Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a contractor capable of providing and installing a new air compressor system at the Iziko South African Museum. The project aims to ensure the new compressor works seamlessly with existing equipment, supports the museum’s conservation and laboratory activities, and maintains a reliable, clean, and dry compressed air supply. Additionally, the contractor must handle required piping, electrical work on the associated distribution board, and ensure all equipment functions in tandem for operational reliability and safety.

Scope

The scope includes:

• Supply and installation of a new air compressor suitable for tandem operation with existing compressors.
• Provision of all necessary equipment, piping, and electrical connections, including modifications to the electrical distribution board.
• Ensuring the compressor system delivers clean, dry, oil-free air at specified flow rates (1,700–2,800 l/min) and pressure (7–10 bar).
• Incorporation of multi-stage filtration (pre-filtration and fine particulate filtration).
• Designing the system to support simultaneous use of pneumatic tools and laboratory equipment with minimal noise and vibration.
• Ensuring the compressors operate in tandem, with failover capabilities.
• Providing electrical certifications upon completion.

Technical Requirements

The technical specifications for the system include:

• Delivery of dry, oil-free compressed air suitable for sensitive fossil preparation and conservation activities.
• Minimum airflow: 1,700–2,800 l/min at 7–10 bar pressure, with stable and adjustable pressure within this range.
• Ability to supply compressed air to multiple workstations simultaneously, maintaining pressure stability (target outlet pressure of 8.5 bars).
• Inclusion of multi-stage filtration: pre-filtration (~1 micron) and fine particulate filtration (~0.01 micron).
• Compatibility with existing compressors and piping infrastructure, with site assessment to determine final specifications.
• Provision for fault identification, maintenance alerts, and operational support.
• Compliance with noise limits and vibration minimization suitable for a laboratory environment.

Skills Requirements

The contractor must possess:

• Technical expertise in air compressor systems, piping, controls, instrumentation, and electrical control distribution boards.
• Certification demonstrating CIDB Grade 2 ME or higher.
• Experience in installing and commissioning compressed air systems in sensitive environments such as museums or laboratories.
• Capability to provide ongoing maintenance support and fault diagnostics.