Nrf-saiab aluminium research vessel maintenance and repair services (5-Year framework)

Compulsory briefing session: Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 11:00. Online Teams meeting. Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/378379001196879?p=V4jlnExYVs2PTPEfTm

Closing date and time: Friday, 16 October 2026 at 11:00.

Enquiries deadline: Friday, 09 October 2026.

Enquiries (procedural and technical):

• Contact: Nkosi Khuzwayo
• Role: Supply Chain Management
• Email: [email protected]
• Telephone: not stated

Submission address: National Treasury e-Tender website (www.etenders.gov.za) — electronic only.

Submission method: electronic only, via the eSubmission Tenders functionality on the National Treasury e-Tender website (www.etenders.gov.za). Bids submitted by any other method will not be accepted.

Steps: Log in to https://admin.etenders.gov.za using CSD login details. Select 'tender number' in the search dropdown, enter NRF/SAIAB/24/2026-27, expand, and click 'start e-submission'.

Bid packaging: Two folders required — Folder 1 (Compliance and technical response) and Folder 2 (Financial response). Name each folder with Bid Number / Bidder Name / Bidder email address / marked as Folder 1 or 2.

Bid validity: 90 days from closing date.

Returnable forms (all must be completed and signed):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder and contact details, signed as the offer cover page.
• SBD 3.2 (Pricing Schedule): price offer for goods and services.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): declares any connection to the state or NRF, and confirms no collusion, fronting, or restricted supplier status.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form): claims B-BBEE preference points.
• Tax compliance documentation (CSD report, SARS PIN, or tax certificate).
• Proof of CSD registration.
• Company profile with experience details (see compliance requirements).
• Reference letter template as provided.

Disqualification risks:

• Late submissions (after closing time) are not accepted.
• Bids not submitted via the prescribed e-submission method.
• Missing or unsigned mandatory returnable forms (NRF may allow correction of purely administrative omissions).
• Failure to meet any mandatory Stage 1 criterion.

Evaluation is in stages. All mandatory criteria in Stage 1 must be met to proceed to Stage 2.

Stage 1 – Mandatory returnable documents and forms:

• SBD 1, SBD 3.2, SBD 4, SBD 6.1 completed and signed.
• Valid tax compliance status (CSD report, SARS PIN, or tax certificate).
• Registered on Central Supplier Database.
• Company profile demonstrating >5 years in marine aluminium vessel maintenance or building, including verifiable experience, client list, current contracts, and registration details.
• No persons in service of the state or NRF, no restricted suppliers, no collusion, no fronting.

Stage 2 – References and functionality:

• Submission of references including articles (Stage 2.1).
• Submission of evidence meeting functionality requirements (Stage 2.2).

Quality checks:

• Quality checks on the pricing schedule.
• Quality checks on transformation specific goals qualifying for preference points (SBD 6.1).

Preference points: B-BBEE points claimed via SBD 6.1. If no valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit is submitted, 0 points allocated for preference.

Note: The document does not specify the exact scoring split (80/20 or 90/10) or a minimum qualifying score.

Scope: Servicing, maintenance, upgrades, ad-hoc repairs, and technical support for two 15m aluminium research vessels, for a period of five years.

Vessels:

• Observer (Port Elizabeth Harbour): Legacy Cat 15.5m CRV, SAMSA Category B, marine grade aluminium, 15.5m length, 5.64m breadth, 0.75m draught, 24.95 GT, IVECO C87 ENT M62 engines (~4035 hrs), Hamilton Jet HJ 322, Twin Disk MG-5075-SC gearboxes, Fisher Panda PMGi-8000 8KVA generators, Hydec hydraulic system, Victron Quattro inverter, Victron MPPT solar, Fire boy – Xintex fire suppression.
• Phakisa (Durban Harbour): Legacy Cat 1450, SAMSA Category B, marine grade aluminium, 15.5m length, 5.2m breadth, 0.6m draught, 24.6 GT, Iveco 67 NEF 450 engines (2158/2285 hrs), Hamilton Jet HJ 292, Twin Disc MG 5065 gearboxes, Vetus Genset and Dynaset Hydraulic Genset, Victron Quattro, Victron MPPT, Fire boy – Xintex.
• Safety equipment includes life raft, auto-inflate lifejackets, EPIRB, SART.

