Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to establish a contract for maintenance and minor project work related to the fibre optic network of Eskom / National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) and Broadband Infraco. The work involves ad-hoc repairs, inspections, cable replacements, and emergency repairs on the fibre optic infrastructure over a period of three (3) years, ensuring the integrity, safety, and operational readiness of the network.

Scope

The scope encompasses:

• Ad-hoc repairs to sections of ADSS, OPGW, and DUCT fibre optic cables on NTCSA, Eskom, and Broadband Infraco networks, including work on high voltage power lines (dead or live conditions).
• Removal, replacement, and joining of fibre optic cables, including end-to-end optical testing.
• Inspection of fibre optic installations at towers, joints, and environment conditions.
• Emergency repairs involving temporary fixes and cable replacements.
• Work on affected properties, including obtaining necessary authorizations, managing site access, and ensuring safety and environmental compliance.
• Provision of documentation such as as-built drawings and test reports.
• Coordination with line outages and adherence to safety, health, and environmental standards.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Use of NTCSA and Eskom approved fibre optic cables and hardware, with prior approval for any new materials.
• Compliance with relevant standards and specifications, such as NRS 078, NRS 088, and other referenced documents.
• Performing optical tests (end-to-end, OTDR, power meter, light source) on all fibre cores before installation and after repairs.
• Adherence to approved safe work procedures, including fall arrest systems (no safety belts allowed).
• Proper handling, transportation, and disposal of damaged or unusable cables and hardware, with certification of disposal.
• Line outage management, with notification times of 24 hours for emergency works and 48 hours for other works.
• Preparation of as-built documentation reflecting all changes and test results.

Skills Requirements

The tender requires:

• Personnel with valid authorizations for work on Eskom Transmission and Distribution grids, maintained throughout the contract.
• Experience in fibre optic cable installation, repair, and testing, including working on high voltage power lines under live or dead conditions.
• Knowledge of NTCSA and Eskom procedures, safety standards, and environmental policies.
• Ability to prepare and manage documentation, including test reports, as-built drawings, and safety records.
• Effective management of logistics, site access, and coordination with line outage schedules.
• Compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality assurance standards, including ISO9001:2015.