Voltage transformer (vt) fault diagnostics, replacement and supply – RFQ/VT02/2026

Closing date and time: 28 October 2026 at 11:00.

Compulsory site briefing: attendance is mandatory and the attendance register must be signed; however, the date, time and venue of the briefing are not stated in the document.

Compulsory site briefing meeting: attendance is a mandatory requirement; the attendance register must be signed. Date, time and venue not specified in the document.

No named contacts, email addresses, telephone numbers, or submission/delivery addresses are provided in the document.

Service delivery location: The Playhouse Company, 11kV Incomer Switchgear, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Returnable documents (all mandatory; omission renders bid non-responsive):

• Fully priced and signed Bill of Quantities (Annexure A)
• SBD 4 Declaration of Interest, completed and signed
• Valid Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration report
• Valid, current B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit
• Proof that an ECSA-registered professional engineer forms part of the bidder's team (employed or formally sub-contracted)
• Valid Letter of Good Standing (COIDA)
• Valid CIDB registration in grading designation 1EB, 2EB, 1EP or 2EP
• Certificate of registration as an Electrical Contractor from the Department of Employment and Labour
• Attendance at compulsory site briefing meeting with signed attendance register
• Any other standard bid documents required by The Playhouse Company's supply chain management process

Submission method and physical/electronic address: not specified in the document.

Closing date and time: 28 October 2026 at 11:00.

Four-phase evaluation in terms of the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022, using the 80/20 preference points system.

Phase 1 – Mandatory Requirements (pass/fail):

Failure to submit any of the nine listed documents/certificates renders the bid non-responsive and it will not be evaluated further.

Phase 2 – Functionality Evaluation (minimum threshold 80/100):

Bids passing Phase 1 are scored on five weighted criteria, each sub-criterion rated 0–5 and converted to a score (rating × weight ÷ 5):

• Team Capability Phase 1 (Diagnostic Investigation): weight 10
• Team Capability Phase 2 (Supply, Replacement, Testing & Commissioning): weight 15
• Proposed Implementation Programme: weight 20
• Methodology: weight 25
• Past Relevant Experience: weight 30

Total functionality score = 100. A bid must achieve at least 80 points to proceed.

Phase 3 – Price Evaluation: 80 points allocated per the 80/20 system.

Phase 4 – Preference Points: 20 points allocated per B-BBEE status level.

Scope: Voltage Transformer (VT) diagnostic investigation, engineering report, supply, replacement, testing, commissioning and close-out on the 11kV Incomer Switchgear at The Playhouse Company, Durban. End-to-end responsibility rests with a single appointed service provider; the scope may not be split.

Phase 1 – Diagnostic Investigation:

• Arrange and coordinate isolation of the 11kV supply with eThekwini Electricity and The Playhouse Company's maintenance department.
• Pressure testing of 11kV busbar and three 11kV circuit breakers.
• Secondary injection testing of protection relays on three breakers (one Incomer, two Transformer).
• Primary and secondary testing of current transformers (CTs) for protection and metering applications.
• Testing of voltage transformer(s) (VT).
• Ductor (Micro-Ohm) resistance testing of three 11kV circuit breakers.
• Investigation of VT secondary circuits to establish root cause of repeated failures.

Phase 2 – Engineering Report and Recommendations:

• Written report signed off by an ECSA-registered electrical engineer/technologist.
• Minimum contents: test summary and results; identified root cause(s); risk assessment (continued operation and re-failure risk); clear remedial recommendations including VT and any other defective components; recommended VT specification (rating, type, protection/CT coordination); implementation, testing and commissioning plan.
• Report reviewed by The Playhouse Company (Facilities Manager) and eThekwini Electricity before implementation proceeds.

Phase 3 – Implementation: Supply and Replacement of VT:

• Supply and install replacement VT (and ancillary components) per approved Phase 2 specification.
• Remove failed VT and install replacement, including corrective work to VT secondary circuits or protection/CT circuits identified as root cause.
• Coordinate all isolations with eThekwini Electricity and The Playhouse Company.
• Comply with OHS Act, relevant SANS standards, and eThekwini Electricity requirements for work on/adjacent to municipal infrastructure.

