National hazard assessment for nuclear and radiological emergencies – 10-Week consultancy (DEE/006/2026/27)

The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) is responsible for energy policy and administration of the Nuclear Energy Policy (2008) and related legislation. DEE is the national organ of state responsible for nuclear emergencies. South Africa operates the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant (Eskom) and NECSA facilities (research, isotope production, fuel fabrication, waste management). Medical and industrial radioactive applications are regulated by NNR and SAHPRA. Under Section 25 of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, DEE must develop a disaster management plan. The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) guidelines prescribe a phased risk assessment approach. This project develops a National Hazard Assessment for Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies to support emergency preparedness, response, and risk reduction, and to guide the DEE Nuclear Sector Disaster Management Plan, aligned with IAEA GSR Part 7.

Closing date: 08 December 2026 at 11:00

Compulsory briefing session: 23 November 2026 at 10:00

Venue: Department of Electricity and Energy, 192 Visagie Street, corner Paul Kruger and Visagie Street, Pretoria 0001

Attendance: bidders must sign the register and remain from opening to closure; failure to sign disqualifies the bid.

General enquiries:

• Contact: Mr Samuel Msiza
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 012 406 7910

General enquiries:

• Contact: Ms Rachel Moerane
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 012 406 7747

Technical enquiries:

• Contact: Mr Thabiso Pie
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 012 406 7504

Submission address:

Department of Electricity and Energy

192 Matimba House Building

Corner Visagie and Paul Kruger Street

Pretoria

(Tender Box)

Submission method: physical delivery to the Tender Box at the Department of Electricity and Energy, 192 Matimba House Building, corner Visagie and Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria.

• Closing time: 08 December 2026 at 11:00. Late bids are not accepted.
• Submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of the proposal.
• Index the proposal for easy reference.
• Returnable forms (must be fully completed, signed and dated):
• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest): discloses whether any director or shareholder is employed by the state or connected to anyone at the department.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim): claims B-BBEE points under the PPPFA 80/20 system.
• Non-compliance risks: amendments without signature/initials, use of correctional fluid, or completion of the bid document in coloured ink other than black ink.
• Failure to sign the briefing session attendance register disqualifies the bid.

Evaluation stages: functionality (Gate 01), administrative compliance (Gate 02), and point scoring (Gate 03).

• Gate 01 – Functionality: minimum threshold 70% of 100. Bidders scoring below 70% are disqualified.
• Company experience (20 points): 10+ years = 5, 6–9 years = 4, 5 years = 3, 2–4 years = 2, 1 year or less = 1, none = 0. Proof of contactable referees for similar completed projects (preferably nuclear, energy, or disaster management) required.
• Team leader qualification (20 points): SAQA-recognised NQF 10 = 5, NQF 9 = 4, NQF 8 = 3, NQF 7 = 2, NQF 6 or below = 1, none = 0. Field: Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Management, Nuclear Engineering, Radiation Sciences, or Environmental Science. Certified certificates required.
• Team member qualification (10 points): NQF 9 or higher = 5, NQF 8 = 4, NQF 7 = 3, NQF 6 = 2, NQF 5 or below = 1, none = 0. Field: Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Physics, Radiation Sciences, or Disaster Risk Management. Certified certificates required.
• Team leader experience (20 points): 7+ years = 5, 6 years = 4, 5 years = 3, 3–4 years = 2, less than 3 years = 1, none = 0. Experience in nuclear risk assessment, disaster risk assessment, hazard assessment, or nuclear/radiological emergency planning. Comprehensive CV with contactable references required.
• Team's experience (10 points): 5+ years = 5, 4 years = 4, 3 years = 3, 2 years = 2, 1 year = 1, none = 0. Experience in nuclear/radiological hazard assessments, disaster management, or risk analysis. Comprehensive CVs with contactable references required.
• Methodology (10 points): must include hazard identification and characterisation, vulnerability assessment, capacity assessment, risk estimation, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement. 6+ elements = 5, 5 = 4, 4 = 3, 2–3 = 2, 1 = 1, none = 0. Proposal must detail dependencies from the Department.
• Project plan (10 points): must include deliverables, timeframes/schedule, milestones, scope, required resources, role of each team member, and project quality management plan. 7+ elements = 5, 6 = 3, 4–5 = 2, less than 4 = 1, none = 0.
• Gate 02 – Administrative compliance: compliance with the specification/ToR and fully completed, signed and dated SBD 1, SBD 4, and SBD 6.1.
• Gate 03 – Point scoring: 80/20 preference point system (80 price, 20 preferential points). Highest total points wins. Tie-breakers: more points on specific goals, then highest functionality score, then drawing of lots.
• Specific goals (4 points each): enterprise owned by Black people, by women, by youth, by disabled persons, and by SMMEs (QSE or EME). Ownership = 51% of company shares; less than 51% is pro-rated. Proof required: identity documents and CIPC document for ownership claims; medical certification for disabled persons; B-BBEE certificate from SANAS-accredited agency or dtic, or sworn affidavit, for SMME claim.

