Rand water bid RW10420384/26 — borehole groundwater infrastructure for 47 unserved communities in gauteng and mpumalanga (6 months)

The Department of Water and Sanitation's national groundwater programme aims to supply potable water to currently unserved communities through low-cost, localised projects. Rand Water was appointed in June 2026 as implementing agent for identified municipalities in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

This scope of work covers the investigation, drilling, rehabilitation, equipping, installation, commissioning and handover of groundwater infrastructure at identified villages and informal settlements, over a six-month period.

Each identified area receives at least one borehole site, with more sites where the target population is high. Work is delivered in three stages: studies and compliance; installation, construction and commissioning; and commissioning, defects liability and technical support. The first two stages may overlap.

The specification is set out in two parts: general requirements (scope, external documents, functional and performance requirements, verification, site conditions, work by other contractors, proof to secure material and construction sequence) and discipline system specifications covering civil, process, mechanical, electrical, automation, health and safety, quality assurance, environmental authorisation and compliance, and site rules and regulations.

Closing: 16 October 2026 at 12:00.

Site visits: scheduled at a date and time set out in the letter of invitation to tender; the contractor is deemed to have inspected the sites and accepted their conditions.

Defects liability period: 12 months from completion.

Performance test readings and curves: due to the Engineer within 7 days of each test.

Rectification of rejected work or inferior material: within 3 working days of written notice.

Quality assurance report on any component: within 7 days of request.

Rand Water

Telephone: 011-682-0911

Address:

Johannesburg

2000

Scope

• Investigation, drilling, rehabilitation, equipping, installation, commissioning and handover of groundwater infrastructure for unserved communities in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, over six months.
• Delivery is staged: Stage 1 studies and compliance; Stage 2 installation, construction and commissioning; Stage 3 commissioning, defects liability and technical support. Stages 1 and 2 may overlap.

Standard site configuration (minimum one borehole site per identified area)

• One borehole with submersible pump and concrete manhole, plus a production meter.
• Tank stand and 2 x 10 000 L storage tanks (minimum 2, maximum 5 tanks per site).
• Treatment kiosk: 2 m x 2 m brick structure with concrete roof and steel door.
• Utility (Eskom or municipal) electrical supply; where no supply is available, a solar system with vandal-resistant enclosures for all equipment.
• Electrical reticulation within the site, pipe stand with 6 taps, clear view fencing and gate.
• Areas with a high target population receive more than one borehole site.

Investigations

• Desktop study of geological maps, aerial photos and satellite imagery, and review of existing borehole yields and water quality within a 5-10 km radius to assess aquifer stability.
• Geophysical survey using EM-34 and magnetic profiling, supported by Vertical Electrical Soundings where required; station spacing typically 10 m; data processed into 2D pseudo-sections to fix drilling coordinates.
• Borehole drilling to DWS Standard Operating Procedure; sites at least 30-50 m from pollution sources such as pit latrines, cattle kraals and cemeteries; access for rigs of 10-15 tons; exploratory boreholes before production boreholes where studies require.
• Step drawdown tests at four sequentially higher pumping rates, each held for at least 60 minutes.
• Constant discharge test of 24 to 48 hours to derive aquifer parameters, with recovery monitoring.
• Water quality sampling at the end of pumping, analysed by an accredited laboratory for major cations and anions, pH, electrical conductivity and total alkalinity, classified against DWS Drinking Standards and SANS 241-1:2025.

Civil works

• Concrete manhole for pump and meter; steel tank stand on concrete foundations; tank installation; 2 m x 2 m treatment kiosk; 32 mm HDPE pipework; concrete plinth; 6 pipe stands and 6 taps; safe discharge area; 100 m² of 60 mm SABS-approved paving; clear view fence and gate; post-commissioning reports to DWS.
• Concrete strength 25/19 with minimum cover 40 mm (50 mm in coastal areas); high tensile SABS-approved reinforcement; structural steel to S355JR; HDPE minimum PN6; manholes, pipe stands and taps SABS approved.
• Geotechnical work: desktop study per DWS SOP, trial pit and DCP testing with a report for tank stand and kiosk foundations.
• Survey and service detection submitted in CAD and signed PDF, with service positions given in xyz format.

