Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to design and construct a compliant fire barrier separating an existing diesel storage tank from an electrical transformer at the Imbalenhle Community Health Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The structure is intended to mitigate fire hazards, protect critical medical infrastructure, and ensure compliance with national safety standards.

Scope of Work

The contractor will execute a once-off construction project at an operational healthcare facility, requiring careful planning to minimise disruption to daily clinical activities. The scope encompasses:

• Site preparation: clearing vegetation and excavating approximately 50 square metres to a depth of 100mm.
• Foundation works: supply and installation of 5mm reinforcement mesh and pouring a 25MPa concrete slab across approximately 50 square metres.
• Masonry construction: erecting a double-brick fire barrier wall (approximately 10 square metres) using brown face bricks that match existing structures, and constructing a single-brick wall (approximately 4 square metres) in the designated TB waiting area.
• Demolition and waste management: removing existing brickwork and responsibly disposing of all generated rubble.
• Site restoration: preparing paved zones and ensuring comprehensive housekeeping upon project completion.
• Social development mandate: allocating one line item for Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employment for unskilled labour, provided at no additional cost to the client.

Technical Requirements

All construction activities must strictly adhere to South African National Standards (SANS) and relevant municipal building regulations. Key technical specifications include:

• Architectural continuity: materials must replicate existing finishes, specifically brown face bricks.
• Structural integrity: concrete must achieve a minimum compressive strength of 25MPa, reinforced with 5mm steel mesh.
• Liability clause: the contractor assumes full financial and operational liability for any damages, injuries, or property loss occurring during site operations.
• Compliance verification: bidders must explicitly confirm adherence to all dimensional, material, and safety specifications outlined in the annexure; failure to indicate compliance results in automatic disqualification.

Skills and Qualification Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate proven capability and regulatory compliance through the following mandatory qualifications and documentation:

• Valid Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) General Building (GB) grading registration.
• Certificate of competency for an artisan bricklayer.
• A qualified builder artisan with verifiable prior experience in similar institutional or healthcare construction projects.
• Proof of past performance: submission of a valid copy of at least one purchase order and a corresponding completion certificate for brick-building projects delivered to public or private health facilities.
• Standard procurement prerequisites: valid SARS tax clearance/PIN, Central Supplier Database (CSD) verification, and B-BBEE status verification or sworn affidavit.
• Complete submission of all administrative returnable forms, including bidder disclosure, preference points claim, and general/special conditions of contract.

Key Terms and Procurement Framework

The procurement follows a strict four-stage evaluation process: administrative compliance, capacity verification, specification adherence, and pricing/preference scoring. Quotations are evaluated using an 80/20 preference point system, where 80 points are allocated to price competitiveness and 20 points to specific socio-economic goals, primarily favouring South African-owned enterprises. All prices must be firm, inclusive of VAT (if applicable), transport, labour, and profit, with a 90-day validity period. Late submissions, incomplete documentation, or failure to meet mandatory compliance thresholds will result in automatic disqualification. The contract is awarded on a once-off basis, with strict penalties applied for delayed performance or breach of terms.

Terminology Notes: CIDB GB grading refers to the Construction Industry Development Board's classification system for general building contractors, ensuring contractors meet minimum capacity thresholds. EPWP is a government initiative requiring service providers to create temporary employment opportunities for local, often unskilled, workers. The 80/20 system is a preferential procurement model mandated by South African law, balancing commercial value with socio-economic transformation. SANS compliance ensures all construction methods and materials meet nationally recognised safety, durability, and environmental standards.