The Department of Electricity and Energy requires a service provider to develop a National Hazard Assessment for Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies in South Africa, following the NDMC four-stage risk assessment methodology and aligned with IAEA GSR Part 7.

Scope of work:

• Stage 1: Identify and characterise all nuclear and radiological hazard sources, including Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, NECSA facilities at Pelindaba (SAFARI-1, fuel fabrication, isotope production, waste management), radioactive waste storage/treatment/disposal facilities, transport of radioactive materials (road, rail, air), medical and industrial applications of radioactive sources (orphan/lost/stolen sources), and NORM in mining operations.
• For each hazard source, determine historical incidents, probability/frequency, impact/intensity, geographic scope, prediction capacity, exposure pathways (inhalation, ingestion, direct radiation), and secondary impacts (water, food, agricultural contamination).
• Conduct vulnerability and capacity assessment covering social, economic, physical, and environmental susceptibility, plus existing emergency services, evacuation routes, medical facilities, monitoring networks, and response resources.
• Stage 2: Quantify disaster risk level for each hazard source by combining hazard severity value with probability of occurrence within one year, per NDMC methodology.
• Stage 3: Evaluate risks via socio-economic cost-benefit analysis, risk prioritisation, determining acceptable risk levels with DEE, elaborating emergency scenarios and risk reduction measures, and producing an Indicative National Risk Profile.
• Stage 4: Develop recommendations for an ongoing risk monitoring and updating framework with performance indicators.
• Identify all key institutional role-players (NNR, NECSA, Eskom, NDMC, Department of Health, CoGTA, SAPS, SANDF, provincial/local disaster management centres, IAEA) and specify their roles and responsibilities in emergency response.
• Outline how findings inform contingency planning, emergency preparedness, and response strategies; recommend structure of SOPs and the DEE Sector Disaster Management Plan.

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1 (Week 1): Inception Report with work plan, stakeholder engagement plan, data collection methodology, and project schedule.
• Deliverable 2 (Week 5): Draft Hazard Assessment Report covering Stages 1 and 2.
• Deliverable 3 (Week 8): Final Draft National Hazard Assessment Report covering Stages 3 and 4, indicative risk profile, stakeholder mapping, and emergency preparedness linkages.
• Deliverable 4 (Week 10): Final National Hazard Assessment Report, print-ready and digital, incorporating all stakeholder comments and DEE review.
• Departmental review turnaround: 7 calendar days.
• Weekly progress reporting and invoicing required.

Contract period: 10 weeks after contract signature. General Conditions of Contract apply.

The proposed methodology must include: (i) hazard identification and characterisation, (ii) vulnerability assessment, (iii) capacity assessment, (iv) risk estimation, (v) risk assessment, and (vi) stakeholder engagement. Scoring: 6+ elements = 5 points, 5 = 4, 4 = 3, 2–3 = 2, 1 = 1, none = 0. The proposal must detail dependencies from the Department to ensure successful implementation. A project/execution plan must be attached, including deliverables, timeframes/schedule, milestones, scope, required resources, role of each team member, and project quality management plan. Scoring: 7+ elements = 5, 6 = 3, 4–5 = 2, less than 4 = 1, none = 0.

