Gas to power trigeneration plants at or tambo, king shaka & cape town airports – 5-Year RFP

Closing date: 17 November 2026 at 12:00 (midday)

Compulsory briefing sessions (must attend at least one):

• King Shaka International Airport: 26 October 2026 at 10:00, Ebukhoshini Conference, King Shaka International Airport, La Mercy, Colourful Building next to Mugg n Bean, Reception near pickup zone.
• Cape Town International Airport: 28 October 2026 at 10:00, Faranani Boardroom, Ground Floor, Southern Office Block (SOB), Cape Town International Airport.
• OR Tambo International Airport: 30 October 2026 at 10:00, ACSA Media Room, Terminal A International Arrivals, between the Post Office and the Inter Africa Bureau de Change kiosks, O.R. Tambo International Airport, 1 Jones Road, Kempton Park.

Non-compulsory site inspection: directly after each briefing session at each site.

Clarification deadline: 10 November 2026, close of business.

Enquiries:

• Contact: Thami Mncube
• Role: Specialist Category Management
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 061 653 0462

Submission address:

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited

Tender Box B

3rd Floor North Wing Offices

OR Tambo International Airport

Fraud hotline:

• Free Call: 0800 00 80 80 or 086 726 1681
• Email: [email protected]

Submission method: hand delivery only. Bids must be delivered to the Tender Box before the closing time. Late or no physical submission results in disqualification.

Address:

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited

Tender Box B

3rd Floor North Wing Offices

OR Tambo International Airport

Envelope requirements:

• Outside of envelope: bidder's return address, full description of the bid, bid number, and details of the SCM department where the bid will close.
• Each page of the bid documents must be signed or stamped at the bottom as proof of reading.
• Documents must be signed and completed by a person with authority to act on behalf of the bidder.

Returnable documents (all must be completed and signed):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• C1.1 Form of Offer and Acceptance: completed in full and signed.
• Section 5 Declaration Form: declaration of compliance.
• Section 6 Certificate of Attendance of Compulsory Briefing Session: proof of attendance.
• Section 7 Declaration of Forbidden Practices: declaration against corrupt practices.
• Section 10 Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement: signed NDA.
• Proof of authority to sign (e.g., company resolution).
• Tax Compliance Status PIN or CSD number (each party in a JV/consortium must provide separate).
• Foreign suppliers: completed foreign supplier questionnaire.

Disqualification risks:

• Failure to attend at least one compulsory briefing session (sign register).
• Incomplete or unsigned Form of Offer (C1.1).
• Missing any mandatory returnable document.
• Submission after closing time.
• Failure to submit physical documents before closing time.

Staged evaluation approach:

Stage 1: Mandatory requirements check (administrative compliance).

Stage 2: Functionality evaluation (technical).

Stage 3: Price and preference points.

Stage 4: Post-tender negotiations (if deemed necessary).

Stage 5: Security vetting.

Minimum qualifying score: 60 points on the functionality stage. Bidders scoring below 60 are disqualified.

Preference point system: 80/20 or 90/10 (per PPPFA) — not explicitly stated in the document, but the bid is subject to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act.

Functionality criteria per discipline (all out of 100 points):

• Civil Engineering: Company work experience (40), Resource experience (60).
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering: Company work experience (40), Resource experience (60).
• Mechanical, Fire & Process Engineering: Company work experience (40), Resource experience (60).
• Project Management: Company work experience (70), Resource experience (30).
• Quantity Surveying: Company work experience (50), Resource experience (50).

Company work experience scoring (varies by discipline):

• Civil/Electrical/Mechanical: 1-2 projects = 5, 3-5 projects = 10, more than 5 = 20.
• Project Management: 0-2 = 0, 3-5 = 30, more than 5 = 50.
• Quantity Surveying: 0-2 = 0, 3-4 = 30, 5 or more = 50.

Resource experience scoring:

• Design experience (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical): Less than 1MW = 0, 1-5MW = 10, 5.1-9.9MW = 20, 10MW+ = 30.
• Professional registration and project count (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical): Pr Eng with 0-2 projects = 0, 3 projects = 10, 4+ = 30.
• Project Manager: Pr. CPM with 0 projects = 0, 1-2 = 10, 3-4 = 20, 5+ = 30.
• Quantity Surveyor: Pr. QS with 0 projects = 0, 1-2 = 10, 3-4 = 30, 5+ = 50.

All key personnel must be professionally registered with relevant councils (ECSA, SACPCMP, SACQSP). ACSA will verify registrations.

