Metallurgy quality analysis services for 60e1 r350lht rails and flash butt weld samples – once-off RFQ

Enquiries

• Contact: Kgaugelo Makgate
• Role: Bidding procedure / technical enquiries
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: 011 584 1174

Complaints

• Email: [email protected]

Submission address

• Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal: https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/

No postal or physical submission address stated.

Submission

• Method: Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (TDPS) at https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/
• Closing time: 26 November 2026 at 10:00 AM
• Bidder must register a profile, log intent to bid, and upload documents against the tender; max 30MB per upload, multiple uploads allowed.
• All pricing must be completed electronically in the portal; no paper pricing schedules accepted.
• Late submissions not accepted; transnet not liable for technical issues.
• Bids must be submitted under the bidder's own registered profile; submission via another company's profile disqualifies; JV partners may use one partner's profile.
• Submit at least a day before closing to resolve upload issues.

Returnables (each must be signed, stamped, dated):

• SECTION 4 Quotation Form (mandatory): bound offer with pricing.
• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder details and offer cover.
• SECTION 5 Certificate of Acquaintance with RFQ Documents: acknowledges familiarity with all RFQ conditions; false certification disqualifies.
• SECTION 6 RFQ Declaration and Breach of Law Form: includes SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) and breach-of-law disclosure, plus certification of independent action; collusion or false disclosure disqualifies.
• SECTION 7 Protection of Personal Information: consents to processing and confirms consents from other data subjects.
• ANNEXURE A Scope of Work (acknowledgement).
• ANNEXURE B Standard Terms and Conditions.
• ANNEXURE C Transnet General Bid Conditions.
• ANNEXURE D Supplier Integrity Pact.
• ANNEXURE E Non-Disclosure Agreement.
• Proof of CSD registration.
• Tax clearance certificate or TCS PIN (each JV/consortium party must submit separately).
• Valid letter of Good Standing from the Department of Labour.
• Latest financial statements signed by accounting officer or latest audited financial statements plus 2 previous years.
• ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Certificate and Scope of Accreditation (if subcontracting, also MoU with subcontractor and their certificate/scope).
• B-BBEE certificate / sworn affidavit / CIPC certificate (consolidated for JV).
• Evidence of completed metallurgical testing projects (anonymised reports, client reference letters).
• One-page turnaround time commitment.

Disqualification risks:

• Any mandatory returnable missing or unsigned.
• Late submission, regardless of cause.
• Deviation from prescribed pricing schedule.
• Submitting in another company's profile.
• False information or collusion.
• Bidders on Register for Tender Defaulters or List of Restricted Suppliers are automatically disqualified.
• Changes to bid after closing not considered.

Three-stage evaluation:

1. Stage 1 – Administrative and Substantive Responsiveness: must pass; includes timely lodgement, all returnables completed, signed, compliant, priced offer, material scope compliance, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (or subcontractor's), and all returnable sections signed/dated.
2. Stage 2 – Technical/Functionality (minimum threshold 80% of 100):

• Relevant Experience (60% weight): Two anonymised metallurgical laboratory reports plus client reference letters; scoring tiers: 60% = 2 reports and 6+ letters; 40% = 2 reports and 4–5 letters; 20% = 2 reports and 1–3 letters; 0% if any missing.
• Turnaround Time (40% weight): one page on letterhead stating commitment from sample receipt to submission of final Metallurgy QA report; scoring: 40% = <2 weeks; 30% = 2–<3 weeks; 20% = 3–<4 weeks; 10% = 4–<5 weeks; 0% = 5 weeks or more.
• Failure to meet 80% eliminates bid.

3. Stage 3 – Final Weighted Scoring:

• Price (80 points): formula PS = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin)/Pmin), where Pt = bid price, Pmin = lowest acceptable bid price.
• Specific Goals (20 points): B-BBEE Level 1 = 15, Level 2 = 10, plus 5 if 50%+ Black Youth Owned; total price + specific goals max 100. Missing proof means no points claimed.
• Stage 4 (negotiation, if applicable): Transnet may negotiate market-related price sequentially with 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd ranked bidder; may cancel if no market-related price agreed.
• Stage 5: Award via Letter of Award; contract concluded or letter + RFQ response + standard terms.

Additional:

• Validity period: 90 business days from closing date; may be extended.
• Highest bidder's price must be market-related; otherwise negotiation or cancellation.

Scope: Provision of metallurgy quality analysis services for 60E1 R350LHT rails and flash butt weld samples, once-off period.

