Research project: real-time occupational hygiene monitoring in mining – tender in gauteng

The Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) requires a service provider to assess and evaluate real-time occupational hygiene monitoring technologies in the South African mining industry, benchmark against international best practice, and develop best-practice guidance and recommendations for the regulatory framework.

Closing date: 09 October 2026 at 11:00

Briefing session (non-compulsory): 23 September 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams

Due date for queries: 02 October 2026

Bid validity period: 120 days from closing date

Non-compulsory briefing session: 23 September 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams. Contact: [email protected].

Enquiries (bidding procedure and technical):

• Department: Supply Chain Management
• Email: [email protected]

Briefing session contact:

• Email: [email protected]

Submission address:

• Email: [email protected]

Submission method: email to [email protected]. Maximum email attachment size: 150MB. Bids must be submitted on official forms (not retyped). Only documents completed in black ink accepted. Bids received after closing time will be classified as LATE and not considered. Bids submitted in any other manner than the designated email address will not be accepted. No public opening of bids.

Returnable documents (all must be completed, signed and submitted):

• SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid): bidder details and signed offer cover page.
• SBD 4 (Bidder's Disclosure): declares any relationship with state employees or procuring institution.
• SBD 6.1 (Preference Claim Form): claims B-BBEE preference points; must be supported by valid B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit.
• SBD 3 (Pricing Schedule): detailed pricing schedule, must be fully completed.
• SBD 7 (Contract Form): to be signed by recommended bidder upon award, where applicable.

Disqualification risks:

• Any returnable form omitted or unsigned.
• Incomplete information or documentation.
• Fraudulent, untrue or inaccurate information.
• Failure to comply with mandatory and technical requirements.
• Attempting to influence evaluation or award decisions.
• Fronting: failure to prove non-fronting within 7 days of notification invalidates bid and may lead to restriction up to 10 years.

Evaluation stages:

• Stage 1: Functionality evaluation. Minimum qualifying score: 70% to progress to Stage 2.
• Stage 2: Price and specific goals evaluation (80/20 system).

Functionality criteria (total 100 points):

1. Company experience in applied research/consulting (5 points): >5 years = 5, 5 years = 3, <5 years = 0. Company profile stating years must be attached.
2. Reference letters (5 points): 5+ letters = 5, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, <3 = 0. Letters must be signed, verifiable, on valid letterheads with contactable details.
3. Team member experience in ventilation and occupational hygiene engineering (15 points): >10 years = 5, 10 years = 3, <10 = 0. CV required.
4. Qualifications of that team member (12.5 points): Master's or above = 5, Honours = 3, less = 0. Copies of qualifications required.
5. Team member experience in engineering field with real-time monitoring expertise in mining (15 points): >10 years = 5, 10 = 3, <10 = 0. CV required.
6. Qualifications in engineering field (12.5 points): Master's or above = 5, Honours = 3, less = 0.
7. Quality of project proposal (35 points): must address all four requirements (methodology, feasibility, scope, schedule). 5 points if all addressed, 0 if not. Proposals reproducing scope verbatim score 0.

Price scoring: Ps = 80(1 - (Pt - Pmin)/Pmin). Lowest price gets 80 points. Specific goals (B-BBEE) up to 20 points.

Scope of work:

• Conduct a review of local and international literature on real-time occupational hygiene monitoring technologies in mining and other high-risk industries, covering capabilities, limitations, best practices, standards, legal framework, and training.
• Identify, document and categorise real-time monitoring technologies currently used or piloted in South African mining operations (underground, surface/open-pit, mineral processing plants). Include make/model, supplier, features, stressor measured, performance characteristics, limitations, calibration requirements, availability of OEM/accredited calibration services in SA, comparability with conventional methods, AI integration opportunities, supply chain requirements, storage, and information management/network infrastructure.
• Assess suitability, functionality and operational performance of identified technologies across different mining environments, considering environmental conditions, connectivity, reliability, usability, interoperability, maintenance, and workforce adoption.
• Develop a draft practical guidance document and recommendations for appropriate application of RTM technologies in the SAMI, addressing technology selection, calibration, maintenance, QA, data interpretation, alarm/response principles, competency/training, and regulatory/policy recommendations.
• Conduct a hybrid stakeholder workshop in Gauteng (hosted by service provider) to present preliminary findings, validate technologies, assess adoption barriers, and obtain stakeholder inputs.

