Supply and delivery of copper earthing conductors (flat strip and round bar) for gauteng substations — three-year as-and-when-required term (ESKOM e3680dxgoueal)

Closing

• Closing date and time: 16 November 2026 at 12:00 (SAST, GMT+2). No late tenders are accepted.
• Closing time is determined by the Telkom telephone time signal.

Clarification questions

• Clarifications must be requested from the Eskom Representative before the closing time for clarification of queries stated in the Tender Data.
• Responses are published to all bidders in the same manner as the enquiry documents; bidders must check the Eskom Tender Bulletin and the National Treasury e-Tender Portal for responses, addenda and any change to the submission deadline.

Briefing / site visit

• No compulsory briefing or site visit date, time or venue is stated in the enquiry documents provided. Where the Tender Data cites a compulsory site visit or clarification meeting, attendance is mandatory and non-attendance disqualifies the tender.

Contract dates

• Contract period: 3 years on an as-and-when-required basis.
• Starting date and delivery date: to be advised; delivery dates are stipulated in each purchase order.
• First programme: within 1 week of purchase order issue; revised programmes every 4 weeks from contract start, together with the supplier development and localisation obligation.
• Defects date: 52 weeks after delivery; defect correction period: 2 weeks; defects access period: 5 days.

Eskom Representative

• Contact name, role, e-mail and telephone: not stated in the enquiry documents provided; all tender communication must be directed to the Eskom Representative named in the Tender Data.

Communication rules

• Communication must be in writing (hand-written, typed, printed or electronic, giving a permanent record), in English, and only with the Eskom Representative.
• Eskom accepts no responsibility for communications not received.

Purchaser address (Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd)

Megawatt Park

Maxwell Drive

Sandton

Johannesburg, 2199

Submission address

• The tender box address, fax number or e-mail address is stated in the Tender Data; packages must be addressed to Eskom there and marked with the invitation-to-tender number.

Submission channel

• Tenders must reach Eskom at the tender box, address, fax number or e-mail address stated in the Tender Data by the closing deadline.
• Times are South African Standard Time (GMT+2); the closing time is set by the Telkom telephone time signal and is strictly applied.
• Telephonic tenders are not accepted; e-mail submission is allowed only where the Tender Data says so.
• Late tenders are returned unopened. Proof of posting or courier delivery is not accepted as proof of delivery, and Eskom accepts no responsibility for postal, courier, fax or transmission delays or for delivery to the wrong location.
• Eskom employees may not place a tender in the tender box for a bidder.

Copies and packaging

• Submit the complete original tender plus one (1) complete hard copy of the original; failure to include the hard copy disqualifies the tender and copies will not be accepted after the deadline.
• An additional electronic soft copy may be required.
• Tenders must be in English and completed in ink, not pencil.
• The original and the copy must be sealed as separate packages marked "ORIGINAL" and "COPY", each showing the Eskom address, the invitation-to-tender number and the bidder's name and contact address.
• Those sealed packages must go into one outer package marked "CONFIDENTIAL" showing only the Eskom address and the invitation-to-tender number.

Mandatory returnables (complete, sign and submit by the closing deadline; omissions or missing signatures render the bid non-responsive)

• E-Tendering Training Acknowledgement Form: confirms the bidder has completed Eskom's e-tendering self-training or attended a clarification meeting and can operate the e-tendering solution; incomplete submission disqualifies the bidder.
• C1.1 Form of Offer and Acceptance: records the offered total of the prices excluding VAT, VAT at 15% and the total including VAT in figures and words, and binds the authorised signatory.
• Acknowledgement Form: confirms whether the bid covers the whole or part of the works, services or supply, and is returned with the tender.
• Quality requirements checklist (specification 240-105658000): the bidder marks the applicable pre-contract award quality category, selecting only one, and states whether a site assessment applies.
• Annexure B: signed acknowledgement of Eskom's SHE rules and requirements.
• Safety, Health and Environmental Plan for the scope of work.
• Environmental documents per the environmental specification: policy, aspects and risk register, appointment of environmental resources, competence evidence, communications plan, emergency response, rehabilitation method statement, non-conformance procedure, waste management plan and environmental management plan.
• Financial statements required by Annexure D.
• Proof of authority to act as agent, where an agent tenders on behalf of a principal.
• Proof of CIDB registration, where CIDB applies.
• Contract Data provided by the Supplier and the Schedule of Deviations, where applicable.

Other rules

• Mandatory returnables must be in Eskom's possession by the closing deadline and will not be requested or accepted afterwards; other returnables needed for award must be submitted before contract award.
• Do not alter or add to the tender documents except to correct the bidder's own errors; every alteration must be initialled by all signatories, and correction fluid or tape may not be used.
• All communication must be with the Eskom Representative, in writing and in English.
• Tenders are opened in the presence of bidders' representatives who choose to attend; bidder names are announced.
• Alternative tenders may be submitted only alongside a main tender and only where the invitation permits them.