Service provider must be located within 150 km of Port Elizabeth or Durban.

Scheduled work:

• Every 300 engine hours (on water): engine, gearbox, jet, and generator services per OEM schedules; jet internal inspection, lubrication, anode replacement; engine room cleaning.
• Every 6 months (out of water): haulage, dry-docking, hull clean/inspect/antifoul/anode replacement, jet external inspection and diagnostics, hydraulic system service including A-Frame and Davit arms with annual load test certificate, deck hatch inspection.
• Annually (out of water): same as 6-month plus SAMSA hull survey, SAMSA LGSC certificate, fire suppression system inspection and service, safety gear service (life-raft, life-jackets, EPIRB, SART, flares).

Unscheduled work: diagnostics, repairs, replacement of malfunctioning components, managed on a needs basis via purchase orders. Scope includes hull and superstructure, propulsion, navigation, safety, electrical, plumbing, hydraulic systems; aluminium welding by coded welders; refurbishments; software updates; component replacement; safety and compliance audits.

Statutory certification: Service provider must notify SAMSA when work requires oversight/approval and is responsible for obtaining SAMSA approval for modifications.

Service reports: Must include detailed report of all work done, photographic evidence, parts lists, and sign-off on company letterhead from OEM authorised service agent confirming compliance with OEM recommendations and use of OEM approved parts.

Capability requirements: Must maintain capacity for aluminium welding, hull cleaning and anti-fouling, painting of decks and superstructures, replacement of fendering and company logos, electrical and plumbing repairs, infrastructure changes, hull repairs, anode replacement.

Alternatives: Bidders may propose equivalent alternatives if proof of equivalence and compatibility with existing systems is provided. During contract, alternatives must be equivalent or better, compatible, and within agreed pricing.

Disposal: Trade-in values must be included in quotes for parts with resale value; disposal must comply with relevant legislation.

Mandatory: Company profile demonstrating >5 years in marine aluminium vessel maintenance or building, including:

• Detailed and verifiable description of experience in building and/or maintenance of aluminium vessels of similar design and functionality.
• List of clients with similar vessels.
• List of current service contracts.
• Company registration details including year of establishment.

Service provider must have demonstrable experience with maintenance or construction of large (>15m) aluminium vessels.

Qualified/certified personnel required for work, including coded welders for aluminium welding.

IVECO and Hamilton Jet services must be conducted by authorised service agents (bidder to appoint and provide confirmation from appointed agent in bid if not agents themselves).

Work must be carried out in accordance with OEM specifications, applicable SAMSA requirements, and good marine engineering practice, and be free of defects.

Service reports required before payment: detailed report of all work done, photographic evidence, parts lists, and sign-off on company letterhead from OEM authorised service agent confirming compliance with OEM recommendations and use of OEM approved parts.

Annual load test certificate for hydraulic system (A-Frame and Davit arms) by accredited service agent.

SAMSA hull survey and SAMSA LGSC certificates to be issued annually.

Fire suppression system inspection and service certificate from SAMSA accredited service agent.

Safety gear service certificate from accredited service agent.

Complete the pricing schedule (SBD 3.2) as per Part D instructions. The schedule includes sections for OEM recommended service plans and replacement of components based on OEM and vessel requirements.

For unscheduled work, service provider must provide detailed quotations stating work required, parts required, and applicable hourly rates.

Trade-in values must be included in quotes for parts with resale value.

Pricing format: Complete the pricing schedule (SBD 3.2) as per Part D instructions. The schedule includes sections for OEM recommended service plans and replacement of components based on OEM and vessel requirements.

Contract type: Variable framework contract — unscheduled work is not guaranteed and is managed on a needs basis via purchase orders issued when funding is available.

No bid security, guarantees, retention, or payment terms are stated in the document.

