Radiographic Testing Services for Rail Thermite Welds NEW

Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) is inviting proposals from experienced non-destructive testing (NDT) service providers to deliver radiographic testing (RT) of rail thermite welds on an as-and-when required basis for a period of twelve months. The services form part of TRIM's infrastructure quality assurance programme for the Central Region, which comprises approximately 7,800 single-track kilometres served from six depots: Isando, Krugersdorp, Vereeniging, Heidelberg, Ladysmith and Durban. Thermite welds are prone to defects such as lack of fusion, porosity, inclusions, shrinkage cavities and cracks, and undetected defects can lead to weld failures and derailments. The contract is therefore central to maintaining rail integrity, operational safety and compliance with statutory requirements.

The scope covers RT execution on newly cast and in-service thermite welds; evaluation and classification of defects (severity C1 to C3) against internationally recognised acceptance criteria; marking and traceability of every weld tested; provision of a mobile darkroom and digital image scanning system; provision of flagmen and data capture labour; and management of radiation safety, equipment handling and documentation in line with National Nuclear Regulator requirements. The successful provider must also train and supervise TRIM depot personnel. Required personnel include one Level III RT technician, six Level II RT technicians, a Radiation Protection Officer, an Assistant Radiation Protection Officer, six first aiders and twelve certified flagmen holding Afford On Track Protection (AOTP) certificates. Bidders must hold ISO 17020 accreditation for NDT and an ISO 9001 quality management certificate, be certified to ISO 9712 and/or ASNT-TC-1A, own and maintain specialised RT equipment, demonstrate compliance with DMRE and SAHPRA requirements for industrial radiography, and show a proven track record in rail testing.

A key requirement is a secure, cloud-based mobile application and web dashboard for capturing, storing and analysing test data in real time. Each test record must include GPS coordinates, date and time, a photograph of the weld, weld identifier, test method, inspector name and result summary. TRIM requires full data ownership, unrestricted access during and after the contract, complete data exports in standard formats, and digital-only reporting. Evaluation uses a 75% technical threshold, weighted across technical compliance (40%), data software ownership (20%), delivery lead time (10%) and railway RT experience supported by reference letters and project close-out certificates (30%). Remaining points are split between price (80) and B-BBEE specific goals (20). Bid validity is 120 business days, and the closing date is 26 November 2026 at 12:00. Bidders should note that submissions must be uploaded through the Transnet e-tender portal at least a day before closing, as late submissions are not accepted.