Evaluation sequence

1. Basic compliance check against the enquiry; failure renders the bid non-responsive.
2. Mandatory returnables check; missing mandatory documents or information renders the bid non-responsive.
3. Functionality or technical evaluation where functionality applies, against the minimum threshold stated in the Tender Data; only bids meeting the threshold proceed.
4. Environmental evaluation, scored out of 100.
5. Financial analysis of the bidder's financial statements; an unacceptable financial risk with insufficient mitigating factors can disqualify the bid.
6. Price evaluation, then specific goals (preference points), then ranking.

Price

• Evaluated on the criteria in the Tender Data, taking account of contract price adjustment, forex, commodity increases, discounts, net present value and forecast invoicing rates.
• Arithmetic discrepancies are corrected under the Standard Conditions: amounts in words govern over figures; a misplaced decimal point, omitted pricing-schedule or bill-of-quantities items, line-item total errors and summation errors are corrected on set rules, and the highest-ranked bidder must accept the correction or risk rejection.

Preference points

• Preference points are claimed for specific goals with supporting documentation submitted by the closing deadline.
• A bidder that misses the specific goals or the proof is not disqualified, but scores the full 80 or 90 points for price and zero for specific goals (PPPFA 80/20 or 90/10 allocation).
• Price and specific-goal scores are added and bidders ranked highest to lowest.
• Eskom may award to a bidder that did not score the highest points under section 2(1)(f) of the PPPFA, using objective criteria stipulated in the tender documents; functionality and contractual requirements may not be used as those objective criteria.

Environmental evaluation (total 100)

• Environmental management policy: 20
• Environmental aspects identified (risk assessment register, controls, compliance obligations): 10
• Environmental resources, roles and responsibilities (signed appointment letter): 10
• Competence, training and development (environmental law training, or an environmental certificate, diploma or degree): 10
• Communication (environmental communications plan): 5
• Emergency preparedness (response to incidents such as bees, wildlife interaction and hydrocarbon spillages): 10
• Environmental method statement for site rehabilitation (near water courses, wetlands, slopes and road reserves): 10
• Non-conformity and corrective action procedure: 5
• Waste management plan (waste streams register, storage and disposal): 10
• Environmental management plan detail (access control, landowner liaison, monitoring, incident log, site establishment, sanitation, water resource protection, storm water, vegetation, fencing, stockpiling, erosion, hazardous substances, heritage resources, fauna protection, noise, dust, waste): 10
• The supplier evaluation sheet records a pass rate of 100 and uses a different per-item weighting; evaluation may run over three rounds.

Technical evaluation

• Copper conductors for earthing in substations are evaluated against specification 240-170000806, with material specification 240-170000153.

Reverse e-auction

• Eskom may use a reverse e-auction; where it does, a complete tender must be submitted without prices and any prices included are disregarded.

Scope

• Supply and delivery of copper earthing conductors for use in substations in the Gauteng Cluster, on an as-and-when-required basis, for a period of 3 years.
• Contract form: NEC3 Supply Contract (SC3), comprising Part C1 Agreements and Contract Data, Part C2 Pricing Data and Part C3 Scope of Work (Goods Information and Supply Requirements).
• Goods: copper and earthing conductors.

Materials and quantities

• Item 400772 — flat copper strip: width 50 mm, thickness 3.15 mm, material copper, annealed temper, drawing DDT 6045 Rev 4, specification 240-170000153; supplied in coils not exceeding 45 kg. Quantity: 30 000 kg.
• Item 400769 — round copper bar: diameter 10 mm, material Cu, annealed grade, drawing DDT 6044 Rev 1, standard 240-170000153; supplied in coils not exceeding 45 kg; test certificate identification required. Quantity: 30 000 kg.

Delivery and programme

• Delivery dates are stipulated in each purchase order; goods may not be brought to the delivery place more than one week before the delivery date.
• First programme due within 1 week of purchase order issue; revised programmes every 4 weeks from contract start together with the supplier development and localisation obligation.
• Payment assessment interval: 7 days on receipt of a pro-forma invoice and signed delivery note.

Quality and technical standards

• Technical evaluation of copper conductors used for earthing in substations: specification 240-170000806.
• Pre-contract award quality requirements: specification 240-105658000, clause 3 — the bidder selects one category only (Category 3 is marked applicable) and states whether a site assessment applies.
• Tender and contract quality requirements: specification 240-68099512; list of tender returnables for supplier quality management: specification 240-12248652.
• Recorded contract risks: incorrect copper grade, size or conductivity causing technical failure; theft of copper because of its resale value; delivery delays and extended production lead times; injuries or disablement from inadequate risk assessment or non-compliance with requirements.

Environmental specification (Gauteng operating unit)

• Environmental management system to ISO 14001:2015 — compliance required, certification not required.
• Environmental aspects must be identified with the national legislation and policies that apply to the work.
• Waste streams arising from the work must be listed, registered and managed, including storage and disposal.
• Site rehabilitation method statement required for different environments, including near water courses, in wetlands, on slopes and in road reserves.

