Objectives

The primary objective is to ensure the continuous, safe, and efficient operation of an industrial water purification plant over a six-month period. Key goals include maintaining uninterrupted operations, guaranteeing treated water meets regulatory quality standards, minimizing equipment downtime, extending asset lifespans, optimizing membrane and chemical performance, ensuring full legal and environmental compliance, and maintaining comprehensive maintenance documentation.

Scope of Work

The contractor will deliver a comprehensive turnkey maintenance service encompassing preventative, corrective, and emergency maintenance across all plant systems. The scope includes:

• Preventative Maintenance: Scheduled daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual inspections, filter backwashing, membrane cleaning, pump servicing, and SCADA/PLC diagnostics.
• Corrective & Emergency Response: Reactive fault finding, breakdown repairs, equipment replacement, and 24/7 callout support with tiered response times.
• Water & Chemical Management: Regular water sampling, laboratory testing, chemical dosing optimization, and membrane integrity monitoring.
• Operational Support & Reporting: Process and energy optimization, monthly performance reporting, calibration tracking, and structured training for operators and maintenance personnel.
• HSE Compliance: Strict adherence to permit-to-work systems, lockout/tagout procedures, confined space protocols, and hazardous waste disposal regulations.

Technical Requirements

All services must strictly adhere to SANS/SABS standards, OEM specifications, and relevant South African legislation (OHSA, NEMA, National Water Act). Treated water must comply with SANS 241 drinking water specifications. The contractor must meet defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs), including:

• A minimum 95% plant uptime and 100% water quality compliance.
• Tiered emergency response times: Critical (2–4 hours), High (8 hours), Medium (24 hours), Low (48 hours).
• A 12-month warranty covering all mechanical, electrical, civil works, and general workmanship.
• Mandatory submission of calibration certificates, compliance reports, and proof of professional registrations.
• Use of SABS-approved replacement parts and qualified personnel for all electrical, mechanical, and plumbing interventions.

Skills & Qualifications

Bidders must demonstrate proven experience in similar water treatment projects and provide a portfolio of completed contracts. Required qualifications include:

• CIDB Mechanical grading certification and valid company registration.
• Professionally registered engineers or project managers (ECSA/SACPCMP).
• Qualified Installation Electricians for all electrical systems.
• Registered mechanical and plumbing artisans/tradespeople.
• Specialized expertise in reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, SCADA/PLC automation, membrane cleaning protocols, and hazardous chemical handling.

Explanation of Technical Terms

• SANS 241: The South African National Standard specifying mandatory quality requirements for potable water.
• OEM Specifications: Technical guidelines issued by the Original Equipment Manufacturers dictating proper installation, operation, and maintenance procedures.
• CIP (Clean-in-Place): An automated cleaning process for membranes and pipelines that removes biological or chemical fouling without manual disassembly.
• SCADA/PLC: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and Programmable Logic Controllers; industrial automation systems used to monitor, control, and optimize plant processes remotely.
• B-BBEE/PPPFA Preference Points: A South African procurement framework that awards additional evaluation points to businesses meeting specific transformation criteria (e.g., black ownership, women-owned enterprises, disability inclusion, or local municipal presence).
• CIDB Grading: A national classification system assessing construction and engineering contractors’ financial stability, project capacity, and operational competence.