Power Factor Correction Equipment Supply & Installation

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) invites tenders for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Power Factor Correction (PFC) equipment at King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal. The existing PFC equipment cannot deliver real-time power factor correction because of outdated switching technology and non-functioning units. The appointed contractor will replace it with new real-time reactive power compensation to reduce electricity costs, improve energy efficiency and extend asset life. The contract runs for 24 months under the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (Option B, priced with Bill of Quantities), with a 10% performance bond, delay damages, a 12-month defects period and a 2-year PFC warranty after commissioning.

The scope covers 12 distribution points across the terminal, airside and fuel depot areas, with a combined requirement of roughly 4,750 kVAr. Major sites include the MSP and ATC LV switchrooms, several airside substations, Terminal Building Substation A2 and the Sky Tanking fuel storage depot. Proposed solutions are IGBT-based Static VAr Generators that provide stepless correction, harmonic compensation (including 5th, 7th, 11th and 13th orders), and communication over Modbus RTU/TCP/IP with IEC 62443 cybersecurity compliance. The work includes power quality studies to size the system, integration with the existing SCADA network, Class A IEC 61000-4-30 power quality meters, factory and site acceptance testing, a post-commissioning power quality study, decommissioning and certified disposal of existing equipment, as-built drawings, operator training and handover. The system must also disconnect from the grid when the existing diesel generator starts.

Bidders must hold a valid CIDB contractor grading of 7EB or 7EP or higher and attend the compulsory site visit, which is a condition of eligibility. Key personnel are mandatory: an ECSA-registered electrical technologist or engineer with PFC design experience, a SACPCMP or PMP-registered project manager, and an electrician with medium-voltage experience and relevant certification. The work must be scheduled around airport operations, with works permitted during day hours (06:00 to 18:00) or night hours (22:00 to 04:00) between flights. KSIA is a National Key Point, so security vetting, airside permits and induction are required. Contractors must also meet the CIDB Contract Skills Development Goal under Standard Board Notice 913 of 2026, which carries a minimum 0.25% to 0.5% of contract value depending on class of works. Preference points are awarded on an 80/20 price-to-preference basis, including points for a KwaZulu-Natal business address. The closing date is 8 December 2026 at 12:00, and bids must be delivered in printed form to the MSO Building at KSIA.