Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a water testing service that ensures the Municipality's compliance with national water quality standards, safeguards public health, and maintains environmental integrity. The service aims to provide accurate, timely analysis of drinking and wastewater samples, supporting regulatory compliance and effective response management.

Scope

The scope encompasses the collection, analysis, and reporting of water quality parameters for drinking water and wastewater within the Municipality. It includes microbiological, physical, chemical, and inorganic testing, adherence to legislative standards (such as SANS 241 and ISO 17025), and capacity building for municipal officials. The service covers sampling at designated locations, laboratory analysis, reporting, incident response, and quality assurance over a contract period of 36 months.

Technical Requirements

• Compliance with relevant legislation including the Constitution of South Africa, Practice Act 19 of 2006, and SANS 241 standards.
• Testing parameters for drinking water: microbiological, physical, aesthetic, solids, and chemical determinants.
• Testing parameters for wastewater/effluent: solids, ammonia, orthophosphate, nitrate, and E. coli, with adherence to GN 1191 discharge limits.
• Laboratory accreditation to SANAS ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
• Sampling plan covering critical water points with specified frequency: microbiological weekly, chemical monthly, wastewater monthly.
• Reporting within 24 hours for non-compliance results, with a turnaround time of approximately 5 days for routine results.
• Provision of capacity-building sessions for municipal officials (minimum two per year).
• Implementation of quality assurance, record keeping for at least five years, and incident management protocols.
• Adherence to health, safety, and environmental regulations, including PPE use.

Skills Requirements

• Qualified and experienced analysts, samplers, and project managers with relevant certifications and proven track record in water quality testing.
• Technical expertise in sampling methodologies, laboratory analysis, and data management aligned with ISO 17025 and SANS 241 standards.
• Capacity to develop and implement detailed sampling plans, QA/QC procedures, and logistics management.
• Ability to provide capacity-building training sessions and produce comprehensive reports and data formats (PDF, Excel, GIS).
• Proficiency in incident response, corrective actions, and compliance monitoring.