• Services limited to metallurgical testing and analysis of railway rail and weld samples.
• Deliverable: final Metallurgy QA report.
• Technical response must include:
• Two anonymised metallurgical laboratory reports demonstrating quality and format of reporting.
• Client reference letters (with client/supplier details, addresses, reps, project title/scope, legal signatories).
• A one-page turnaround time commitment on company letterhead (from PO issuance to service delivery, i.e., submission of report).
• ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation required (or subcontractor's if any portion subcontracted, with MoU).

• Bidder must have completed projects in metallurgical testing of railway rails, flash butt welds, thermite welds, or similar heavy engineering components.
• Evidence: two anonymised metallurgical laboratory reports and client reference letters (as per evaluation criteria).
• Turnaround time commitment page required.

• Mandatory ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (and scope) for the testing laboratory; if subcontracted, MoU and subcontractor's accreditation required.
• Anonymised metallurgical laboratory reports must demonstrate quality and format of reporting.
• Turnaround time commitment to be stated (scored).

• Electronic pricing in e-Supplier portal; no paper schedules.
• Prices in ZAR incl. VAT; all disbursements must be priced; strict format; unconditional discounts only.
• Delivery lead time from PO must be quoted.
• Price must be market-related; negotiation process with top 3 bidders if not.

• Pricing must be completed electronically in the e-Supplier portal; no paper schedules.
• All prices in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT.
• Pricing must follow the prescribed format; deviation disqualifies.
• Unpriced disbursements not accepted.
• Discounts only considered if offered unconditionally.
• Price offered must be market-related; otherwise Transnet may negotiate or cancel (sequential with top 3 bidders).
• No bid security, bond, or guarantee mentioned.
• Delivery lead time from PO must be quoted (in days/weeks).

Generic compliance:

• Tax compliance: Must be in order; provide SARS TCS PIN or printed TCS certificate; if not available, CSD number; each JV/consortium party submits separate.
• CSD registration: Required (except foreign suppliers with no local entity).
• ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation: Mandatory, including Scope of Accreditation; if subcontracting, MoU and subcontractor's certificate/scope required.
• B-BBEE evidence (for specific goals scoring):
• EME (revenue ≤ R10m): sworn affidavit signed by authorised representative and Commissioner of Oaths, or CIPC certificate, or SANAS certificate if measured on QSE scorecard.
• QSE (revenue ≤ R50m): SANAS certificate, or sworn affidavit (if 51–100% black-owned).
• Large (revenue > R50m): SANAS-accredited certificate.
• Trust/consortium/JV: consolidated certificate.
• B-BBEE Level 1 = 15 points, Level 2 = 10, +5 if 50%+ Black Youth Owned.
• Department of Labour Good Standing letter: required.
• Employment Equity Act compliance (Section 53).
• No listing on Register for Tender Defaulters / List of Restricted Suppliers.
• Serious breach of law in past 5 years (e.g., Competition Act) must be disclosed; may lead to exclusion.
• Proof of authority to sign (e.g., company resolution) required.
• DPIP/FPPO relationship disclosure required.
• No canvassing of Transnet officers between closing and award.
• Valid returnable documents must be maintained for contract duration; failure to renew allows immediate contract termination.

• No specific OHS, HSE, or safety plan requirements stated in the document; only general compliance with laws and the Transnet Supplier Integrity Pact.

• Contract formed by Letter of Award plus RFQ response and Standard Terms, or by formal contract.
• Validity period: 90 business days from closing.
• Transnet may cancel contract and seek National Treasury restriction (up to 10 years) if awarded on false info.
• Failure to deliver within quoted lead-time allows Transnet to cancel and recover costs of re-quoting.
• Legal review of bidder's contractual terms by Transnet Legal Counsel before award.
• Security clearance up to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET may be required.
• Successful bidder must maintain valid returnable documents; failure allows immediate termination.
• JSE disclosure of contract info required.
• DPIP/FPPO relationships must be disclosed and may be published.
• Bidder must notify Transnet of any relationship with Transnet that could unfairly advantage them.
• Material deviation from standard terms may disqualify if alternatives not accepted.

Price formula: PS = 80 × (1 − (Pt − Pmin)/Pmin), where Pt = bid price, Pmin = lowest acceptable bid. Price weight 80 points, specific goals 20 points. Minimum technical threshold 80%. Negotiation stage allowed for market-related price.