Employee transportation services for TRANSNET port terminals at port of ngqura and port of port elizabeth (two-year contract)

A compulsory RFP briefing will be conducted on MS Teams on 17 August 2026 at 10:00 am for approximately 2 hours. Respondents must provide own transportation and accommodation. The briefing will start punctually and information will not be repeated for late arrivals. The MS Teams attendance register and/or section 9 attendance certificate will be used as proof of attendance. Respondents who fail to attend will be disqualified. While waiting in the lobby, bidders must provide company details including name, representative details, email, and telephone/cellphone number. Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/326260484033468?p=C91ytP8SnoJPQpEBoL, Meeting ID: 326 260 484 033 468, Passcode: SU2u7vQ6.

Technical/bidding enquiries: Ezekhaya Sojezi, telephone 043 7002130, email [email protected].

Complaints: email [email protected].

Submission: Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net).

Submission is electronic only, via the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net). Bidders must register on the portal, log an intent to bid, and upload bid documents against the specific tender. Each company must use its own registered profile; submitting through another company's profile leads to disqualification. Joint ventures may submit through any party's profile. Uploads are limited to 30 MB each, with multiple uploads allowed. Bidders should submit at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; late submissions are not accepted.

Returnable documents (all must be signed, stamped and dated):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid) — bidder details and contact information.
• Section 4: Pricing Schedule Form — priced offer.
• Section 10: Returnable Schedules 1-3 — technical pre-qualification documents.
• Section 5: RFP Declaration Certificate of Acquaintance & Breach of Law — confirms familiarity with all RFP conditions and discloses any serious breach of law in the past 5 years.
• Section 6: Specific Goals Points Claim Form — claims preference points.
• Section 8: Protection of Personal Information form.
• Section 9: Certificate of Attendance of Compulsory RFP Briefing.
• CSD registration report.
• Certified copies of directors' ID documents.
• Valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN.
• Joint Venture Agreement or intention to form one (if applicable).

Disqualification risks:

• Missing any mandatory returnable document at closing.
• Late submission.
• Submitting through another company's profile.
• Failure to attend the compulsory briefing.
• Deviating from the prescribed pricing schedule format.

Mandatory returnable documents: Section 10 Returnable Schedule 1-3 Technical Pre-Qualification, Section 4 Pricing Schedule Form. Returnable documents used for scoring: valid proof of B-BBEE compliance, Returnable Schedule 4 (experience reference letter), Schedule 5 (vehicles owned/leased), Schedule 6 (intention to lease/purchase), Schedule 7 (availability of driver's licence). Essential returnable documents: Joint Venture Agreement (if applicable), SBD 1 Form, Section 5 RFP Declaration Certificate, Section 6 Specific Goals Points Claim Form, Section 8 Protection of Personal Information, Section 9 Certificate of Attendance of Compulsory RFP Briefing, CSD Registration report, Certified copies of Director's IDs, Valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) Pin.

Evaluation is staged:

• Stage 1: Administrative and substantive responsiveness — checks that the bid is on time, all returnable documents are submitted and valid, the bid is signed by an authorised person, a priced offer is included, and technical pre-qualification criteria are met.
• Stage 2: Technical/functionality threshold — minimum 56 points out of 80. Technical criteria: Past experience (35 points) — at least 5 years transporting 200+ staff (scoring bands from 130 to 200+ staff); Vehicles owned/leased (25 points) — 12 x 22-seater and 8 x 15-seater vehicles with certified licence copies; Intention to lease/purchase (25 points) — source letter with full vehicle details; C1 Drivers (20 points) — 32 drivers with Code C1 licences and valid PrDPs (scoring bands by number of certified copies).
• Stage 3: Price and specific goals weighted scoring — price 80/90 points, specific goals 20/10 points. Price scored using the formula PS = (Pmin/Pt) x 80 or 90.
• Stage 4: Price negotiations (if applicable) — Transnet may negotiate a market-related price with the highest-ranked bidder, then sequentially with the 2nd and 3rd ranked bidders, or cancel.
• Stage 5: Objective criteria (if applicable) — skills transfer, ROI impact, supplier rotation, and bidder's legal/financial standing.
• Stage 6: Award of business and contract conclusion.

Technical scores are rounded to 2 decimal places. Bidders must pass Stage 1 and meet the Stage 2 threshold to proceed.

Scope: Provision of employee transportation services for Transnet Port Terminals at the Port of Ngqura and Port of Port Elizabeth (including Finger Jetty) for a period of two years.

Annexures define the operational requirements:

• Annexure A: NCT shifts
• Annexure B: PE Terminal shifts
• Annexure C: MPT Finger Jetty
• Annexure D1: Scope of Work
• Annexure E1: Transnet Master Agreement & SLA
• Annexure E2: Contract penalties

Vehicle requirements: 12 x 22-seater and 8 x 15-seater vehicles (owned, leased, or to be leased/purchased).

Driver requirements: 32 drivers with valid Code C1 (or higher) driver's licences and valid PrDPs.

Experience requirement: minimum 5 years transporting between 130 and 200+ staff.

Contract readiness: vehicles must be available to support a two-week contract readiness period.