Reticulation to a satellite site

• Additional pump with plinths, controls and accessories; 75 mm HDPE piping; maximum 500 m from the main site; additional 5 kL tank; 2 m high tank stand; 2 pipe stands and 2 taps; clear view fence and small gate (15 m).

Mechanical

• Complete borehole water supply and reticulation system: pump, rising main, pipework, storage tanks, taps, valves, meters, fittings, controls, instrumentation and electrical connections.
• Pump must operate between 80% and 110% of its Best Efficiency Point and meet duty head and flow without exceeding motor nameplate kilowatts.
• Materials: pump bowl and stages cast stainless steel 304 (316 for corrosive water); impellers and diffusers stainless steel 304; shaft stainless steel 431 or 316; wear rings and bearings NBR, polyurethane or PTFE; discharge head cast stainless steel 304 or epoxy-coated cast iron; stainless steel 304 fasteners; stainless steel motor housing for permanent submerged operation.
• Fittings include non-return valve, suction strainer, cable guard, float switch, SABS-approved submersible cable and joint kits, control box with manual reset, and stainless steel safety rope.

Electrical

• Solar power is the primary system, with provision to connect to utility supply in future.
• Hybrid photovoltaic systems with inverters, Tier 1 panels and LiFePO4 batteries, designed for a minimum two-day autonomy, in vandal-resistant, ventilated enclosures protected against water, dust, vermin and insects.
• Where a utility can provide a new or upgraded connection within three to four weeks, the contractor facilitates the application on Rand Water's behalf and provides all materials and installations.
• Low voltage switchgear, a complete power distribution network, isolation and control panels, and borehole pump protection and control panels with level switches, over/under voltage protection and dry-run prevention.
• Earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection by a specialist registered with ELPA, based on soil test results.
• Area lighting in the fenced area, vandal-resistant protection for electrical infrastructure, electrical certificate of compliance, and test reports including cable testing, panel FAT, UPS FAT and SAT.

Automation and control

• Automatic tank level-based pump control using hardwired interlocks between level switches and motor starter circuits.
• Magnetic flow meter with integrated data logging for potable water supplied to taps, housed in a dedicated vandal-proof panel.
• Control and instrumentation cabling, screened and armoured where required, with junction boxes, supports, glands and termination systems, and segregation of power and signal cables.
• Calibration of all instrumentation before commissioning, functional testing of control and protection systems, verification of alarms and interlocks, and full site commissioning.
• Documentation: wiring and loop diagrams, as-built drawings, calibration and test certificates, software back-ups and O&M manuals, plus training of employer personnel.

Operating and control philosophy

• Pump starts automatically at the low-level setpoint and stops at the high-level setpoint; setpoints are adjustable per site; level switches powered from a 12 V control transformer.
• Multiple tanks on a common pump are filled under a coordinated strategy with individual level monitoring and alarms for low level, high level, overflow, sensor failure and significant imbalance.
• Protection against dry running, cavitation, air entrainment, excessive cycling, reverse flow and overload; a non-return valve on the pump discharge; manual operation for testing, commissioning, maintenance and emergencies without overriding critical protection; automatic restart after power restoration; visual and audible alarms; telemetry or SCADA interface where specified.

Process and water treatment

• Pumping tests to confirm sustainable aquifer yield, and collection and interpretation of water quality data per site using an accredited laboratory.
• Where contaminants are present (suspended solids, organic and inorganic contaminants, coliphages, total coliforms, cryptosporidium and giardia oocysts), a skid-type ultrafiltration unit with HMI and data logging must be priced and installed.
• Disinfection regimen (chlorine or other approved) is required.
• Water treatment plants per site must treat groundwater to SANS 241 (2025) and Rand Water potable water requirements, with a 20-year design life, spillage containment, sampling points before and after filtration and disinfection, remote operation and data logging.