Pricing

• Rates and prices must be fixed for the duration of the contract and are not subject to contract price adjustment except as provided in the enquiry; the NEC3 contract options include X1 price adjustment for inflation.
• Rates and prices include all duties, taxes (including VAT at 15%) and other levies payable, applicable 14 days before the closing deadline.
• Prices to be stated in South African Rand unless the invitation states otherwise.
• Contract data options: X1 price adjustment for inflation, X2 changes in law, X7 delay damages, X13 performance bond, Z additional conditions.
• Where a reverse e-auction applies, no prices may be submitted and any prices included are disregarded.

Payment

• Assessment interval: 7 days after Eskom receives a pro-forma invoice and signed delivery note.
• Payment period: 30 days from submission of a tax-compliant invoice with a GR number for contracts valued below R50 000 000 including VAT; 60 days for contracts above R50 000 000 including VAT.
• Interest on amounts due in Rand: the publicly quoted prime rate of Standard Bank of South Africa, calculated on a 365-day year.
• Payment is made against a payment certificate from the Supply Manager and a tax invoice in the form Eskom requires.

Security and liability

• Performance bond: option X13 applies; the bidder must name at least two financial institutions it may approach for the required security, and Eskom may reject an unsuitable institution.
• Parent company guarantee or performance bond, where required, must be on an institution's legal-approved template.
• The supplier's liability for indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profit, revenue and goodwill, is limited to R0.00.

Financial statements (Annexure D — required for financial analysis)

• Latest two years' comparative financial statements, not older than 18 months.
• Companies: PIS score; ITA 34C income tax assessment where not audited; signed independent auditors' or reviewers' report; directors' report; comparative statements of financial position, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows; notes.
• Close corporations: PIS score; ITA 34C where not audited; signed accounting officers' report; members' report; the same comparative statements and notes.
• Joint ventures: signed joint venture agreement showing each entity's percentage shareholding.
• Entities less than one year old: the owner's five years of tax returns and the owner's financial position (income and expenditure, assets and liabilities).
• Signed guarantee letter where a tendering subsidiary has no financial statements of its own or its financials are consolidated into the holding company's.
• Where applicable: a parent company guarantee from the holding company or a performance bond from the bidder's bank.
• A bidder posing too high a financial risk, with insufficient mitigating factors, may be disqualified.

Eligibility

• Bid only if the bidder meets the eligibility criteria in the Tender Data and neither the bidder nor its principals is restricted from doing business with Eskom or other state-owned companies.
• A bid based on 100% sub-contracting of the scope is ineligible and will be disqualified.

Registrations and statutory compliance

• CSD registration in line with National Treasury instructions.
• CIDB registration where applicable: proof is mandatory by the closing deadline and failure to submit disqualifies the bid; if only proof of application is available at closing, that proof must be submitted by the closing deadline and the CIDB database printout before contract award.
• CIPC registration details for companies and close corporations.
• Tax compliance status or tax clearance as required for CSD registration and payment.
• B-BBEE: specific-goal preference points are claimed with supporting evidence by the closing deadline; a fraudulent B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, or fronting, is reported to the B-BBEE Commissioner and can lead to disqualification and further remedies.
• Compliance with the PPPFA and its regulations, the amended B-BBEE codes, COIDA, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, dtic designated-material local-content requirements, and Eskom's SHEQ requirements.
• Failure to meet the dtic local-content requirement for designated materials renders the tender non-responsive.

Safety, health, environment and quality

• Proof of SHEQ systems, policies and capability must satisfy Eskom at contract award, and all SHEQ costs and personnel must be reflected in the tender.
• Annexure B acknowledgement of Eskom's SHE rules and requirements must be signed and submitted.
• A Safety, Health and Environmental Plan for the scope of work is required; it is evaluated by Eskom, must be approved and signed by an Eskom SHE functionary, and no work may start on site before approval.
• Contractors must comply with Eskom's contractor health and safety requirements (standard 32-136) and all applicable SHE legislation, and must evaluate any sub-contractors they appoint.
• Environmental management system to ISO 14001:2015 — compliance required, certification not required.
• Quality: the bidder selects one pre-contract award quality category under specification 240-105658000 (Category 3 is marked applicable) and states whether a site assessment applies.

Conduct and disqualification risks

• Misrepresenting or falsifying information, certificates, affidavits or documents may disqualify the bid.
• Influencing the tender process, collusion, bid rigging or fraud leads to rejection through Eskom's Supplier Reconsideration Committee.
• Late tenders, a missing hard copy, missing mandatory returnables, and bids from restricted bidders are non-responsive.
• Contract skills development goals and contract participation goals apply only where the stated thresholds are met (works above R60 million over 12 months or more, or service contracts/orders above R5 million over 12 months or more, and CIDB grades 7–9 General Building or Civil Engineering with at least a 5% contract participation goal).

Technical evaluation standards

• Copper conductors used for earthing in substations are evaluated against the technical evaluation standard, specification 240-170000806.
• The applicable material specification is 240-170000153.
• Tender and contract quality requirements are set out in specification 240-68099512.
• The list of tender returnables for supplier quality management is specification 240-12248652.
• The quality requirements are addressed in the quality section (5.11 Quality) of the applicable quality standard.