Hire of diesel-powered welding machines at port elizabeth bulk ore terminal (36 months)

Closing date: 27 August 2026, 14:00.

Issue date: 13 August 2026.

Clarification deadline: queries must be emailed before 12:00 on 21 August 2026.

No formal briefing session will be held.

Bidding procedure and technical enquiries: Sue-Ellen Nazer, telephone 041 5072091, email [email protected]. Queries must be submitted before 12:00 on 21 August 2026.

Complaints: email [email protected].

Submission is electronic only via the Transnet Digital Procurement System (TDPS) eSupplier portal (https://esupplierportal.transnet.net/portal/). Bidders must register a company profile, log an intent to bid, and upload bid documents against the tender. Uploads are limited to 30 MB each; multiple uploads are permitted. All pricing must be completed electronically in the portal; no paper pricing schedules are accepted. Submissions should be made at least a day before closing to avoid technical issues; Transnet accepts no liability for bidder technical challenges. Late submissions are not accepted. Each company must submit through its own registered profile; submitting through another company's profile disqualifies the bid. A joint venture may submit through any one of its parties' profiles. A detailed bidder guide is available at transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net.

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

• Section 1: SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid) — bidder details and signed offer cover page.
• Section 4: Pricing Schedule Form — mandatory; failure to submit disqualifies.
• Section 5: Certificate of Acquaintance & Breach of Law form — confirms familiarity with RFP conditions and discloses any serious breach of law in the preceding 5 years.
• Section 7: Protection of Personal Information form.
• Returnable schedules 1–4 (used for scoring): inventory/asset register of welding machines; technician qualification and CV; equipment datasheet/brochure; three reference letters.
• Latest financial statements signed by the Accounting Officer, or latest audited financial statements plus two previous years (essential).
• Proof of B-BBEE status (certificate or sworn affidavit as per DTIC guidelines).
• Tax compliance: SARS TCS PIN or printed TCS certificate, or CSD number if registered on CSD.

Disqualification risks:

• Missing or unsigned mandatory returnable documents at closing date and time.
• Late submission, regardless of reason.
• Submitting through another company's profile.
• Deviation from the prescribed pricing schedule format.
• Failure to disclose all CSD-registered active companies linked to directors (per SBD 4).
• Collusive bidding or canvassing Transnet officers between closing and award.

Mandatory Returnable Documents: Section 4 Pricing Schedule Form. Returnable Documents Used for Scoring: Valid proof of compliance to Specific Goal requirements (B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit), inventory/asset register of machines, technician qualifications and CV, datasheet/brochure, reference letters. Essential Returnable Documents: Latest Financial Statements signed by Accounting Officer or latest Audited Financial Statements plus 2 previous years, Section 5 Certificate of Acquaintance & breach of law form, Section 7 Protection of Personal Information, Section 1 SBD1 Form.

Evaluation is in six stages:

• Stage 1: Administrative and substantive responsiveness — bid lodged on time, all returnable documents completed and signed, priced offer included, material compliance with scope. Must be passed to proceed.
• Stage 2: Technical/functionality threshold — minimum qualifying score of 70 out of 100. Technical criteria: Inventory/asset register of welding machines (35 points; minimum 76 machines not older than 5 years; more than 76 machines = 35 points, 76 = 25, less than 76 = 0); Technician competency (15 points; NQF Level 5 or higher Diesel Mechanic trade test with at least 2 years' experience = 15, CV showing 2 years' experience = 5, no valid submission = 0); Equipment specification (35 points; datasheet/brochure meeting 7/7 specification points = 35, 6/7 = 30, 5/7 = 25, 4/7 or less = 0); Experience (15 points; three reference letters = 15, two = 10, one = 5, none = 0). Technical scores are rounded to two decimal places.
• Stage 3: Final weighted scoring — Price (80 points) and Specific Goals (20 points). Price scored using the formula PS = 80 (lowest acceptable bid gets 80). Specific Goals: B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 contributor = 10 points; 30% Black women owned = 10 points.
• Stage 4: Price negotiations (if applicable) — Transnet may negotiate a market-related price with the highest ranked bidder, then sequentially with 2nd and 3rd ranked, or cancel the RFP. Best and Final Offers may be requested.
• Stage 5: Objective criteria (if applicable) — Transnet may award to a bidder other than the highest scorer based on skills transfer, ROI impact, supplier rotation, risk assessment, probity checks, and other listed criteria.
• Stage 6: Award of business and conclusion of contract via Letter of Award.

Bid validity period is 180 business days from closing date. Bidders may be asked to extend validity.