Handover and defects liability

• 12-month defects liability period, during which the contractor submits the O&M manual, trains staff and hands over, complies with DWS SOP and submits borehole sustainability reports to DWS, and provides as-built drawings in CAD and DWG.

Verification and quality assurance

• Inspection at works, performance tests at works with readings submitted within 7 days, inspection during installation with rectification within 3 working days, and site performance tests to prove specification compliance.
• The contractor submits a quality assurance plan proposal for the Engineer's approval and produces a quality assurance report on any component within 7 days of request.
• The contractor provides a construction sequence for Rand Water approval before work starts, aligned to the overall project programme.

Applicable standards

• DWS Standard Operating Procedure for Groundwater Resource Development for Community Water Supply Projects, Version 4.
• SANS 10299-1 (location and siting of water boreholes), SANS 241 (2025) (drinking water), SANS 10252 Part 1 (water supply installations), SANS 4427 (PE piping systems), SANS 1123 (pipe flanges), SANS 1200 (civil engineering construction).
• SABS 471 (Portland cement), SABS 920 (steel reinforcement), SABS 822 (drawing paper sizes).
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, and the Explosives Act 1956 where applicable.
• Rand Water Standard Drawings and Functional Design Specification; British Standards; IEC publications; CSIR Red Book; TRH4 and UTG2 pavement design; SANRAL Drainage Manual.

Payment

• Final payment is withheld until the final approved operating and maintenance manuals have been received.
• The contract price is deemed to cover all costs of managing and integrating interfaces across disciplines, systems and sites.
• The contractor bears the cost of all tests.
• The contractor may be required to prove, to the owner's satisfaction, that it can secure all materials needed to complete the contract.
• No bid security, performance guarantee, retention percentage or payment-term detail is stated in this scope of work.

Registration and statutory compliance

• Registration on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and a valid SARS tax compliance status are required.
• Work falls under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, and the Explosives Act 1956 where applicable.
• Contractors must comply with the Rand Water Safety Codes of Practice and the project Health and Safety Specification (SAM SHE 00811Spec) and baseline risk assessment.
• Drilling must comply with the DWS Standard Operating Procedure for Groundwater Resource Development, Version 4.
• Water quality analyses must be performed by an accredited laboratory.
• Earthing and lightning protection must be done by a specialist registered with ELPA.
• Materials must be SABS approved where applicable; cement to SABS 471 and steel reinforcement to SABS 920.
• An electrical certificate of compliance is required for electrical, earthing and lightning protection installations.

Returnable forms

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 3.1/3.2/3.3 (Pricing Schedule): the priced offer.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses state employment or connections to the procuring institution.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims B-BBEE preference points.
• SBD 6.2 (Declaration for Local Production and Content): declares local content.
• SBD 7.1/7.2 (Contract Form): binds the successful bidder to the contract terms.
• SBD 8 (Declaration of Bidder's Past Supply Chain Management Practices): discloses past SCM conduct.
• SBD 9 (Certificate of Independent Bid Determination): certifies independent pricing with no collusion.
• Authority to Sign / Board Resolution: authorises the signatory to bind the bidder.

Note

• No specific B-BBEE level or CIDB grading is stated in this scope of work.

Closing date and time

• Friday, 16 October 2026 at 12:00.

Briefing session

• None. The briefing session date and venue are recorded as not applicable; no compulsory briefing applies.

Site viewing

• None. Site viewing dates are recorded as not applicable.

Clarification and addenda deadlines

• Bidders may request clarification no later than five (5) calendar days before the closing date.
• Rand Water issues its final clarification responses no later than ten (10) calendar days before the closing date; responses are published on the e-Tender Publication Portal.
• Addenda, where applicable, are issued no later than five (5) calendar days before the closing date and published on the e-Tender Publication Portal.