Phase 4 – Testing and Commissioning:

• Post-installation testing of replacement VT and associated protection/metering circuits.
• Re-verification of CTs, relays and circuit breakers disturbed during works.
• Functional metering test with eThekwini Electricity to confirm accurate registration and move off estimated billing.
• Commissioning certificate signed by the responsible professional engineer confirming safety, compliance and fitness for service.

Phase 5 – Close-Out:

• Close-out report consolidating diagnostic findings, remedial actions, test results and commissioning certificate.
• As-built documentation of any circuit changes.
• Formal written confirmation to The Playhouse Company and eThekwini Electricity that the VT fault is resolved and installation restored to full compliance.
• Handover of maintenance/inspection recommendations to reduce recurrence risk.

Deliverables per phase with required sign-off formats are specified.

Applicable SANS standards include:

• Instrument transformers: SANS 60044, SANS 61869, NRS 030
• Switchgear and protection: SANS 62271 series (parts 1, 100, 102, 200), SANS 60255 series, NRS 034/041/048
• General electrical installation and safety: SANS 10142-1, SANS 10198 series, SANS 10292, SANS 61936-1/IEC 61936-1, SANS 10380, SANS 121-60529

Bidder must submit a project execution plan covering:

• Isolation arrangements with eThekwini Electricity and The Playhouse Company's Maintenance Department
• Methodology aligned to each phase: diagnostic testing approach; engineering report and ECSA sign-off process; VT supply/replacement approach; testing and commissioning approach; close-out and hand-over
• Clear installation methods, safety approach (OHS Act, live/HV work method statements and risk assessments) and timeframes for each task
• Proposed implementation programme: comprehensive task list covering isolation coordination, diagnostics, reporting, supply, replacement, testing, commissioning and close-out, with milestones (Phase 2 report sign-off, isolation windows, commissioning date) and a realistic timeline/Gantt chart showing time estimates per activity and dependencies between phases

Bidder must demonstrate at least two verifiable reference projects of similar scope (MV/HV 11kV switchgear diagnostics, VT/CT testing, protection relay testing, and VT supply and installation) completed in the last five years.

Evidence required: award letters and completion certificates with contactable references confirming scope, value and performance.

Evidence of prior work involving isolations coordinated with a municipal electricity distributor.

Team requirements:

• Phase 1: Electrical Engineer/Technologist (ECSA-registered) to lead diagnostic investigation and sign off engineering report; Electrical Artisan (HV-competent) for on-site testing (pressure testing, secondary injection, CT/VT testing, ductor testing) – artisan may be subcontracted with SLA in place.
• Phase 2: Electrical Engineer/Technologist (ECSA-registered) for replacement specification and commissioning sign-off; Electrical Technician to support implementation, testing and verification of protection/CT/relay circuits; Electrical Artisan (HV-competent) for removal, installation and commissioning work – artisan may be subcontracted with SLA in place.

CVs, ECSA registration proof/certificates, trade test certificates, and organograms showing reporting lines for each phase must be attached.

Quality assurance governed by compliance with listed SANS standards and NRS specifications:

• Instrument transformers: SANS 60044, SANS 61869, NRS 030
• Switchgear and protection: SANS 62271 series (parts 1, 100, 102, 200), SANS 60255 series, NRS 034/041/048
• General electrical installation and safety: SANS 10142-1, SANS 10198 series, SANS 10292, SANS 61936-1/IEC 61936-1, SANS 10380, SANS 121-60529

Engineering report and commissioning certificate must be signed by an ECSA-registered professional engineer. Raw test data and summary sheets required for Phase 1. As-built documentation of circuit changes required at close-out.

Bill of Quantities (Annexure A) requires pricing of every line item excluding VAT. Five phases:

Phase 1 – Diagnostic Investigation and Testing: isolation coordination (sum), mobilisation/safety file (sum), calibrated HV test equipment provision (sum), busbar pressure testing (item), three breaker pressure tests (no.), three relay secondary injection tests (no.), three CT primary injection sets (set), three CT secondary/ratio sets (set), three breaker ductor tests (no.), VT secondary circuit investigation (sum), raw data compilation (sum).

Phase 2 – Engineering Report and Recommendations: analysis, root cause determination, risk assessment, remedial recommendations, VT specification, implementation plan, report compilation, ECSA sign-off, presentation (all under single sum item).

