Objectives

The primary objective is to engage a qualified service provider for the annual preventive maintenance and comprehensive servicing of thirty-three (33) Medium Voltage (MV) switchgear units at Grey’s Hospital. This initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted power distribution, extend equipment lifespan, maintain strict safety and regulatory compliance, and guarantee reliable electrical operations within a critical healthcare facility.

Scope of Work

The contract encompasses the systematic inspection, testing, and servicing of nineteen (19) circuit breakers and fourteen (14) isolators. Core activities include:

• Measuring contact wear and resistance, conducting infrared thermal scans, and analyzing oil moisture and dielectric strength.
• Verifying SF₆ gas pressure, recording trip/close times, and performing partial discharge testing.
• Inspecting current paths, insulators, inter-phasing rods, linkages, bearings, operating mechanisms, electrical connections, earth switch interlocks, and structural supports.
• Conducting general checks: cleaning mechanism boxes, inspecting springs/seals, verifying ventilation, and confirming safety guard functionality.

All findings must be recorded using standardized check sheets, followed by the submission of a detailed technical report per unit. Contractors must leave sites clean, retain all removed components on-site, and submit separate quotations for any post-service repairs. Associated masonry, patching, and painting resulting from electrical work are the contractor's responsibility.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate full compliance with the attached technical specification. All services must adhere to South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) wiring codes, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Authority (KZNPA) electrical specifications, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and National Building Regulations. Contractors must utilize standardized test reporting formats and formally document all faults. Prior to commencement, a comprehensive Safety Plan and Programme of Works must be submitted. The service provider must also provide a quotation for any necessary after-service repairs.

Skills and Qualification Requirements

Only companies for whom MV switchgear servicing is a core business function will be considered. Mandatory qualifications include:

• CIDB registration at Grade 1 EB or higher.
• A valid Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Employment and Labour.
• Certified technician competence documentation, specifically electrician and technical MV switching certificates.
• Verifiable proof of prior completion of similar projects.
• Formal accreditation to service and repair MV switchgear systems.

Explanation of Technical Terms

• MV Switchgears: Medium Voltage electrical distribution assemblies designed to control, protect, and isolate power circuits in industrial and institutional settings.
• SF₆ Gas: Sulfur hexafluoride, a highly effective insulating and arc-extinguishing gas commonly used in high-voltage circuit breakers.
• Partial Discharge: Localized electrical breakdowns within insulation that do not fully bridge conductors but indicate progressive insulation degradation requiring continuous monitoring.
• CIDB 1 EB: A Construction Industry Development Board contractor grading system where “EB” denotes Electrical Engineering specialization; Grade 1 represents the foundational competency level required for this project.
• FAT/SAT/PM/CM/I: Standardized maintenance and testing classifications: Factory Acceptance Test, Site Acceptance Test, Preventive Maintenance, Condition Monitoring, and Diagnostic Investigation.