Other dates

• Bid issue date: Friday, 25 September 2026.
• Bid validity: 180 calendar days after the closing date; Rand Water may extend this for a reasonable period.
• Rand Water will release the names of submitted bidders to interested parties at least one week after the closing date.

Bidding procedure enquiries — Buyer

• Contact: Bongani Ndwandwe
• Role: Buyer
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 011 682 0724

Bidding procedure enquiries — Sourcing Manager

• Contact: Semakaleng Mangoali
• Role: Sourcing Manager
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 011 682 0396

Submission address

Rand Water Head Office

522 Impala Road

Glenvista

2058

(Bid Submissions Box at the Main Gate)

Bid documents

• Downloadable from the National Treasury e-Tender Publication portal: http://www.etenders.treasury.gov.za. No documents are issued at site meetings.

Submission method

• Sealed hard-copy bid delivered to the bid submission box at Rand Water Head Office, 522 Impala Road, Glenvista, 2058 (box at the Main Gate).
• Telephonic, telegraphic, telex, facsimile and emailed bids will not be accepted.
• The package must be sealed and endorsed with the bid number (RW10420384/26) and the bid description as printed on the cover.
• One (1) original bid document plus all returnables. A USB flash drive containing the bid and returnables in PDF may be added but is not required.
• Bids must be submitted on the documentation issued by Rand Water through the National Treasury e-Tender Publication portal; the full document must be submitted with the returnables.
• No bid substitutions are permitted after the closing date and time.

Returnables required at closing — disqualifiable if not fully completed, signed and submitted:

• Test for responsiveness / pre-qualifiers (as listed in the evaluation criteria).
• Pricing Schedule / Bill of Quantities (BoQ).
• Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire (T2.2) — enterprise, VAT, CIDB, CSD and ownership particulars.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim) — claims B-BBEE preference points.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure) — discloses state employment and conflicts of interest.
• Resolution Letter for the Main Contractor — authorises the person signing the bid to bind the company.

Returnables required at closing for evaluation — incomplete submission scores lower but does not disqualify:

• Functionality documents referenced in the evaluation criteria.
• B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• T2.2.6 — fluctuations in the cost of labour and materials.
• T2.2.7 — FOB prices of imported equipment/materials requiring foreign exchange.
• T2.2.8 — Declaration of Insurance.
• Three years of financial statements (audited, or at minimum an Independent Review) plus the current year's management report (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow).

Documents required after award:

• Safety file meeting Rand Water requirements.
• Performance guarantee.

Disqualification risks

• Any disqualifiable returnable left incomplete, unsigned or absent at closing.
• Corrections made with correction fluid or similar substances.
• Late or emailed/faxed submissions.
• Failure to submit a requested non-disqualifiable returnable within 5 working days of written request.

Evaluation stages (in order)

1. Test for responsiveness / pre-qualifiers — all must be met to proceed.
2. Functionality evaluation — minimum qualifying score of 70 out of 100.
3. Preference point system — 80/20 applies (80 points price, 20 points specific goals).
4. Objective criteria — supplier rotation threshold.

Test for responsiveness / pre-qualifiers

• CIDB grading 5CE or higher, or capable of being registered at 5CE or higher before evaluation.
• Fully completed and signed Form of Offer.
• No correction fluid or similar correction substances.

Functionality criteria (total 100, minimum 70 to proceed)

