SCADA, Telemetry and Water Automation Services

Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality, through its Engineering Services directorate, has invited bids for the appointment of a professional contractor to implement a Water Conservation and Demand Management (WCDM) project. The core of the project is an integrated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), telemetry and automation system covering the municipality's water supply and wastewater infrastructure. The scheme spans the Koster, Swartruggens, Derby, Mazista and Ratsagae water and wastewater systems. The scope includes RTUs and PLCs, a radio communication network, level, pressure and flow sensors, pump monitoring, a central SCADA platform, pump automation, telemetry expansion, pump rehabilitation, security upgrades, standardisation of equipment, a Telemetry Operations Centre (TOC), and reporting and data systems. The bill of quantities covers SCADA software licensing and updates (36 months), master station and view-node setup, ThinManager and ftServer hardware, radio and GPRS communication units, ultra-low-power data loggers, vandal-resistant enclosures with solar power, ultrasonic and float-type level instrumentation, UPS and power supply units, PLC systems, industrial network switches, cabling, and labour for design, installation, commissioning, and 36 months of monthly maintenance of telemetry sites and equipment.

Bidders must hold a CIDB contractor grading of 7EP or higher and provide a valid CSD number, COIDA registration, tax compliance status, B-BBEE documentation, a bank rating letter, a company profile, a programme of works and a cash flow schedule. Evaluation is based on an 80/20 price and B-BBEE preference system, with a minimum functionality threshold of 75 out of 100. Functionality criteria assess previous telemetry or SCADA projects (minimum R1 million each, supported by completion certificates and appointment letters or purchase orders), an approach paper and work plan, and team qualifications, including a team leader with an NQF Level 6 qualification in electrical or electronic engineering and five years' post-qualification experience, and IT personnel with system integration competency. The project also carries labour-intensive requirements: at least 10% of the contract value must be used for local labour, supervisory staff must hold the required labour-intensive skills programme, and target values apply for affirmative business enterprise participation and labour content. Bidders should verify the stated bid validity period (120 days in the Tender Data versus 90 days in the Tender Notice) and confirm whether a compulsory site inspection applies, as the documents are not consistent on this point.