Objectives

The primary objective is to procure a qualified contractor to supply, install, configure, test, and commission GSM-based remote control units across designated 132 kV substations. The project must be fully completed by 1 September 2026, with a total contract value remaining below R300,000 (including VAT).

Scope of Work

The successful service provider will manage the complete lifecycle of the GSM commander deployment at municipal substations. Core responsibilities include:

• Physical mounting, wiring, and configuration of GSM commanders to existing switchgear.
• End-to-end system testing, integration, and formal commissioning to guarantee reliable remote operation.
• Development and submission of a detailed project methodology, safety plan, and risk assessment prior to site mobilisation.
• Strict enforcement of site safety protocols, including mandatory full personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times.
• Mandatory attendance at a compulsory pre-implementation site meeting to align on technical specifications and logistics.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must satisfy stringent compliance, registration, and documentation thresholds to qualify for evaluation:

• Valid CIDB EP1 engineering construction grading.
• Active registration on the Central Suppliers Database (CSD) accompanied by a current Tax Compliance Certificate and Letter of Good Standing.
• Submission of a Contractor Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) risk management file.
• Proof of compensation fund clearance for both principal contractors and any subcontractors.
• Completion of all standard municipal bidding documentation, including declarations of interest, past supply chain management practices, and independent bid determination.
• Compliance with the 80:20 preferential procurement scoring model, requiring certified proof for all socio-economic development claims.
• All quotations must be handwritten in black ink, fully signed, with any price modifications explicitly countersigned by the bidder.

Skills Requirements

Personnel and the organisation must demonstrate verified expertise in high-voltage electrical engineering and automation systems:

• A minimum of five years’ post-accreditation experience as an electrician, supported by a valid Wireman’s licence.
• At least three years of direct experience in installing and commissioning GSM communication networks or SCADA infrastructure.
• Proven competency in protection and control equipment installation, validated by reference letters and commissioning completion certificates.
• Current Operating Regulations certificates for both High Voltage Systems (ORHVS) and Low Voltage Systems (ORLVS).
• Capability to author and execute detailed technical methodologies, hazard analyses, and commissioning procedures aligned with municipal standards.

Key Technical Terms Explained

• GSM Commanders: Cellular-network-enabled remote switching devices that allow authorised operators to safely control high-voltage circuit breakers and isolators from a central location, removing the need for manual on-site intervention.
• SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition; an industrial control architecture that enables real-time monitoring, data collection, and remote management of utility infrastructure through centralized software and field sensors.
• ORHVS / ORLVS: Statutory South African competency certificates that legally authorise personnel to perform live working, isolation, and maintenance tasks on high-voltage and low-voltage electrical networks respectively.
• CIDB EP1 Grading: A Construction Industry Development Board classification indicating a contractor’s financial and technical capacity to execute small-scale electrical engineering projects up to a prescribed monetary threshold.
• 80:20 Preferential Procurement: A South African public procurement framework awarding 80% of evaluation points based on price competitiveness and 20% on transformation criteria such as black ownership, youth/women/disabled empowerment, and rural/township development.