Objective criteria for award: skills transfer and capacity building for Transnet; impact on Transnet's return on investment; rotation of suppliers to promote opportunities for others. The tenderer must not be under restrictions, must demonstrate professional and technical qualifications, competence, financial resources, equipment, managerial capability, reliability, experience, reputation, expertise and personnel, must have legal capacity, must not be insolvent or in receivership, must comply with legal requirements, and must be free of conflicts of interest. Risk assessment may include financial stability (key ratio analysis), relationships with Domestic Prominent Influential Persons (DPIP) or Foreign Prominent Public Officials (FPPO), and reputational risks.

Past experience: minimum 5 years providing staff transportation services, transporting between 130 and 200+ staff. Scoring based on reference letters from clients, on client letterhead and signed, stating the number of years and number of staff transported. Vehicles: 12 x 22-seater and 8 x 15-seater, owned or leased (certified licence copies) or to be leased/purchased (source letter with full details). Drivers: 32 drivers with Code C1 or higher licences and valid PrDPs.

Pricing must be completed on the prescribed schedule (Annexure D2) in line with the scope of work. Prices in South African Rand inclusive of VAT. Disbursements not specifically priced will not be accepted. Deviation from the pricing schedule format may lead to disqualification. Discounts only considered if unconditional. Transnet may negotiate market-related prices if the highest-scoring bidder's price is not market-related, and may cancel the RFP if no agreement is reached.

Pricing must be submitted on the prescribed pricing schedule (Annexure D2) and in line with the scope of work. Prices must be quoted in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT. Any disbursement not specifically priced will not be accepted. Deviation from the pricing schedule format may lead to disqualification. Discounts are only considered if offered on an unconditional basis. Transnet may negotiate a market-related price if the highest-scoring bidder's price is not market-related, and may cancel the RFP if no market-related price is agreed. Final pricing scores are rounded to 2 decimal places.

Tax compliance: bidders must have a valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN from SARS, or a CSD number if registered on the Central Supplier Database. Foreign suppliers with no local entity need not register on CSD. Each party in a joint venture must submit its own TCS/CSD.

CSD registration: mandatory for all bidders except foreign suppliers with no local registered entity.

B-BBEE: valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (as per DTIC guidelines) must be submitted for preference points.

Technical pre-qualification (mandatory):

• Letter from a taxi association in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area, on association letterhead, stamped and signed by the Chairman or Secretary.
• Certified copies of operating licences/permits for each vehicle.
• Proof of application for operating licences/permits, with a commitment on the provider's letterhead to provide certified copies within 1 month of award.

Other compliance: Employment Equity Act compliance, security clearance may be required (CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET), and disclosure of any relationship with Transnet employees or former employees (SBD 4).

Specific goals preference points: B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 (5 points for 80/20, 3 for 90/10), Black Owned EME/QSE 51% (5 points for 80/20, 3 for 90/10), Promotion of province/region/municipal (10 points for 80/20, 4 for 90/10). Bidders must submit a valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit as per DTIC guidelines. Non-compliant or B-BBEE Level 3-8 get 0 points.

Validity period: 180 business days from the closing date. Bidders may be asked to extend validity on the same terms. Transnet may cancel the contract and request National Treasury to place the respondent on the Database of Restricted Suppliers for up to 10 years if the contract was awarded on incorrect information. Transnet may award to the next-ranked bidder if the preferred bidder fails to sign or commence the contract. Security clearance may be required for the successful respondent, its personnel and subcontractors. The successful respondent must keep all returnable documents valid for the contract duration; failure to renew may lead to immediate termination.

Transnet reserves the right to split the award between a maximum of two bidders to reduce operational disruption risk and encourage supplier rotation. The award will be split into two terminals: Port of Ngqura and Port of Port Elizabeth (including Finger Jetty). Split guidelines: Port of Port Elizabeth (incl Finger Jetty) awarded to highest ranked bidder; Port of Ngqura awarded to highest ranked bidder unless same as PE winner, then second-ranked bidder. Estimated allocation: 36% Port of Ngqura, 64% Port of Port Elizabeth. Transnet may not split if it conflicts with cost-effectiveness.

Technical pre-qualification criteria: 1) Letter from a taxi association in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area, on association letterhead, stamped and signed by Chairman or Secretary. 2) Certified copies of operating licences/permits for each vehicle. 3) Proof of application on the provider's letterhead confirming it will provide certified copies of operating licences/permits within 1 month after notification of award.

Evaluation methodology: Stage 1 - Test for responsiveness (administrative and substantive). Stage 2 - Minimum threshold of 56 points for technical criteria. Stage 3 - Price and specific goals weighted scoring (80/20 or 90/10). Stage 4 - Price negotiations if applicable. Stage 5 - Objective criteria. Stage 6 - Award of business. Technical evaluation criteria include: Past experience (35 points) - minimum 5 years transporting 200+ staff; Vehicles owned/leased (25 points) - 12 x 22-seater and 8 x 15-seater; Intention to lease/purchase (25 points); C1 Drivers (20 points) - 32 drivers with Code C1 licenses and PrDPs. Total weighting 80, minimum qualifying score 56 points.