Lease of TRANSNET trim siding 861731 (pyramid south) — 10-year minimum term

Issue date: 27 August 2026.

Non-compulsory briefing session: 7 September 2026 at 11:00 a.m. (online via MS Teams; link on RFP cover page).

Non-compulsory site visit: 10 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (bidders must notify TRIM three days prior via provided URL).

Final date for clarification questions: 16 November 2026 (two weeks before closing; submitted via online clarification portal).

Closing date and time: 30 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Proposal validity period: 180 business days from closing date (end of validity: 20 August 2027).

All enquiries (bidding procedure and technical/clarification): email [email protected].

Online clarification portal: URL provided on RFP cover page ("Clarification Questions").

Briefing session link: URL provided on RFP cover page ("Briefing Session").

Site visit notification URL: provided on RFP cover page ("Site Visit").

Submission platform: Transnet eTenders management platform (https://www.transnet.net).

Tender documents download: National Treasury e-Tender portal (www.etenders.gov.za) or Transnet website (www.transnet.net).

Submission method: electronic only via the Transnet e-Tender Submission Portal (https://www.transnet.net). Bidders must register on the portal, log an intent to bid, and upload all documents against the tender.

Closing date and time: 30 November 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Late bids will not be accepted.

All returnable documents listed in Section 5 (Business Proposal Form) must be completed, signed, stamped, and dated on every page before upload. The signatory must be duly authorised (proof of authority such as a board resolution required).

Mandatory returnable documents include: SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure), Specific Goals Points Claim Form (Section 9), Certificate of Acquaintance (Section 6), RFP Declaration and Breach of Law Form (Section 7), Annexure Q (Company Experience Summary), Annexure R (Individual Experience Summary), Annexure K (Detailed Investment Plan), Annexure L (Environmental Plan), Annexure N (Risk Management Evaluation), Annexure O (BCM Plan), Annexure P (Health and Safety Checklist), Annexure H (Lease Agreement – signed), Annexure I (Rental Offer), proof of funding, audited financial statements (last three years or period of operation), CIPC/shareholding documents, valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, CSD registration number and tax compliance status (TCS PIN or certificate).

Joint ventures or consortia must submit a signed JV/consortium agreement with percentage split and responsibilities, or a written intention to conclude one with indicative split.

No alterations to RFP documents are permitted except as allowed in Annexure B clause 15 and Section 6 of the Commercial Proposal.

Proposal validity: 180 business days from closing date; successful bidder's bid remains valid until lease agreement is concluded.

Three-stage evaluation:

Stage 1 – Test for Responsiveness: checks completeness of mandatory returnable documents, valid CSD registration, tax compliance (TCS PIN or certificate), B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, signed JV agreement (if applicable), proof of authority to sign, and compliance with all mandatory requirements. Non-responsive bids are disqualified.

Stage 2 – Functional Evaluation (minimum threshold 70%): assesses company experience in integrated logistics, warehousing, commercial, industrial engineering and supply chain improvement (Annexure Q + reference letter); directors/shareholders/owners collective experience (CVs, Annexure R, reference letters); concept operational model (development, operation, enhancement over 10 years, high-level simulation of volume throughput, project schedule and milestones); facility utilisation and concept design (allocation of areas for rail receiving, cargo handling, stockpiling, loading/unloading, internal circulation, dispatch); financial capacity (proof of funding for declared capital investment, debt/equity confirmation letters, audited financial statements, key financial ratios – EBITDA, current ratio norm 2:1, solvency ratio norm 1:1); safety, environmental, risk and business continuity management plans (Annexures L, N, O, P); security guidelines compliance (Annexure S). Failure to submit Annexure Q and reference letter may score zero.

Stage 3 – Price and Preference: price evaluated on rental offer (monthly rental + percentage of turnover); preference points claimed via Specific Goals Points Claim Form (Section 9 / Annexure J) under PPPFA 80/20 or 90/10 system. Winning bidder may be disqualified if percentage of turnover cannot be agreed; TRIM may then negotiate with reserve bidder.

Siding: Pyramid South, Siding Number 861731.

Location: Coordinates 25°36'43.65"S 28°13'06.57"E; size ±75,657 m².

Lease tenure: 10 years operational period (excludes mobilisation, establishment, rehabilitation, development, upgrading, construction period).

Purpose: develop and operate a consolidation hub and/or container rail terminal to serve industry within the corridor; dominant use must be rail cargo transportation (storing, loading/offloading rail wagons, movement of cargo by rail).

Siding leased "as is"; lessee responsible for development, securing volumes, and obtaining all environmental approvals, water use licences, permits, and authorisations before operations.