Scope: Hire of diesel-powered engine driven welding machines at the Port Elizabeth Bulk Ore Terminal (PEBOT) for a period of 36 months.

Key requirements:

• The bidder must have a minimum of 76 welding machines, each not older than 5 years, with an inventory/asset register showing make, serial number, hours, and age. Machines not owned must be covered by a signed lease agreement or letter of intent from the owner.
• A technician must be on standby for breakdowns, holding at least an NQF Level 5 Diesel Mechanic trade test with at least 2 years' experience.
• The equipment must comply with section 3.3 of the scope of work; a datasheet or brochure must be submitted and table 1 populated.
• Proof of experience in hiring engine driven welding machines over the past 3 years, via three reference letters on previous clients' letterhead (value of contract, contact details, contact person, role, signature).

Experience: Proof of at least 3 years' experience in hiring engine driven welding machines, evidenced by three reference letters on previous clients' letterhead (value of contract, contact details, contact person, role, signature). Technician: Must hold at least NQF Level 5 Diesel Mechanic trade test with at least 2 years' experience; provide qualification and CV.

Electronic pricing in Transnet eSupplier portal, in ZAR inclusive of VAT. Must follow the prescribed price schedule format exactly; deviation disqualifies. Discounts only considered if unconditional. Transnet may negotiate a market-related price or cancel if the price is not market-related. Disbursements not specifically priced are not accepted. Final pricing scores rounded to two decimal places.

Pricing must be completed electronically in the Transnet eSupplier portal, in South African Rand inclusive of VAT. Pricing must follow the prescribed price schedule format exactly; deviation disqualifies the bid. Discounts are only considered if unconditional. Transnet may negotiate a market-related price or cancel the RFP if the highest scoring bid is not market-related. Any disbursement not specifically priced will not be accepted. Final pricing scores are rounded to two decimal places. Delivery lead-time from purchase order must be stated.

Tax compliance: Bidders must submit a SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or printed TCS certificate, or a CSD number if registered on the Central Supplier Database. Each party to a joint venture, consortium, or subcontractor must submit its own TCS/CSD. Failure to comply may render the bid invalid.

CSD registration: Self-registration on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database is required (https://secure.csd.gov.za/). Foreign suppliers with no local registered entity are exempt.

B-BBEE: Proof of B-BBEE status level (certificate or sworn affidavit per DTIC guidelines) is required for scoring. Specific goals: B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 = 10 points; 30% Black women owned = 10 points.

Employment Equity Act: Bidders must comply with the Act, including Section 53.

SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): Declares whether any director/shareholder is employed by the state or connected to the procuring institution; failure to disclose all CSD-registered active companies linked to directors leads to disqualification.

SBD 9 (Certificate of Independent Bid Determination): Certifies no collusion or price disclosure.

Security clearance: The successful bidder, its personnel, and subcontractors may be required to obtain security clearance to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET level, at the bidder's own cost.

Legal compliance: The successful bidder must comply with all applicable national and local laws.

Specific Goals (20 points total): B-BBEE Level 1 or 2 contributor = 10 points; 30% Black women owned = 10 points. Proof via valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit per DTIC guidelines. Non-compliant or lower-level contributors receive 0 points for the B-BBEE component.

The successful bidder must comply with all applicable national and local laws, including the Employment Equity Act. Changes to proposals are not considered after closing. The proposal is deemed an offer; exceptions must be clearly stated. Transnet is not committed to any course of action and reserves the right to modify the scope, award only part, split the award, cancel the RFP, validate information, request audited financial statements, and reject changes to bid rates after closing. If a contract is awarded on incorrect information, Transnet may cancel and request National Treasury to place the bidder on the Database of Restricted Suppliers for up to 10 years. If the preferred bidder fails to sign or commence the contract, Transnet may award to the next ranked bidder at the quoted price. Bidders failing to respond to a validity extension request are excluded. The successful bidder must keep all returnable documents valid for the contract duration; failure to renew may lead to immediate termination. The contract may be concluded by Letter of Award read with the RFP response and Standard Terms and Conditions.

Security clearance may be required for the successful bidder, its personnel, and subcontractors to CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/TOP SECRET level, at the bidder's own cost. The bidder must implement all security measures required for safe contract performance.

Six-stage evaluation: 1) Administrative/substantive responsiveness; 2) Technical threshold (minimum 70/100); 3) Weighted scoring (Price 80, Specific Goals 20); 4) Price negotiations; 5) Objective criteria; 6) Award. Technical criteria: inventory (35), technician (15), equipment spec (35), experience (15).