Request for proposal to lease the premises in extent of 1687m2 at duncan road for the port of cape town for a period of up to ten (10) years.

Closing date: 02 November 2026 at 12:00 PM

Non-compulsory briefing session: 14 October 2026 at 10:00 AM (online via Microsoft Teams)

Closure of clarity-seeking questions: 23 October 2026

Bid validity period: 120 business days from closing date

Property available from: 01 November 2026

Enquiries and property access:

• Email: [email protected]
• No telephone or named contact provided.

Submission portal: https://transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net

Property location: Rail Reserve at Duncan Road, Port of Cape Town, Duncan Dock precinct (extent 1687m²)

Submission method: upload bid response onto the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal at https://transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net (use Google Chrome).

• Register/log in, toggle 'Log an Intent', then upload documents against the tender.
• Upload limit: 30MB per upload; multiple uploads permitted. Use only alphabetical/numerical characters in file names.
• Submit at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; late submissions are not accepted.
• Sign and date the bottom of each page; signatory must be legally authorised (proof of authority, e.g. company resolution, required).
• All returnable documents listed in Section 5 must be returned with the proposal.

Returnable documents:

• Mandatory (disqualification if missing): Section 4 – Rental Offer Price.
• Essential (opportunity to submit later, then disqualification if still missing): SBD 1 Form, Certificate of Acquaintance with RFP/Lease/Applicable Documents (Section 6), RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form (Section 7), Specific Goals Points Claim Form (Section 9), Job Creation and Skills Development (Section 10), Protection of Personal Information (Section 11), Certificate of Attendance of Briefing.
• Used for scoring (zero score if missing): proof of Specific Goals compliance (Section 9), valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, Capital Expenditure Plan, Maintenance Expenditure Plan, Company Profile, Business Plan, Reference Letters, Bank Rating.

Disqualification risks:

• Late or incorrectly uploaded submission.
• Missing mandatory returnable documents.
• Unsigned documents or unauthorised signatory.
• Collusion with other bidders.
• Attempting to canvass Transnet officers between closing and award.

Evaluation stages (sequential, but Transnet may run in parallel):

• Stage 1 – Test for responsiveness:
• Step 1: Administrative responsiveness – bid lodged on time, documents signed by authorised bidder. Must pass to proceed.
• Step 2: Substantive responsiveness – priced rental offer as prescribed in Section 4. Must pass to proceed.
• Stage 2 – Minimum threshold for functionality/technical: 66.67/100 points. Bidders evaluated on previous experience, track record, and Business Plan.
• Stage 3 – Final weighted scoring (total 100):
• Rental Offer Price: 80/90 points (formula based on highest acceptable bid, inclusive of taxes).
• Specific Goals (SBD 6.2): 20/10 points.
• Stage 4 – Objective criteria: Transnet may award to a bidder other than highest scorer for rotation, specialised operations, poor past performance, breach of Integrity Pact, probity risks, insolvency, etc.
• Stage 5 – Post-tender negotiations if rental not market-related; sequential negotiation with 1st, 2nd, 3rd ranked bidders.

Functionality/technical criteria (weights and scoring):

• Previous Experience (10 points): minimum 2 years' experience in proposed use; company profile with supporting evidence (lease, licence, etc.).
• Reference Letters (15 points): minimum 2 reference letters not older than 5 years; format includes customer name, address, contact, project scope, duration.
• Bank Rating (15 points): rating not older than 3 months; A, B, or C rating scores; D or below scores 0.
• Business Plan – alignment to Port Development Framework Plan (10 points): operations must address use of premises, port-related use, support port business.
• Market Analysis (10 points): port-related commercial activity; status quo, potential market, gap analysis, SWOT, economic spin-offs.
• Value to Port Operations (10 points): vision/mission, strategic objectives, innovation, short/medium-term value.
• Capital Expenditure Plan (10 points): detailed WBS and project schedule for refurbishment/upgrades over lease term.
• Maintenance Expenditure Plan (10 points): detailed maintenance plan aligned to property and proposed use.
• Financial Viability (10 points): cashflow projections over lease period, signed by finance professional; assumptions and mitigations for negative cashflows.

Lease of Rail Reserve at Duncan Road, Port of Cape Town, extent 1687m².

• Proposed use: Railway.
• Lease period: up to ten (10) years.
• Property leased on 'as is' (voetstoots) basis; see Annexure 1 (Lease Plan).
• Property currently occupied; previously used for railway activity.
• Exclusions: handling/storage of hazardous chemicals, staging of trucks, storage of fertilizers, truck refuelling station, contained handling depots, open-air storage of dust minerals.
• Successful bidder must undertake all refurbishment, repairs, upgrades, and capital improvements at own cost to make premises fit for purpose and compliant with laws.
• Beneficial occupation may be considered if motivated in Business Plan and approved by TNPA; bidder liable for holding costs during that period.
• Bidders must inspect the property before submitting; TNPA not liable for failure to inspect.
• Bidders must detail environmental commitments (waste disposal, recycling, energy conservation).

