Landscaping and Landside Garden Maintenance

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has issued Request for Quote RFQ 30599 for the maintenance of landscaping and landside gardens at King Shaka International Airport in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, for a period of 12 months. The contract is governed by the NEC3 Term Service Contract (TSC) with Option A (priced contract with price list) and several secondary options, including price adjustment, low service damages and task orders. Work is issued through task orders and measured against a detailed activity schedule covering 13 landside zones, including terminal drop-off areas, terraced gardens, the main and long-term parking areas, the car hire precinct, the bus staging area and taxi rank, staff parking, the basement access road, the Cargo Road and a sports field near ATNS.

The scope of service includes maintenance of lawns, shrubs, groundcovers and flower beds; mowing, fertilising, weed and pest control; pruning; watering and operation of the irrigation sprinkler system; bark mulching; sweeping and chemical control of paving and road verges; maintenance of planter boxes, fence lines and a firebreak around the perimeter fence; litter and garden refuse removal; and management and rehabilitation of lawns following storm or wash-away damage. The contractor must also maintain the soccer field, tennis and netball court surrounds, and provide professional horticultural or agricultural specialists when required. Provisional sums cover ad hoc landscaping upgrades, specialist services and third-party procurement, subject to ACSA approval based on three quotations. Strict performance standards apply, backed by low service damages for missed frequencies, OHS&E non-compliance, late or incomplete task orders, and garden waste not removed within 48 hours. Rates must be fixed for the contract duration, exclude VAT, and include all overheads, labour, transport and consumables.

Compliance requirements are significant. Bidders must hold a valid CIDB contractor grading of 4SH or higher, a valid COIDA letter of good standing, a tax compliance PIN, a CSD registration and a B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit. Mandatory requirements include attending the compulsory briefing session on 4 November 2026 (noting that the date has been flagged for review in an addendum), and submitting a signed Form of Offer and Acceptance. Functionality is scored out of 100, with a 60-point threshold, based on the qualifications and experience of key personnel (herbicide applicator, irrigation specialist, site manager and health and safety officer) and on at least three completion certificates or reference letters for landscaping maintenance contracts from the last 15 years. Price is scored on an 80/20 preference system. The contractor must also meet OHS Act and Construction Regulation obligations, ACSA environmental requirements, and insurance conditions including public liability, assets-all-risk and aviation liability cover. The closing date is 12 November 2026 at 12:00, and submissions must be emailed to acsarfq@airports.co.za in multiple attachments.

This opportunity offers a stable, year-long maintenance contract within a major national aviation facility, with defined zones, clear measurement criteria and a structured payment cycle of monthly assessments and payment within four weeks of a valid tax invoice. It provides an opportunity for established landscaping firms to build a strong track record with a state-owned enterprise. Bidders should review the NEC3 contract data, pricing schedules and addendum carefully before submitting, and should seek qualified advice on insurance requirements.