Cooling Water and Potable Water Clarifier Cleaning Services

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, through its Duvha Power Station, invites tenders for cooling water and potable water clarifier cleaning services over a contract period of 60 months. The scope is divided into two operational streams. Online cleaning, performed roughly every two months on the six large clarifiers in service, removes deposits and algae from the peripheral and radial launders without draining the clarifier, with launder work limited to four hours per day and completed within eight hours in total over two consecutive days. Offline cleaning, performed when a clarifier is drained under a permit to work, covers all water-touching surfaces including launders, mixing zones, inlet pipes, concrete walls, clarifier pockets, blow-down pits, outlet launders and re-carbonizing areas. Offline work is limited to 14 days for large clarifiers and eight days for small clarifiers. Debris must be removed and disposed of at the ash dumping site approximately 5 km from the power station.

Tenderers are evaluated on a functionality basis with a minimum threshold of 70%. Mandatory returnables include at least one completion certificate for industrial cleaning using pressure equipment. Qualitative criteria are weighted as follows: contractor experience with high-pressure water jet cleaning, requiring at least three completed similar projects (35%); a detailed method statement covering online cleaning, offline cleaning and equipment (35%); and a programme schedule covering duration, offline and online milestones (30%). The contractor must also comply with Eskom's Form A quality requirements (ISO 9001 alignment, draft Contract Quality Plan and Quality Control Plans), environmental requirements, and the OHS requirements for a High Risk supplier category. These include a site-specific baseline risk assessment, a safe work procedure for confined spaces, valid COIDA letter of good standing, SHE competency certificates, and a SHE costing breakdown. Work takes place in dusty, noisy environments, at heights and in confined spaces, and is subject to plant availability constraints.

The contract is awarded under the NEC3 Term Service Contract (TSC3), with payment within 60 days for contracts above R50 million including VAT. Evaluation uses the 80/20 preference point system for contracts up to R50 million, with specific goals and a 1.5% SDL&I retention applied. Bidders must submit a non-compulsory clarification meeting attendance if desired, a validity period of 180 days, and CSD registration before award. Benefits for successful bidders include a long-term, recurring service agreement with a major utility, opportunities to build a track record with Eskom, and a defined scope that supports planned maintenance of critical water treatment infrastructure. The work supports reliable power generation by preventing debris carryover into production systems and enabling early identification of corrosion and structural damage.