• A. Positive record of previous experience relevant to the scope, with contactable client references — weight 25. Rating: none 0%; weak 33.3% (one reference); moderate 66.7% (two references); good 100% (three or more references).
• B. Human resource capacity — weight 25. Rating: none 0% (no submission); weak 33.3% (organogram plus CV of one key resource — Ground Water Specialist, Pr.Sci.Nat SACNASP); moderate 66.7% (organogram, project team CVs with two professional key resources — Ground Water Specialist Pr.Sci.Nat SACNASP and Electrical Engineer Pr.Eng./Pr.Technologist ECSA); good 100% (detailed organogram, project team CVs, resource allocation against other projects, two professional key resources). Proof of professional registration must accompany the CVs; without it the submission is rated as none.
• C. Equipment resource capacity — weight 25. Rating: none 0% (no submission); moderate 66.7% (office space plus 2 drilling rigs, 2 industrial air compressors, 2 water pumps, 2 geophysical survey meters, 2 light delivery vehicles); good 100% (office space plus 3 drilling rigs, 3 industrial air compressors, 3 water pumps, 3 geophysical survey meters, 3 light delivery vehicles). Office space evidenced by lease/rental agreement or title deed; vehicles by Natis registration. Rand Water may verify by due diligence.
• D. Method statement — weight 20. Rating: none 0% (no submission); weak 33.3%; moderate 66.7%; good 100%. Must address understanding of the scope, approach and methodology, studies and compliance, programme schedule, drilling/testing/construction and installation, commissioning and handover, and operator on-job training.
• E. Safety, Health and Environment — weight 5. Rating: none 0% (no submission or below weak); good 100% (signed internal Health & Safety Policy, signed SHE Plan and signed Environmental Policy).

Preference points (80/20)

• Price: 80 points, calculated on the lowest acceptable bid.
• Specific goals (B-BBEE): 20 points maximum, awarded by B-BBEE status level — Level 1 = 20; Level 2 = 18; Level 3 = 14; Level 4 = 12; Level 5 = 8; Level 6 = 6; Level 7 = 4; Level 8 = 2; non-compliant = 0.
• A bidder who does not submit a B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit is not disqualified but scores zero for the specific goals.
• Total adjudication points = price points + B-BBEE points. Rand Water is not bound to accept the lowest price or the highest-scoring bid.

Price reasonableness

• Financial tolerance range for this bid: -20% to +20%. Prices outside this range may be eliminated as excessively high or low.

Objective criteria (supplier rotation)

• Rotation threshold: R250 million (all taxes included) awarded to a supplier in a financial year.
• An award that pushes a bidder past the threshold may be made as that bidder's last award for the financial year.
• Rand Water will not award to the highest-scoring bidder if that bidder has already exceeded the rotation threshold; where such a bidder is the only successful respondent, Rand Water may assess the risk and evaluate accordingly.

Alternative offers

• An alternative tender offer may be submitted only alongside a compliant main offer, must be based on the stated criteria, and is considered only if the main offer wins. Its price may not exceed the main offer's price.

Scope of work

• Investigation, drilling, rehabilitation, equipping, installation, commissioning and handover of groundwater infrastructure (boreholes) for unserved communities in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.
• Contracting strategy: develop and construct.
• Classification: specialised work.
• Contract period: six (6) months.

Quantities and allocation

• Indicative requirement of up to sixty-one (61) boreholes across identified communities in local municipalities in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
• The quantity is for planning and tender evaluation only and is not a guarantee or commitment to procure any minimum number.
• Work is allocated on an as-and-when-required basis, subject to confirmed requirements, site suitability, statutory approvals, available funding and operational priorities.
• Rand Water may allocate up to five (5) boreholes, including associated infrastructure, to any successful bidder, with no guaranteed minimum allocation.

Awarding strategy

• A minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of thirteen (13) suppliers will be awarded.
• Where more than one supplier is awarded, Rand Water may negotiate with the highest-ranked pre-determined number of suppliers to normalise prices before award.

Technical requirements

• The full technical requirements are set out in the employer's requirement / bid documentation.
• Method statement must cover understanding of the scope, approach and methodology, studies and compliance, programme schedule, drilling, testing, construction and installation, commissioning and handover, and operator on-job training.
• Key resources required: a Ground Water Specialist (Geohydrologist, Pr.Sci.Nat SACNASP) with at least 5 years' experience developing boreholes in South Africa, and an Electrical Engineer (Pr.Eng. or Pr.Technologist, ECSA) with at least 5 years' post-registration experience developing boreholes in South Africa, including renewable energy (solar) experience.
• Minimum equipment: drilling rigs, industrial air compressors, water pumps, geophysical survey meters and light delivery vehicles, plus office space.

