Commercial Cleaning Services

Transnet Property, an operating division of Transnet SOC Ltd, is inviting proposals for a 36-month term contract for the provision of cleaning services at its facilities in the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal region and surrounding areas, with Durban and its surrounds as the core focus. The scope covers a mix of office buildings, workshops, depots, yards and support infrastructure. Core services include daily cleaning of offices, foyers, passages, stairs, lifts, parking areas and entrances; weekly deep cleaning of ablutions; washing dishes and setting up boardroom refreshments; emptying and disinfecting bins; and cleaning of interior and reachable exterior windows. Specialised ad hoc services include high-rise window cleaning (4 metres and above), dry-foam carpet cleaning, blind washing and upholstery cleaning. The appointed provider must supply all cleaning personnel, equipment, SABS-approved chemicals and consumables at its own cost, comply with Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements, and pay wages in line with BCCCI minimum wage rules. Pricing must be submitted electronically on the Transnet Digital Procurement System (TDPS) and is benchmarked against the Bargaining Council for the Contract Cleaning Services Industry (BCCCI) guidelines. Prices are firm for the first 12 months, after which adjustment applies.

Evaluation follows a staged process. Bidders must first pass administrative and substantive responsiveness checks, including a valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing (certified, no older than three months) and proof of public liability insurance of at least R2,000,000. Technical proposals are then scored out of 100, with a minimum threshold of 80 points. Scored areas include the Operations Manager's cleaning management experience in commercial contracts, a detailed service implementation plan (strike contingency, training, time management, HR, staff transport and chemical handling), a site-specific health and safety plan, company experience with similar contracts (up to six references for maximum points), and a method statement. Final scoring is 90 points for price and 10 points for B-BBEE specific goals, with additional points for job creation. Successful bidders must also submit a BCCCI registration certificate and a comprehensive safety file within ten working days of award. Bids must be uploaded to the Transnet e-Supplier Portal by the closing date of 10 November 2026 at 14:00, and remain valid for 180 business days. A non-compulsory briefing is held via Microsoft Teams.

For Transnet, the contract aims to secure a competent, reliable provider that maintains clean, hygienic and safe working environments across its KZN coastal estate, with clear performance standards, monthly reporting and quarterly reviews. For suppliers, the 36-month duration offers stable, recurring revenue and an opportunity to build a long-term relationship with a major state-owned enterprise. Bidders should note that the RFP refers to a 30% subcontracting condition and job creation obligations, while the draft master agreement states that subcontracting is not applicable. Interested parties should clarify these requirements through the RFP clarification process, which closes three working days before the closing date, and review all annexures, including the Scope of Work, Technical Questionnaire, Schedule of Requirements and Bidders Final Checklist, before submitting.