Objectives

To procure a qualified contractor to deliver a complete turnkey solution for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and certification of overhead lifting systems for five cooling towers. The primary objective is to establish a safe, reliable mechanical handling system that enables efficient maintenance operations by facilitating the removal, transport, and reinstallation of cooling tower motors, fans, and associated components.

Scope of Work

The successful bidder will manage the full project lifecycle, beginning with a mandatory site inspection to verify existing structural dimensions and conditions. Responsibilities include preliminary and final engineering design, fabrication, structural installation, application of corrosion protection, load testing, third-party certification, and final commissioning. The contractor must ensure the installed system provides adequate clearance to handle components without interfering with the cooling tower structure or surrounding plant equipment. The scope encompasses Cooling Towers 1 through 5.

Technical Requirements

• Lifting Capacity: Minimum 500 kg Safe Working Load (SWL).
• Primary Structure: Structural I-beam (preliminarily indicated as UB 305 × 165 × 40, subject to site verification and engineering validation).
• Material Specification: S355 structural steel or an approved equivalent grade.
• Environmental Adaptation: Comprehensive corrosion protection system specifically rated for coastal/marine exposure. Proposed coating specifications require prior client approval.
• Engineering Compliance: All structural connections, supports, welds, and fasteners must be designed, calculated, and certified by a competent professional engineer.
• Warranty: Minimum 12-month coverage commencing upon final handover and commissioning.
• Preliminary Dimensions: Towers 3 & 4 (~10 m × 10 m × 10 m); Towers 1, 2 & 5 (~5 m × 5 m × 5 m). These are indicative only and must be confirmed during site assessment.

Skills and Qualification Requirements

• Proven track record as a lifting-equipment manufacturer or industrial contractor specialising in overhead crane/lifting systems.
• Access to a registered competent engineer capable of performing structural load calculations, detailing, and issuing formal certification.
• Valid registration on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and the eThekwini Supplier Portal.
• Current Tax Compliance Status (TCS PIN or CSD number).
• Submission of all mandatory municipal bidding templates (MBD 4, 6.1, 8, 9) confirming independence, clean supply chain history, and absence of conflicts of interest.
• Documented proof of previous similar projects (signed and dated completion certificates).
• Capability to claim preference points under the statutory preferential procurement framework, including submission of verified demographic or enterprise classification documentation.

Key Terminology and Special Conditions

SWL (Safe Working Load): The maximum weight the lifting system is engineered and certified to handle safely under normal operating conditions, excluding dynamic shock loads.

UB 305 × 165 × 40: A standard universal beam designation indicating approximate overall depth (305 mm), flange width (165 mm), and mass per metre (40 kg). This is a preliminary reference size; final cross-sections require engineering verification based on actual spans and load distributions.

S355 Structural Steel: A European-grade structural steel with a minimum yield strength of 355 MPa, widely specified for heavy-load industrial frameworks due to its high tensile strength and weldability.

80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement evaluation model allocating 80 points to price competitiveness and 20 points to socio-economic transformation goals (e.g., black ownership, women-owned enterprises, disability inclusion, or local content). Points are awarded proportionally based on submitted proof, and failure to provide documentation results in zero allocation for this category.

MBD Forms: Standardised Municipal Bidding Documents mandated for all South African public sector tenders. They enforce tax compliance, anti-collusion declarations, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and preference-point claims to ensure transparent and lawful procurement processes.