Phase 3 – Supply and Replacement of VT: VT supply and installation (1 no., provisional per Phase 2 report), ancillary materials (sum), corrective works to VT secondary/protection wiring (sum, provisional), isolation coordination during installation (sum), site safety compliance/supervision (sum), standby labour within municipal isolation window (10 hours, provisional).

Phase 4 – Testing and Commissioning: post-installation VT test (no.), re-verification of disturbed CTs/relays/breakers (set), functional metering test with eThekwini (item), commissioning certificate compilation and ECSA sign-off (sum).

Phase 5 – Close-Out: close-out report (sum), as-built documentation (sum), formal fault resolution confirmation (item), maintenance recommendations (sum), complete documentation set electronic and hard copy.

Subtotals per phase, VAT 15%, total inclusive.

Pricing: Bill of Quantities (Annexure A) structured in five phases, all line items to be priced excluding VAT.

• Phase 1: Diagnostic Investigation and Testing (items 1.1–1.9)
• Phase 2: Engineering Report and Recommendations (item 2.1)
• Phase 3: Supply and Replacement of VT (items 3.1–3.6, with provisional quantities for VT supply, corrective works and standby labour)
• Phase 4: Testing and Commissioning (items 4.1–4.4)
• Phase 5: Close-Out (items 5.1–5.4)

Summary: phase subtotals summed, VAT at 15% added, total including VAT.

No bid security, performance bond, guarantee, retention percentage, payment terms or financial capacity/turnover thresholds are specified in the document.

Mandatory eligibility and qualification criteria (non-compliance may render bid non-responsive):

• CIDB registration: grading designation 1EB, 2EB, 1EP or 2EP
• Certificate of registration as an Electrical Contractor from the Department of Employment and Labour
• ECSA-registered professional engineer on the bidder's team (employed or formally sub-contracted under the single appointment) who must personally sign off the Phase 2 engineering report and Phase 4 commissioning certificate
• Valid Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration
• Valid, current B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit
• Completed SBD 4 Declaration of Interest (and any other standard bid documents required by The Playhouse Company SCM)
• Valid Letter of Good Standing (COIDA)
• Method statements and risk assessments for live/HV switchgear work
• Demonstrable prior experience in MV/HV (11kV) switchgear diagnostics, VT/CT testing, protection relay testing, and VT supply and installation, evidenced by at least two verifiable reference projects of similar scope completed in the last five years (award letters, completion certificates, contactable references confirming scope, value and performance)
• Evidence of prior work involving isolations coordinated with a municipal electricity distributor
• Confirmation that the bidder can arrange, or work within, isolations coordinated with eThekwini Electricity

All work on or affecting the 11kV switchgear requires isolation from the municipal supply; the service provider is responsible for requesting and coordinating isolation with eThekwini Electricity and The Playhouse Company's Facilities Manager in advance.

Work to be carried out by suitably qualified and authorised HV personnel in accordance with the OHS Act, Electrical Installation Regulations, and eThekwini Electricity's requirements.

A method statement and risk assessment specific to this scope must be submitted for approval prior to commencement of any on-site work.

The Playhouse Company's Safety Officer and Facilities Manager must be notified of, and where required present for, all isolations and live-adjacent work.

Public liability insurance required after appointment / method statement submission for diagnostic works.

Contract structured around the five-phase Bill of Quantities with provisional quantities for VT supply (1 no.), corrective works (sum) and standby labour (10 hours). VAT at 15% applied to subtotal. Payment terms not specified. Key contractual obligations: single service provider carries end-to-end responsibility; all work subject to OHS Act, SANS standards and eThekwini Electricity requirements; isolation coordination with municipality mandatory; ECSA-registered engineer sign-off required on engineering report and commissioning certificate; method statements and risk assessments must be approved before on-site work; Safety Officer and Facilities Manager must be notified of/present for isolations and live-adjacent work.

Same as complianceRequirements section above – all mandatory eligibility and qualification criteria listed there.

Same as evaluationCriteria section above – four-phase evaluation with 80/20 preference points system, Phase 1 mandatory requirements, Phase 2 functionality minimum 80/100 with weighted criteria (Team Capability Phase 1: 10, Team Capability Phase 2: 15, Implementation Programme: 20, Methodology: 25, Past Experience: 30), Phase 3 price (80 points), Phase 4 preference (20 points).