Must honour existing TRIM slot allocation train paths for third-party train operating companies.

Must comply with all applicable laws, TRIM maintenance standards, National Environmental Management Act (sections 28 and 30), Occupational Health and Safety Act, and railway safety requirements.

Must submit before operations: Environmental Management Plan (Annexure L), Risk Management Plan (Annexures M, N), Business Continuity Management Plan (Annexure O), Health and Safety Checklist (Annexure P).

Concept operational model required: high-level simulation of volume throughput, project schedule with milestones, implementation phases, delivery timelines.

Concept design required: allocation of areas for rail receiving, cargo handling, stockpiling, loading/unloading, internal circulation, dispatch.

Security compliance per Annexure S.

Company and individual experience in integrated logistics planning, operations, warehousing, commercial, industrial engineering, continuous improvement of end-to-end supply value chains (Annexures Q, R, reference letters).

Rental offer: monthly rental plus a percentage of turnover (to be negotiated with winning bidder; failure to agree may lead to disqualification and negotiation with reserve bidder).

Proof of funding for declared capital investment: combination of debt and equity accepted. Debt funding requires confirmation letter from institution stating amount and whether committed or conditional. Equity funding: if self-funded, audited/independently verified annual financial statements plus bank confirmation letter; if from equity partners, written undertaking, amount confirmation, funder's audited financial statements, and bank confirmation letter.

Financial viability: companies >3 years must provide audited annual financial statements for last three completed financial years (or independently reviewed with explanation), management accounts not older than three months if latest audited statements >6 months old. Companies <3 years: audited/independently verified statements for period operated plus recent management accounts. Holding/group financials allowed with parent company consent letter and signed letter of financial support.

Key financial ratios assessed: EBITDA, current ratio (norm 2:1), solvency ratio (norm 1:1) – averaged over three years (or available period).

Pending litigation or insolvency proceedings must be disclosed.

Winning bidder subject to credit risk assessment to determine deposit and guarantees required.

Security (Deed of Suretyship from approved SA bank/insurer/guarantor) may be called for; amount stipulated in bid documents; must be returned within 30 calendar days of letter of acceptance.

All monetary amounts in ZAR. Prices subject to confirmation not accepted. VAT applicable.

CSD registration mandatory (CSD number MAAAxxxxxxx).

Tax compliance: valid SARS Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN or printed TCS certificate; each JV/consortium party must submit separate TCS PIN/certificate/CSD number. Foreign bidders subject to same requirements; if no RSA tax liability, TCS PIN not required.

B-BBEE: valid certificate from SANAS-accredited agency or sworn affidavit (EME/QSE/large enterprise rules apply). Successful bidders encouraged to improve B-BBEE annually.

No bids from persons in service of the state, companies with directors in state service, or close corporations with members in state service.

Bidder must be a juristic person (company, close corporation, enterprise); unincorporated JVs/consortia eligible.

Authority to sign: board resolution or equivalent proof required.

Environmental: obtain all environmental authorisations, air emission licences/permits, water use licences (section 21 NEMA) before operations; comply with NEMA sections 28 and 30.

Health and safety: comply with OHS Act and regulations; submit Health and Safety Checklist (Annexure P) before operations.

Risk management: submit Risk Assessment Plan per Annexures M and N before operations.

Business continuity: submit BCM Plan per Annexure O before operations.

Security: comply with Annexure S guidelines.

Signed lease agreement (Annexure H) and Non-Disclosure Agreement (Annexure D) required.

Bidder Integrity Pact (Annexure C) and Supplier Declaration Form (Annexure E) to be completed.

SHER Compliance Declaration and Undertaking (Annexure G).

Returnable Bid Response Checklist (Annexure F) to be completed.

Additional evaluation details from extended sections:

• Stage 2 functional evaluation minimum threshold is 70%.
• Specific Goals points claimed via Section 9 form and Annexure J (PPPFA 80/20 or 90/10).
• Risk management evaluation per Annexure N (Transnet Risk Assessment Methodology Annexure M).
• Bidders not required to propose technology in every operational area; evaluation focuses on operational readiness, volume throughput simulation, project schedule feasibility, and alignment of concept design with investment proposal.
• TRIM reserves right to adjust operational plan timelines during contract negotiations if not feasible.
• Reference letters must be on customer letterhead, signed by authorised representative, with management-level contact details for due diligence interviews.
• Company experience (Annexure Q) and individual experience (Annexure R) must be verifiable through contracts and contact details.
• Financial ratios (EBITDA, current ratio 2:1, solvency ratio 1:1) averaged over three years or available period; absence of three-year history does not automatically lower score.