Boiler Inspections and Plant Failure Investigations

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, South Africa's state-owned electricity utility, has issued an open Invitation to Tender (Tender Reference E3776GXMPGRO) for boiler inspections and plant failure investigations at its Grootvlei Power Station. The contract covers maintenance and outage activities and runs for a period of five years on an as-and-when-required basis, meaning work is called off according to plant needs rather than as a fixed volume. Tender documents were issued on 30 October 2026, with the closing date set for 15 January 2027 at 10:00. A non-compulsory clarification meeting was scheduled for 1 December 2026, and the tender validity period is 26 weeks.

The scope centres on specialist technical work essential to the safe and reliable operation of power generation boilers. This includes inspection of boiler components to assess condition and identify deterioration, and the investigation of plant failures to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions. Successful bidders will be expected to support outage planning and execution, working within Eskom's safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) requirements. The conditions of contract are the NEC3 Engineering & Construction Contract. Tenders are evaluated on a 90/10 or 80/20 preference point system, with price and specific goals scored, and a minimum functionality threshold of 70% applies. Evaluation also considers SDL&I requirements. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the Eskom e-tendering portal, in PDF with Excel pricing schedules, and alternative tenders are not permitted.

For qualifying suppliers, this opportunity offers a long-term, five-year engagement with a major state-owned utility, providing predictable demand and the potential to build a sustained relationship with Eskom. Mandatory requirements include valid CSD registration, tax compliance, audited financial statements (or the last available year), COIDA good standing, and an environmental and SHEQ compliance profile including an appointed SHE officer. Bidders must also complete the required declarations, including the Integrity Declaration, SBD forms, and Employment Equity compliance where applicable. Joint ventures are permitted subject to joint and several liability in the JV agreement, and bidders must not subcontract 100% of the scope.