Expected outcomes (deliverables):

1. Report on literature review outcomes.
2. Report on identified, documented and categorised technologies.
3. Report on suitability, functionality and operational performance.
4. Report on draft guidance document.
5. Report on hybrid workshop.
6. Report on guidance document.
7. Draft final report.
8. Final report.

Contract period: 21 months (18 months project work, 3 months MHSC administrative duties).

Project proposal must address four requirements: clearly defined methodology (design, participants, datasets, study sites, instruments, procedures), feasibility (participant accessibility, study site access, data access, sample sizes), sufficient coverage of all project scope items, and a project schedule with expected outcomes, timelines, and costing. Proposals that reproduce scope text verbatim without interpretation will score 0.

Service provider must have at least 5 years' experience in applied research. Project team must include members with:

• Minimum 10 years' experience in Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene Engineering in mining.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in electrical, electronic, mechanical, mechatronic, instrumentation and control, or industrial engineering with expertise in real-time monitoring technologies in mining.

Team members used in proposal must be the same team to execute the project. If members resign, replacements must have same expertise and experience.

Pricing schedule (SBD 3.3 Professional Services) includes items: project initiation, literature review report, report on identified technologies, report on suitability/functionality, draft guidance document report, hybrid workshop report, guidance document report, draft final report, final report. Subtotal excluding VAT, VAT 15%, Grand Total including VAT. All prices inclusive of all costs and taxes.

Pricing format: SBD 3.3 Professional Services pricing schedule. All prices in South African Rand, inclusive of all applicable taxes including VAT. Prices must include all costs to deliver services. Where imported goods/services used, state exchange currency and rate at time of bidding.

Pricing schedule items:

• Project initiation
• Report on literature review
• Report on identified technologies
• Report on suitability/functionality
• Report on draft guidance document
• Report on hybrid workshop
• Report on guidance document
• Draft final report
• Final report
• Subtotal excluding VAT, VAT 15%, Grand Total including VAT

Payment: within 30 days from receipt of invoice after completion of deliverables (per PFMA section 76(4)(b) and Treasury Regulations 8.2.3).

Bid validity: 120 days from closing date. Prices must remain valid for that period.

Price negotiations: award may be subject to price negotiations with preferred bidder if prices not market related.

No bid security or guarantees specified.

Mandatory compliance:

• Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration: bidders must be registered on CSD prior to bid submission. Non-registration leads to disqualification.
• Tax compliance: submit Tax Verification PIN from SARS or CSD number. Each party in a joint venture/consortium must submit separately. Tax matters must be in order at time of submission.

B-BBEE: Preference points claimed via SBD 6.1, supported by valid B-BBEE certificate or certified sworn affidavit. 80/20 system applies (up to 20 points for specific goals).

Other requirements:

• No bids from persons in service of the state, or companies with directors who are state employees.
• Foreign suppliers must complete the foreign supplier questionnaire.
• Proof of authority to sign bid (e.g. company resolution) must be submitted.
• POPIA compliance required.

Service provider acknowledges awareness of the Mine Health and Safety Act and OHS Act, and that they are an employer in their own right with duties and responsibilities as prescribed in the Act.

Bid validity: 120 days from closing date. Prices may not be modified during validity period. No service to be rendered before official MHSC Purchase Order issued. Bidders may not alter or add to bid document content. No discussions with any enterprise until evaluation complete. MHSC reserves right to cancel RFB for changed circumstances, insufficient funds, no compliant bids, material irregularity, or bidder failure to deliver. Bidders' terms and conditions are not acceptable. MHSC not liable for response preparation costs. Collusion, fraud, corruption, and fronting result in disqualification. MHSC may terminate contract during first week if service provider misrepresented themselves.

MHSC adheres to POPIA requirements. Bidders must be aware of scammers posing as MHSC employees; MHSC does not sell bid documents and will never ask for monetary gratuity. Awarding of tenders published on National Treasury e-tender portal and MHSC website. No regret letters sent.

Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) prior to submitting their bid. Bidders must submit their tax compliance status (Tax Verification PIN from SARS or CSD number). Failure to comply will render the bid non-responsive and disqualified.

Evaluation stages: Stage 1 - Functionality evaluation (bidders must achieve 70% to progress). Criteria: Company experience (5), Reference letters (5), Team member experience in ventilation and occupational hygiene engineering (15), Qualifications of that team member (12.5), Experience of team member in engineering fields with real-time monitoring expertise (15), Qualifications in engineering (12.5), Quality of project proposal (35). Total 100. Stage 2 - Price and specific goals evaluation using 80/20 system.