenance, spares, training), and commercial options (leasing, rental, contract-based).

Respondents must answer: describe your solution, what differentiates it, your experience, recommended implementation methodology, and project risks.

Response format: executive summary plus the scope of information requested.

Respondents must describe their recommended implementation methodology.

Scope of work includes market analysis (identification of suppliers/OEMs, equipment availability, local support), industry benchmarking (productivity, safety, operating costs, environmental impact, case studies), and commercial & compliance review (budgetary pricing, total cost of ownership, leasing/rental/contract options).

Respondents must answer: describe your solution, what differentiates it, your experience, implementation methodology, and project risks.

Respondents must provide company profile, number of projects completed, similar projects, client references, case studies, and lessons learned.

Response form requires details of similar projects and case studies, both local and outside South Africa, including equipment supplied, tree sizes, and client contact details.

No specific quality management or QA/QC requirements are stated for this RFI.

Respondents must provide information on safe, efficient and sustainable extraction solutions, including safety features, risk controls, and environmental considerations (soil impact, erosion prevention, fuel use, road and landing requirements).

Pricing is indicative only and for planning purposes.

Provide budgetary pricing and total cost of ownership (including training, maintenance, support).

Indicate availability of leasing, rental, or contract-based solutions.

Response form fields: supply price (ZAR), delivery cost (ZAR), training cost (ZAR), maintenance/support labour rate (R/hr), travel rate (R/km or per trip).

Commercial options: purchase, lease, rental, rent-to-own, managed service, contract-based solution.

No formal eligibility or compliance thresholds are stated for this RFI.

Respondents should be established suppliers/OEMs operating in South Africa capable of supplying the required equipment.

B-BBEE and supplier demographic profile requested (for market research only, not evaluation):

• B-BBEE status level (or non-compliant)
• Black ownership percentage
• Black women ownership percentage
• Black youth ownership percentage
• Ownership by persons with disabilities
• Local content / South African ownership percentage
• Other relevant B-BBEE or transformation information

Supporting documentation may include valid B-BBEE certificate, sworn affidavit, CIPC documentation, or other verification documents.

This information does not constitute evaluation, pre-qualification, allocation of preference points or determination of supplier status.

Respondents are requested to provide B-BBEE status level, black ownership percentage, black women ownership, black youth ownership, ownership by persons with disabilities, local content / South African ownership, and other relevant B-BBEE or transformation information.

Supporting documentation may include valid B-BBEE certificate, sworn affidavit, CIPC documentation, or other verification documents.

This information is for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute evaluation or allocation of preference points.

SAFCOL aims to reduce exposure to high-risk manual or motor-manual operations in difficult terrain.

Respondents must describe safety features, risk controls and safe operating requirements of proposed solutions.

Safety performance is a requested benchmarking metric.

This is an RFI, not a tender; no contract will be awarded.

Participation is voluntary and creates no obligation on SAFCOL to procure goods or services.

Submission does not confer preferred, approved, or pre-qualified supplier status, nor any expectation of future procurement.

SAFCOL may contact respondents for clarification, but such engagement is not an award or commitment.

Information submitted may be used by SAFCOL to develop future procurement strategies, specifications, and tender documentation.

SAFCOL may amend, clarify, suspend or withdraw the RFI at any time without liability.

Respondents bear all costs and risks of preparing and submitting a response.

Confidential information will be handled per applicable legislation, but disclosure may be required by law.

Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format, properly indexed, legible, complete and openable without difficulty.

Late submissions may not be considered.

All correspondence and documentation must be in English.

SAFCOL may request additional information or clarification from respondents.

Participation is voluntary and creates no obligation to procure.

Submission does not confer preferred supplier status or any entitlement to future procurement.

SAFCOL may amend, suspend or withdraw the RFI at its discretion without liability.

Respondents bear their own costs.

Confidential information must be clearly marked; SAFCOL will handle it per applicable legislation, but disclosure may be required by law.

No formal evaluation criteria are stated for this RFI.

Submission of information does not constitute evaluation, pre-qualification, allocation of preference points or determination of supplier status.

SAFCOL will use the information to understand market capabilities and inform future procurement strategies.