Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure services for the replacement, installation, and maintenance of the Air Handling Unit (AHU), HEPA filter system, ducting, and Building Management System (BMS) within the existing high containment (BSL-3) facility at ARC Tad. The project aims to ensure the facility's systems are compliant with biosafety standards, operationally efficient, and capable of supporting biosafety research activities.

Scope

The scope includes:

• Supply, installation, commissioning, validation, and testing of a compliant HEPA filtration system with associated ducting and filter housing supporting bag-in/bag-out filter change.
• Provision of an effective Building Management System (BMS) tailored for BSL-3 laboratory environments, including visual control interfaces, environmental monitoring, and access control integration.
• Remedial work, including detailed specifications, schedules, and as-built documentation.
• Staff training and provision of maintenance manuals.
• Post-installation maintenance and technical support contracts for three years.
• Work to be performed in designated laboratory zones, including research labs, buffer zones, basement, incinerators, and effluent treatment areas.

Technical Requirements

The technical specifications mandate:

• HEPA filters certified to remove ≥99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns, with upstream challenge ports and leak-proof housings supporting bag-in/bag-out change.
• HEPA filters must be tested and certified via DOP/PAO methods, with annual testing certificates.
• The BMS must monitor critical parameters such as pressure, temperature, humidity, and equipment status, with capabilities for remote access, data logging, and alarm notifications.
• The system must integrate with existing safety and fire alarm systems, support future expansion, and operate reliably under biosafety conditions.
• Environmental controls include maintaining specific pressure differentials, temperature (18–28°C), and humidity (30–50%).
• All systems must comply with relevant biosafety, ISO, and local standards (e.g., ISO 14644-3, EN 1822, SANS 529:2009).

Skills Requirements

The tender requires bidders to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in installing and maintaining HEPA filtration and BMS systems in biosafety level 3 laboratories, with references for at least 15 similar projects.
• Company profile showing expertise in high containment facilities, including experience with at least 15 BSL-3 installations.
• Qualified project team members, notably a Project Team Lead with a minimum of 6 years of relevant engineering experience, registered with ECSA or equivalent.
• Capability to provide comprehensive technical support, training, and after-sales services for a minimum of 3 years post-installation.
• Ability to adhere to legislative, biosafety, and quality standards, including ISO 9001 certification.