Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a strategic development and implementation partner to design, fund, develop, and operationalise a learning-integrated Water Treatment, Innovation, and Enterprise Development Platform. The platform aims to address regional water challenges, foster practical skills development, support enterprise growth, and contribute to regional socio-economic development through a sustainable, revenue-generating water treatment and bottling facility integrated with educational and innovation components.

Scope

The scope encompasses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assignment including:

• Strategic and enterprise development assessment
• Water sector opportunity and infrastructure assessment
• Design and development of a water bottling and treatment anchor facility
• Development of a learning integration and skills development framework
• Business case, financial modelling, and funding strategy formulation
• Implementation planning and operational modelling
• Preliminary engineering feasibility, site selection, and concept design
• Delivery of integrated reports, technical designs, and operational plans

The project emphasizes innovation, scalability, sustainability, and alignment with public-sector development priorities, with a focus on creating a regional water capability ecosystem that supports education, enterprise, and community needs.

Technical Requirements

• Development of detailed technical concepts for water treatment and bottling processes, including process flow diagrams and specifications
• Design of scalable, adaptable infrastructure supporting treatment, bottling, quality control, storage, and distribution
• Assessment of water resource availability, quality, and infrastructure constraints
• Design of a practical learning environment integrating Work Integrated Learning (WIL), curriculum mapping, and skills development pathways
• Preparation of a bankable business case with financial models, revenue projections, and funding strategies
• Development of a phased implementation plan, risk management, regulatory compliance, and environmental/social impact assessments
• Preliminary engineering feasibility studies including site selection, infrastructure planning, and concept design
• Provision of comprehensive reports, technical drawings, and cost estimates suitable for funding and regulatory approval

Skills Requirements

• Proven experience in water treatment, bottling, and infrastructure design
• Strong capability in strategic enterprise development and feasibility assessments
• Expertise in financial modelling, funding strategy development, and PPP/BOT structuring
• Technical proficiency in process engineering, site assessment, and preliminary engineering design
• Experience in developing and implementing learning frameworks aligned with QCTO and SETA standards
• Capability in project management, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance planning
• Demonstrated ability to deliver integrated, scalable, and sustainable development projects
• Knowledge of regional socio-economic challenges and water sector dynamics in Zululand or similar contexts
• Strong stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and community involvement skills
• Ability to produce high-quality technical reports, detailed project plans, and financial documents