Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to supply, deliver, install, and provide training on a new Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and Sulphur (S) Elemental Analyser instrument for analytical services within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The instrument aims to support scientific analysis of plant, soil, water, and feed samples to enhance agricultural research, improve food security, and generate departmental revenue.

Scope

The scope includes:

• Provision of a complete CNS analyser system capable of analyzing solid, powder, and liquid samples for C, N, and S content.
• Installation, commissioning, and training on the use of the instrument.
• Supply of all necessary fittings, accessories, software, and consumables for analysis of up to 4,000 samples.
• Provision of a maintenance and repair service contract for the life of the instrument, including guarantee/warranty and SLA for ongoing support.
• Ensuring the instrument operates using high-temperature combustion (Dumas method) with automated features for unattended operation.

Technical Requirements

The analyser must meet the following technical specifications:

• Principle based on Dumas dry-matter complete combustion for accurate analysis of C, N, and S.
• Fully automated, supporting simultaneous multi-element detection from a single sample.
• Capability to analyze total carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur in a wide concentration range (ppm to % levels).
• Support for high-temperature combustion (>1000°C, preferably up to 1400°C) with automatic oxygen dosing and temperature control.
• Inclusion of gas chromatographic or equivalent separation system, with Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD) and/or Infrared detectors.
• Automatic sample loader with capacity for at least 30 samples.
• Compatibility with Windows OS, with control software supporting calibration, drift correction, data export, and real-time diagnostics.
• Automatic leak detection, leak testing, auto-start, and self-diagnostics features.
• Minimum 10-year warranty on furnace and TCD, with provisions for maintenance and repair support.
• Delivery of consumables sufficient for analyzing 4,000 samples.
• Automatic sample weighing (minimum 125 mg for plant/food, 350 mg for soil).

Skills and Service Requirements

The supplier must demonstrate:

• Ability to supply a fully operational, calibrated, and validated instrument meeting the specifications.
• Provision of comprehensive training for end-users and supervisors, including basic maintenance and troubleshooting, at the Department’s site.
• Availability of qualified service engineers for ongoing maintenance, repairs, and support during the warranty and SLA periods.
• Reporting on maintenance activities, including work history, spare parts, and costs, to be submitted regularly to the Scientific Manager.
• Capability to respond within 8 hours for warranty repairs and to provide a three-year SLA for post-warranty maintenance.
• Compliance with all safety, quality, and environmental standards, including providing necessary certificates (e.g., SABS approval).