Experience evidence: Provide details in Appendix E (project list) and Appendix F (reference letters). Reference letters must be on client's letterhead and signed by client's representative. Completion certificates and appointment letters will not be accepted. CVs must include information in Appendix G, with proof of registration in Appendix H.

Scope: Professional services for the design, procurement, construction management, and close-out of Gas-to-Power Trigeneration plants at OR Tambo (ORTIA), King Shaka (KSIA), and Cape Town (CTIA) International Airports. Contract period: 5 years.

Plant capacities:

• ORTIA: 3 trains, 15,770 kW annual electricity demand, 14,600 kW generation capacity, 3,552 kW chilled water capacity, 18 MW total electrical capacity.
• CTIA: 2 trains, 11,020 kW annual electricity demand, 8,300 kW generation capacity, 3,050 kW chilled water capacity, 11.4 MW total electrical capacity.
• KSIA: 2 trains, 5,605 kW annual electricity demand, 3,570 kW generation capacity, 1,600 kW chilled water capacity, 5.2 MW total electrical capacity.

Disciplines (bidders may bid for one or more):

1. Civil Engineering
2. Electrical and Electronic Engineering
3. Mechanical, Fire and Processing Engineering
4. Project Manager
5. Quantity Surveyor
6. Environmental & Health and Safety

Services to be delivered across six stages:

• Stage 1: Inception Report — develop project brief, attend meetings, advise on constraints and approvals, inspect site, determine data availability.
• Stage 2: Preliminary Design — prepare concept design, coordinate surveys, establish regulatory requirements, prepare cost estimates, submit 3 sets of design drawings.
• Stage 3: Detailed Design — prepare detailed design, attend 2-weekly meetings, incorporate authorities' requirements, prepare cost estimates, submit for approvals.
• Stage 4: Documentation and Procurement — prepare specifications, tender documentation, assist in tender evaluation.
• Stage 5: Contract Administration — issue construction documentation, administer contract, inspect works (on average every 4 weeks), prepare payment valuations, witness tests.
• Stage 6: Project Close-Out — verify defect rectification, approve final accounts, procure as-built drawings and manuals.

Functional User Requirements (FURs) — key requirements:

• Generate electrical power to meet airport demand.
• Generate and supply chilled air for HVAC.
• Capture and repurpose waste heat.
• Dual fuel capability (natural gas and alternative) to mitigate gas supply disruptions.
• Autonomous islanding within 2 seconds of grid loss.
• Three operating modes: power-only, cogeneration, trigeneration.
• Black-start capability.
• Integrated SCADA system with remote access.
• Compliance with SANS 10142 (electrical), SANS 347 (pressure equipment), OHS Act, NEMA.
• Noise emissions ≤ 70 dB(A) at plant boundary.
• CO2 emissions intensity ≥ 30% lower than grid baseline.
• Data reporting to NERSA and SANEDI.
• Compatibility with future renewable inputs (solar PV, green hydrogen).
• Maintenance without full plant shutdown.
• Training and documentation for ACSA personnel.

Discipline-specific scopes:

• Electrical: 11 kV switchgear, MV/LV reticulation, protection coordination, grid code compliance, SCADA/DCS integration, UPS, earthing, substations.
• Mechanical: gas engines, absorption chillers, cooling towers, heat recovery, HVAC, fire protection, fuel gas systems.
• Civil & Structural: earthworks, foundations, structural steelwork, stormwater, drainage, geotechnical investigations.
• Process: PFDs, P&IDs, heat and mass balance, HAZOP/HAZID support.
• Quantity Surveying: CAPEX estimates, bills of quantities, cost management, claims.
• Project Management: governance, programme management, risk, contract management, interface management.
• Environmental: EIA, environmental authorisations, EMPr, monitoring, sustainability reporting.
• Health and Safety: construction H&S specifications, risk assessments, safety file management, incident investigations.

The project must be delivered through six stages: Inception, Preliminary Design, Detailed Design, Documentation and Procurement, Contract Administration, and Project Close-Out.

Functional requirements emphasise:

• Electricity generation to meet airport demand.
• Chilled air supply for HVAC.
• Heat capture and repurposing.
• Dual fuel capability.
• Central monitoring and control.
• Integration with existing airport systems (IMC, AMC, BMS, SCADA).
• Real-time performance monitoring.

Evaluation uses a staged approach: mandatory requirements, functionality, price and preference, negotiations, security vetting.

Acceptable projects for experience (all disciplines except Civil/Pavement): new construction or expansions of airport terminals, shopping centres, hospitals, office parks, hospitality buildings, major transport hubs, warehouses, factories, harbours, power plants, etc.