Evaluation methodology is staged: responsiveness tests, functionality/technical threshold (66.67), final weighted scoring (price 80/90, specific goals 20/10), objective criteria, post-tender negotiations, award.

• Stages may run in parallel; passing one stage does not guarantee passing previous stages.
• For JVs, stages 1 and 2 evaluated on majority shareholder; all JV entities' documents required for due diligence if preferred.

Bidder must have minimum 2 years' experience in proposed use, supported by company profile and evidence (lease, licence, verifiable document).

• Minimum 2 reference letters not older than 5 years; format includes customer name, address, contact details, project scope, duration.
• Bank rating not older than 3 months; rating A, B, or C scores, D or below scores 0.
• Business Plan must address alignment to Port Development Framework Plan, market analysis, value to port operations, capital and maintenance expenditure plans, and financial viability (cashflows signed by finance professional).

Complete Section 4 – Rental Offer Price schedule: monthly and annual rental (excl. VAT) for Years 1-5, total excl. VAT, add 15% VAT, total incl. VAT.

• Annual escalation must be included.
• TNPA verifies calculations; may use verified calculations for award.
• If rental not market-related, Transnet may negotiate with 1st, 2nd, 3rd ranked bidders or cancel RFP.

Pricing format: complete Section 4 – Rental Offer Price schedule.

• Provide monthly and annual rental (excl. VAT) for each of 5 years (Year 1 to Year 5), then total excl. VAT, add 15% VAT, total incl. VAT.
• Annual escalation must be included in the overall rental offer.
• TNPA will verify calculations; may use verified calculations for award.
• If highest scoring bidder's rental is not market-related, Transnet may negotiate with 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd ranked bidders, or cancel the RFP.
• No bid security, bond, or guarantee mentioned.
• Bidders must demonstrate financial viability via cashflow projections signed by a finance professional.

CSD registration: mandatory before bid submission; business not awarded if not registered. Foreign bidders without local entity must register a South African company.

Tax compliance: SARS TCS PIN or CSD number required; each JV/consortium/subcontractor party must submit separate tax compliance.

B-BBEE: valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) required for scoring; specific goals claim form (SBD 6.2) must be submitted.

Employment Equity Act: comply with applicable requirements, including Section 53.

Security clearance: successful bidder and personnel may need clearance to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET level.

Non-Disclosure Agreement and Supplier Integrity Pact must be signed.

Foreign bidders: complete questionnaire in SBD 1; if not resident, no branch, no permanent establishment, no income, not liable for tax in RSA, then no TCS PIN required.

Legal review: changes to standard lease terms subject to Transnet Legal Counsel approval.

DPIP/FPPO disclosure: bidders must disclose any commercial relationship with Domestic Prominent Influential Persons or Foreign Prominent Public Officials.

No specific OHS requirements stated beyond general compliance with laws and security measures. Successful bidder must implement security measures as required for safe performance of agreement.

Bidders must state their company's position on environmental commitments, including waste disposal, recycling, and energy conservation.

• Annexure 2 provides a Draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that bidders should review.
• Exclusions prohibit handling/storage of hazardous chemicals, fertilizer storage, and open-air dust minerals.

Lease agreement: TNPA draft lease (Annexure 3) applies; changes subject to legal review.

• Lease period: up to 10 years.
• Property leased 'as is' (voetstoots); bidder responsible for all refurbishment, repairs, upgrades, capital improvements at own cost.
• Beneficial occupation may be negotiated if motivated in Business Plan and approved; bidder liable for holding costs.
• Exclusions: hazardous chemicals, truck staging, fertilizer storage, truck refuelling, contained handling depots, open dust minerals.
• Transnet may cancel agreement and request restriction on National Treasury's Database of Restricted Bidders for up to 10 years if award based on incorrect information.
• Transnet may award to next ranked bidder if preferred bidder fails to sign or commence agreement.
• Bidders must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Confidentiality: all information treated as confidential; written approval required to divulge.
• Security clearance may be required for successful bidder and personnel.
• DPIP/FPPO disclosure required.

Additional evaluation criteria:

• Objective criteria: rotation of bidders, specialised operations, poor track record, breach of Integrity Pact, probity risks, insolvency, legal capacity, conflicts of interest.
• Due diligence may be conducted to validate bidder's qualifications, financial resources, managerial capability, etc.
• Post-tender negotiations if rental not market-related.