Objectives

The primary objective is to procure and deliver a single 45-tonne step deck lowbed trailer, fully equipped with specified accessories, to support operational activities at the SARAO Klerefontein Support Base. The tender seeks a compliant, competitively priced supplier capable of meeting strict delivery timelines and adhering to South African public procurement standards.

Scope

The scope covers the complete supply, sourcing, and transportation of one step deck lowbed trailer to the designated support base in the Northern Cape. It includes all mandatory load-securing equipment, safety features, and required documentation. Bidders must submit firm, non-negotiable pricing valid for sixty days from the closing date. Successful suppliers will operate under standard payment terms of thirty days following delivery and formal acceptance of the goods. The procurement follows an administrative compliance phase followed by a scored evaluation phase.

Technical Requirements

• Vehicle Type: Step deck lowbed trailer with a 45-tonne payload capacity.
• Dimensions: Fixed width of 2.6 metres, extendable to 3.2 metres; overall length of 15 metres.
• Loading Capability: Must accommodate either two 6-metre containers or one 12-metre container.
• Mandatory Accessories & Features:
  • Headboard and in-deck toolboxes
  • Container locks and pedestal outriggers
  • Spring-loaded ramps
  • Mechanical suspension system
  • High-grade securing chains/straps: Four 4-metre, four 6-metre, and four 9-metre lengths (all 10mm thick, Grade 70 or 80–100)
  • Twelve ratchet-type load binders (10mm)
  • Twenty-four clevis grab hooks (model HKCLGR010, 10mm)
• Identification: Supplier to provide the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
• Delivery Timeline: Within ten working days after receipt of the official purchase order.
• Pricing Format: Firm quotes inclusive of VAT; detailed cost breakdowns required on official company letterhead.

Skills Requirements

The tender does not mandate specific professional qualifications, engineering certifications, or licensed personnel. Success depends on the bidder's proven capacity in heavy equipment supply, logistics coordination, regulatory compliance, and financial stability. Suppliers must demonstrate standard business registration, tax compliance clearance, and the operational infrastructure to manufacture or source the specified trailer configuration and manage nationwide transport within the stipulated timeframe.

Key Terms & Definitions

• 80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement scoring model allocating eighty percent of evaluation points to price competitiveness and twenty percent to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) contribution levels.
• Step Deck Lowbed Trailer: A specialized freight trailer featuring a lowered central deck section, enabling the transport of taller or heavier machinery while remaining within legal road height restrictions.
• SBD Documentation: Standardized National Treasury bidding schedules (SBD 1, 3.1, 4, 6.1, 7.2) mandating administrative compliance, pricing declarations, bid security, B-BBEE verification, and contractual acceptance.
• Grade 70/80–100 Chains: Industrial-grade high-tensile steel chains rated for heavy-load securing, commonly required for transporting construction, mining, or scientific equipment during transit.