Acceptable projects for Civil/Pavement Engineer: runways, taxiways, taxi lanes, aprons, highways, or road construction (greenfield, reconstruction, upgrade, improvement, heavy rehabilitation).

Excluded: Schools, RDP and residential properties.

Project value refers to total contract amount (inclusive of VAT) for construction.

Key personnel must be professionally registered:

• Civil/Electrical/Mechanical Engineers: Pr. Eng with ECSA.
• Project Manager: Pr. CPM with SACPCMP.
• Quantity Surveyor: Pr. QS with SACQSP.

Experience evidence: Appendix E (project list), Appendix F (reference letters on client's letterhead), Appendix G (CVs), Appendix H (proof of registration).

Quality assurance plan required during contract administration: review contractor's quality control programme, agree on quality assurance plan with witness and holding points.

Inspect works for quality and conformity on average once every 4 weeks.

Compliance with SANS 10142 (electrical installations) and SANS 347 (pressure equipment).

Support ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) certification.

Pricing structure for professional services fees is as per Section C2.2: Pricing Schedule in the NEC Professional Services Contract (PSC) document, provided as a separate annexure.

No other pricing details are specified in the main document.

Pricing structure: Professional services fees as per Section C2.2: Pricing Schedule in the NEC Professional Services Contract (PSC).

Validity period: 120 business/working days. Prices must remain firm and valid during this period.

Payment terms: Payment certificates to be issued by the principal agent.

No bid security, bonds, or guarantees are specified in the document.

Tax compliance:

• Bidders must provide a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN. If no TCS PIN, a CSD number must be provided.
• Consortia/joint ventures/sub-contractors: each party must submit a separate TCS certificate/PIN/CSD number.
• Foreign suppliers: complete the foreign supplier questionnaire; if not a resident of RSA, no TCS PIN required.

Central Supplier Database (CSD): Registration required if no TCS PIN.

Professional registration: All key personnel must be professionally registered with relevant councils (ECSA, SACPCMP, SACQSP). ACSA will verify registrations.

B-BBEE: Preference points claimed under PPPFA. Minimum level stated as Level 1 in the analysis, but the document does not specify a minimum B-BBEE level for eligibility.

CIDB grading: Not specified (not a construction tender per se, but professional services).

Local content: Not specified.

Other compliance:

• Attendance at compulsory briefing session (sign register).
• Completion and signing of Form of Offer (C1.1).
• No bidder or consortium member may have an interest in any other bidder/consortium participating in this bid.

Occupational Health and Safety Agreement (C1.3) is part of the contract.

Compliance with the South African OHS Act required.

Health and Safety scope includes:

• Construction Health and Safety Specifications.
• Baseline risk assessments.
• HAZID and HAZOP participation.
• Safety file management.
• Permit compliance.
• Construction safety monitoring.
• Incident investigations.
• Emergency response planning.
• Airport operational safety coordination.
• Contractor SHE compliance.
• Legal compliance audits.
• Safety training and induction.
• Commissioning safety management.

Environmental requirements:

• Noise emissions at plant boundary ≤ 70 dB(A).
• CO2 emissions intensity ≥ 30% lower than grid baseline.
• Compliance with NEMA.
• Support ISO 50001 certification.

Environmental scope includes:

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• Environmental authorisations.
• Water use and stormwater compliance.
• Air quality assessments.
• Noise impact assessments.
• Carbon emissions assessments.
• Waste management planning.
• Environmental management programme (EMPr).
• Environmental monitoring.
• Stakeholder consultation support.
• Environmental auditing.
• Sustainability reporting.
• Carbon reduction assessments.
• Climate resilience considerations.

Contract form: NEC Professional Services Contract (PSC).

ACSA reserves the right to:

• Award the whole or part of the bid.
• Split the award.
• Negotiate with shortlisted bidders.
• Award to a bidder other than the highest scoring where objective criteria allow.
• Reject the lowest acceptable bid.
• Cancel the bid.

Validity period: 120 business/working days; prices firm during this period.

Confidentiality: Bidders may not disclose bid information to third parties without ACSA's written approval. Third parties consulted must sign confidentiality agreements, returned with the bid.

Fraud reporting: ACSA tip-offs hotline (0800 00 80 80 or 086 726 1681, [email protected]).

Additional evaluation criteria:

• Mandatory requirements: attendance at compulsory briefing (sign register), completed and signed Form of Offer (C1.1).
• Functionality threshold: minimum 60 points.
• Staged evaluation: mandatory → functionality → price and preference → negotiations → security vetting.
• ACSA may disqualify bidders without requesting outstanding documents.
• Bidders must meet requirements of each stage before progressing to the next.