Mandatory compliance:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration.
• Tax compliance: submit CSD report, SARS PIN, or tax certificate. Each party in a joint venture/consortium/sub-contractor must submit separate tax compliance documentation.
• No persons in service of the state or NRF, no companies with directors in service of the state, no close corporations with members in service of the state.
• Not listed on National Treasury's Database of Restricted Suppliers or Register for Tender Defaulters.
• No collusion, no fronting, no involvement of NRF in preparing the bid.

B-bbee:

• Submit valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs and QSEs) to claim preference points. If not submitted, 0 points allocated.
• Bidders with B-BBEE level 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or non-compliant must submit a B-BBEE Transformation Improvement Plan (optional).

Experience requirement:

• Company profile showing >5 years in marine aluminium vessel maintenance or building, including detailed verifiable experience, list of clients with similar vessels, list of current service contracts, and company registration details including year of establishment.

Joint ventures/consortia: Each member must submit separate SBD 1, 4, and 6.1 forms.

Vessels must be safe for operating at sea as per SAMSA and NRF-SAIAB OHS requirements.

Preparation for haulage and dry docking must include safety files, permitting, and any other requirements of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Aluminium welding must be performed by coded welders.

Service provider must notify SAMSA when work requires oversight/approval and obtain SAMSA approval for modifications.

Contract duration: Five years.

Warranty (special condition to GCC15):

• New equipment replacing existing equipment: OEM warranties pass to SAIAB, maintaining original periods where longer than one year.
• Service provider provides a six-month warranty on its labour and expertise.
• GCC15 standard warranty: goods must be new, unused, current models, free from defects; warranty valid 12 months after delivery or 18 months after shipment, whichever earlier; purchaser must notify supplier of claims; supplier must repair or replace defective goods; if supplier fails to remedy, purchaser may take remedial action at supplier's risk and expense.

Performance management:

• Service provider and NRF-SAIAB contract manager agree on performance levels, measurable KPIs with minimum thresholds, and penalty trigger points, documented and signed.
• Performance levels monitored and formally reported annually.
• Poor performance management: meetings, root cause investigation, correction plans, monitoring, escalation to senior management, penalties.
• Annual review of past year's performance.

Penalties:

• Quality of work: defect attributable to service provider — rectify at own cost including haulage/dry-docking; if defect causes operations delays, penalty 1% of purchase order value per day to max 5%.
• Turnaround time for technical support: acknowledgement within 1 working day, telephonic support within 1 working day; delays may incur penalty 1% of PO value per day to max 5%.
• Onsite technical support: technician on site within 12 hours of agreed time; delays may incur penalty 1% of PO value per day to max 5%.
• Turnaround time for routine services: completion within 2 weeks of PO receipt (or agreed date); delays may incur penalty 1% of PO value per day to max 5%.
• Continual poor performance may lead to contract termination.

Alternatives: Bidders may propose equivalent alternatives if proof of equivalence and compatibility with existing systems is provided. During contract, alternatives must be equivalent or better, compatible, and within agreed pricing.

Disposal: Trade-in values must be included in quotes for parts with resale value; disposal must comply with relevant legislation.

Warranty: Six-month warranty on labour and expertise; OEM warranties pass to SAIAB for new equipment.

Bidder selection: All mandatory criteria must be met to proceed. All SBD forms indicated as mandatory must be completed and signed. NRF may allow correction of administrative omissions. Each member of a joint venture or consortium must submit separate SBD 1, 4, and 6.1 forms.

Stage 1 mandatory returnable documents: SBD1 (Invitation to Bid), SBD 3.2 (Pricing Schedule), SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure), SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form), valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit (optional if not claiming points), B-BBEE improvement plan (optional for levels 4-8), tax compliance documentation (CSD report/SARS PIN/tax certificate), Central Supplier Database registration, and a business/company profile showing experience in marine aluminium vessel maintenance/building for >5 years.

Evaluation is in stages. Stage 1 mandatory criteria must be met to proceed. Stage 2 involves submission of references including articles and evidence meeting functionality requirements. Quality checks on pricing schedule and transformation specific goals. No specific scoring split or minimum qualifying score stated.