Company experience: 10+ years = 5 points, 6–9 = 4, 5 = 3, 2–4 = 2, 1 or less = 1, none = 0. Experience in projects related to nuclear/disaster risk assessment or nuclear/radiological emergency planning, per NDMC guidelines or nuclear regulatory framework. Proof of contactable referees for similar completed projects required.

Team leader experience: 7+ years = 5 points, 6 = 4, 5 = 3, 3–4 = 2, less than 3 = 1, none = 0. Experience in nuclear risk assessment, disaster risk assessment, hazard assessment, or nuclear/radiological emergency planning. Comprehensive CV with contactable references required.

Team members experience: 5+ years = 5 points, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, 2 = 2, 1 = 1, none = 0. Experience in nuclear/radiological hazard assessments, disaster management, or risk analysis. Comprehensive CVs with contactable references required.

Team leader must hold a SAQA-recognised NQF qualification in Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Management, Nuclear Engineering, Radiation Sciences, or Environmental Science (NQF 10 = 5 points, NQF 9 = 4, NQF 8 = 3, NQF 7 = 2, NQF 6 or below = 1, none = 0). Team members must hold a SAQA-recognised qualification in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Physics, Radiation Sciences, or Disaster Risk Management (NQF 9 or higher = 5, NQF 8 = 4, NQF 7 = 3, NQF 6 = 2, NQF 5 or below = 1, none = 0). Certified certificates must be attached.

No upfront payment will be made. Payments are made only upon delivery of services agreed by both parties, on receipt of an original invoice.

Tax compliance:

• Bidders must submit their SARS-issued unique personal identification number (PIN) to enable verification of tax profile and status, or a printed Tax Compliance Status (TCS).
• Application for TCS/PIN can be made via e-filing (www.sars.gov.za).
• Consortia, joint ventures, and sub-contractors must each submit separate proof of TCS/PIN/CSD number.
• If no TCS is available, a CSD number must be provided (registration on the Central Supplier Database).

B-bbee:

• Preference points under the 80/20 system. Specific goals (4 points each) for enterprises owned by Black people, women, youth, disabled persons, and SMMEs (QSE or EME).
• Proof required: identity documents and CIPC document for ownership claims; medical certification for disabled persons; B-BBEE certificate from SANAS-accredited agency or dtic, or sworn affidavit, for SMME claim.
• Ownership = 51% of company shares; less than 51% is pro-rated.

Other:

• Compliance with the specification/ToR and fully completed SBD 1, SBD 4, and SBD 6.1.
• No specific CIDB grading or professional registration mentioned.

No specific OHS requirements are stated beyond the general scope of developing a hazard assessment for nuclear and radiological emergencies, which includes assessing vulnerability and capacity of communities, infrastructure, and environment. The assessment must align with IAEA GSR Part 7 safety standards.

The hazard assessment must include environmental susceptibility (sensitive ecosystems, water areas, agricultural land) and secondary impacts such as contamination of water, food, and agricultural systems. The assessment must align with IAEA GSR Part 7 and NDMC guidelines.

The Department will provide the functional perimeter and access to offices as needed. The service provider must execute the contract per the scope of work and SLA, and act diligently and with care regarding departmental information and intellectual property. A confidentiality agreement must be signed. Unauthorised handling, reading, or removal of departmental records is prohibited. No state information may be communicated to the public or news media. The Department may screen/vet service provider personnel through the State Security Agency. The service provider must ensure no interruption of services due to manpower shortages (leave, sick leave). The Department reserves the right to verify authenticity of submitted information; falsified information may lead to disqualification or contract cancellation. General Conditions of Contract (National Treasury) are non-negotiable.

Evaluation stages: functionality (Gate 01), administrative compliance (Gate 02), and point scoring (Gate 03). Functionality minimum threshold 70%. Scoring details as per the main evaluation criteria section. Administrative compliance requires fully completed SBD 1, SBD 4, and SBD 6.1. Point scoring uses 80/20 preference system.