Borehole Siting, Drilling and Equipping

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is inviting CIDB-registered contractors (minimum grading 3CE or higher) to submit tenders for the siting, drilling, testing and equipping of seven boreholes in Mpumalanga Province. The project covers three boreholes at Portion 0 (R/E) of Farm Tarbert No. 65 IT and two at Portion 5 of Farm Graspan 222 IS, both in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. It also includes one borehole at Portion 0 (R/E) of Farm Komatidraai 417 JT in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality and one at Portion 6 of Farm Goedehoop 308IR in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. All sites fall within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. The objective is to improve access to safe, sustainable water for rural communities for household consumption and crop irrigation.

The scope of work includes geohydrological assessment and geophysical investigation, siting at locations designated by the geohydrological study, rotary drilling (typically 165mm diameter, 0 to 150m), reaming, steel casing, borehole finishing, development and cleaning, and test pumping. Each productive borehole must achieve a minimum sustainable yield of 5,000 litres per day. Equipping works include submersible pumps and control units, solar panels (350W) or a 7kVA diesel generator as an alternative power source, 10,000-litre plastic water storage tanks on elevated galvanised stands, HDPE pipework, valves and fittings, borehole marking plates, and chemical and potability analysis. Unsuccessful holes must be capped or closed to specification. The programme must be completed within 8 weeks of commencement, with a 26-week defects liability period. Tenderers must also meet occupational health and safety requirements under the Construction Regulations 2014 and submit a Health and Safety Plan.

The tender is evaluated on an 80/20 preference point system, with 80 points for price and 20 points for specific goals. Specific goals include HDI ownership, female ownership, disability, youth ownership and locality within Gert Sibande District, and proof must be supplied. Functionality is scored out of 100, and bidders scoring below 60 are excluded. The main criteria are: relevant experience in borehole drilling and equipping, with a minimum project value of R250,000 each completed in the last 10 years (40 points); plant and equipment, including drill rigs (20 points); geohydrologist qualifications and experience (20 points); foreman experience (10 points); and OHS officer qualifications and experience (10 points). The contract requires at least 80% local unskilled labour, with employment targets of 55% women and 40% youth, and a compulsory clarification meeting is held at the Gert Sibande District Office in Ermelo on 13 November 2026 at 14:00. Tenders must be submitted to the sixth-floor tender box at 17 Van Rensburg Street, Bateleur Building, Nelspruit, by 11:00 on 30 November 2026. Late, faxed or emailed submissions are not accepted. Tender documents are available free of charge from eTenders and the departmental website.