Objectives

The primary objective is to secure a qualified supplier to design, manufacture, deliver, install, test, and commission four complete 20-ton lifting and turning device rotator sets for Transnet Engineering’s Durban Bayhead facility. This once-off project aims to enhance the safe handling, positioning, and rotation of railway rolling-stock during production, maintenance, and repair activities while ensuring full legislative compliance and operational readiness.

Scope

The project encompasses a full turnkey lifecycle:

• Engineering design, structural/mechanical/electrical calculations, and formal design approval prior to manufacturing.
• Fabrication and supply of four complete rotator sets, each comprising a 10,000 kg headstock and tailstock, integrated with lifting/rotation drives, brakes, faceplates, PLC/HMI/VSD controls, safety devices, and identification plates.
• Transport, insurance, offloading, and positioning of all units at the designated Durban site.
• Mechanical, electrical, and control system installation, including assembly, alignment, cabling, isolators, earthing, and integration.
• Comprehensive testing: no-load functional checks, rated-load performance (20,000 kg SWL), proof-load testing, and statutory certification.
• Site acceptance testing, operational training for ten staff members, and handover of all documentation, software/source-code backups, and compliance certificates.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate strict adherence to regulatory, operational, and commercial standards:

• Valid Lifting Machinery Entity (LME) registration and a certified Lifting Machinery Inspector (LMI) for statutory inspections and commissioning.
• A legally authorised Installation Electrician holding current trade test/wireman’s licences.
• Submission of a detailed project execution methodology, quality/test control plan, risk register, hold/witness points, and a Gantt chart programme (target lead time: 90–115 working days).
• All goods must be new, unused, and compliant with applicable South African lifting machinery legislation and recognised international standards.
• Pricing must be quoted in South African Rand on a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) basis, with unconditional discounts only. Electronic pricing via the designated portal is mandatory.
• Full compliance with tax regulations, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements, data protection laws, and potential security clearance protocols.

Skills and Experience Requirements

Evaluation heavily weights technical capability, key personnel qualifications, and proven track record:

• Key personnel must possess verified post-qualification experience: Installation Electricians (minimum one to three years) and LMIs (minimum one to three years in lifting machinery inspection, testing, and commissioning).
• The bidding company must provide at least two to three verifiable client references for comparable heavy-lifting or rotating equipment projects, detailing scope, capacity, completion dates, and referee contact details.
• Demonstrated expertise in structural/mechanical design, PLC/HMI programming, VSD integration, statutory load testing, and commissioning of industrial lifting systems.
• Capacity to produce comprehensive as-built records, source-code backups, operational manuals, and structured training programmes aligned with Transnet’s operational needs.

Key Terms and Services Explained

LME/LMI: Legally mandated South African registrations for entities and inspectors overseeing lifting equipment safety, design verification, and statutory certification to ensure public and operational compliance.

Deed of Suretyship: A bank or insurance-backed guarantee required upon contract award to secure performance obligations and cover potential losses from breach.

80/20 Preference System: A national procurement scoring framework allocating 80 points to price competitiveness and 20 points to socio-economic transformation goals (e.g., B-BBEE status level).

Post-Tender Negotiations (PTN) / Best and Final Offer (BAFO): A sequential negotiation process where Transnet may engage top-ranked bidders to align pricing with market rates before final award, with unsuccessful negotiations progressing down the ranked list.

DPIP/FPPO Disclosure: Mandatory declaration of commercial ties to Domestic Prominent Influential Persons or Foreign Prominent Public Officials to ensure transparency, assess conflict-of-interest risks, and comply with anti-corruption governance protocols.