Standby Generator Servicing and Maintenance

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF), is seeking a suitably qualified and accredited electro-mechanical service provider to maintain its standby generator infrastructure for a period of 36 months. The scope covers four standby generators at the Cape Town site (Observatory, Western Cape) and two 550kVA Scania-powered generators at the Sutherland site (Northern Cape). Services include comprehensive inspections of engines, alternators, control panels, batteries and automatic transfer switches (ATS); scheduled preventative maintenance in line with manufacturer specifications; oil, fuel, air and coolant servicing; controller software and firmware updates (including DSE gateway devices); load bank and operational testing; and detailed service reporting with job cards and photographic records. Breakdown repairs and temporary repairs must be carried out using genuine OEM parts only, and all quotations must be itemised and approved by SAAO through an official purchase order before work commences.

The service provider must offer 24-hour, 365-day emergency call-out support, with defined response and completion targets by priority level. For the Cape Town site, critical (P1) faults require a response within 6 hours and completion within 24 hours, while urgent (P2) faults require a response within 10 hours. For Sutherland, P1 response is within 12 hours and P2 within 18 hours. Routine (P3) work must be completed within ten working days. Contractors must hold a valid COIDA certificate, public liability insurance of at least R2 million, a company profile specialising in generator maintenance, and a current SHEQ file. Technicians must be qualified as artisan electricians, diesel mechanics or millwrights with Red Seal trade testing. Pricing must be firm, VAT-inclusive, valid for 60 days, and cover labour, travel at AA rates, accommodation for Sutherland visits, and an agreed mark-up on materials.

The contract offers a long-term, recurring revenue opportunity for an established generator maintenance business with multi-site capability and strong compliance credentials. It is evaluated on an 80/20 preference point system (80 points for price, 20 for B-BBEE status or specific goals). Suppliers must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) to receive an award. Quotations must be submitted by email to scm@saao.ac.za by 16:00 on 20 November 2026, with technical enquiries directed to Basil Hoffman at bhoffman@saao.ac.za.