Bid validity

• Bids must remain valid for 180 calendar days after the closing date; Rand Water may extend the validity period.

Price reasonableness

• Financial tolerance range: -20% to +20%. Prices outside the range may be eliminated as excessively high or low.

Pricing format

• Pricing Schedule / Bill of Quantities (BoQ) must be completed and submitted with the bid.
• T2.2.6 must be completed for fluctuations in the cost of labour and materials.
• T2.2.7 must be completed for FOB prices of imported equipment/materials requiring foreign exchange and importing charges.

Financial capacity evidence

• Three years of financial statements (audited, or at minimum an Independent Review) plus the current year's management report (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement) must be submitted.

Post-award financial requirements

• A performance guarantee is required after award.
• A safety file meeting Rand Water requirements is required after award.

Payment and price adjustment

• Rand Water may negotiate with the highest-ranked pre-determined number of suppliers to normalise prices before award where multiple suppliers are appointed.

CIDB

• Minimum contractor grading: 5CE or higher, or capable of being registered at 5CE or higher before evaluation.
• Joint ventures: every member must be CIDB-registered; the lead partner must hold 5CE grading or not lower than one level below the required grading with the required recognition status; the combined grading must meet the requirement.

CSD and tax

• CSD registration number required (Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire).
• Supplier tax compliance status and CSD PIN required; the bidder authorises Rand Water to verify tax clearance status with SARS.

B-bbee

• B-BBEE status determines the 20 specific-goal points under the 80/20 system.
• Evidence: a SANAS-accredited B-BBEE certificate, a sworn affidavit (for EMEs and QSEs), or a dtic B-BBEE certificate.
• No certificate or affidavit means zero points for specific goals, but does not disqualify the bid.

Statutory and registration documents

• CIPC/company registration number, VAT registration number (if any), and CIDB registration number must be furnished in the Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire.
• Sole proprietors and partners must provide identity numbers and personal income tax numbers.

Mandatory declarations

• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure) — discloses whether any director, shareholder or controlling person is employed by the state or connected to anyone at the procuring institution; a false declaration disqualifies the bid.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim) — claims B-BBEE preference points; fraudulent claims may lead to disqualification, cost recovery, contract cancellation, restriction for up to 10 years and criminal prosecution.
• Compulsory Enterprise Questionnaire — confirms no appearance on the Register of Tender Defaulters, no fraud or corruption conviction in the last five years, and no conflict of interest or association with other bidders.
• Resolution Letter for the Main Contractor — authorises the signatory to bind the company.

Exclusion

• Bidders or their directors/shareholders appearing on the Register of Tender Defaulters or the List of Restricted Suppliers are automatically disqualified.

Evaluation is carried out in four stages: responsiveness/pre-qualifiers, functionality (minimum 70 out of 100), the 80/20 preference point system, and objective criteria.

Functionality criteria and weights (total 100)

• Previous experience relevant to the scope, with contactable client references — 25.
• Human resource capacity, including organogram and key-resource CVs — 25.
• Equipment resource capacity, including office space, rigs, compressors, pumps, survey meters and vehicles — 25.
• Method statement covering scope, methodology, studies and compliance, programme, drilling/testing/construction/installation, commissioning and handover, and operator training — 20.
• Safety, Health and Environment (signed H&S Policy, SHE Plan and Environmental Policy) — 5.

Preference points

• 80/20 system applies: 80 points for price, 20 points for B-BBEE specific goals.
• B-BBEE points: Level 1 = 20; Level 2 = 18; Level 3 = 14; Level 4 = 12; Level 5 = 8; Level 6 = 6; Level 7 = 4; Level 8 = 2; non-compliant = 0.

Objective criteria

• Supplier rotation threshold of R250 million (all taxes included) awarded per financial year; Rand Water will not award to the highest-scoring bidder who has already exceeded the threshold.