Thermal Drone Supply and Delivery

South African National Parks (SANParks), a Schedule 3A public entity, is requesting quotations under RFQ 36946/MZNP/2026-27 for the supply and delivery of a compact, multi-rotor unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with integrated thermal imaging and visible-light cameras. The equipment is required for field operations at Mountain Zebra National Park, Off R61, Cradock, 5880, supporting SANParks' mandate to conserve, protect and manage national parks and their biodiversity. The scope comprises one complete aircraft system with controller, four additional compatible rechargeable Li-ion 4S flight batteries (in addition to the standard battery), one charging station capable of charging the supplied batteries (the pricing schedule requires simultaneous charging), and all necessary power adapters, cables, propellers, tools, storage and accessories needed for normal operation. The pricing schedule uses a DJI Matrice 4T as the reference model, so bidders should state the exact make and model offered and confirm compliance with each technical characteristic.

Key technical requirements include a quad-rotor airframe with a standard take-off weight of approximately 1,219 g and a payload of about 200 g; a flight time of up to 49 minutes; a wind resistance of 12 m/s; an operating temperature range of -10°C to 40°C; and GNSS support for GPS, Galileo, BeiDou and GLONASS. The thermal camera should be an uncooled VOx or equivalent detector with 640 × 512 resolution and a laser rangefinder. The visible-light system should provide high-resolution still imagery and 4K video, and the aircraft must include omnidirectional obstacle sensing. The controller must provide at least 1080p live view at 30 fps and a transmission range of at least 12 km under CE regulations. The equipment must be new, unused and fully functional. The supplier must deliver within 10 working days of the purchase order, and the warranty documentation must state the warranty period. The default GCC warranty is 12 months from acceptance, unless the Special Conditions specify otherwise. Several specifications are marked for confirmation, including whether exact lens geometry, zoom values and RTK capability are essential. Bidders may propose equivalent technologies where the functional requirement is met.

The tender is governed by the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022 and SANParks' General Conditions of Contract. The 80/20 preference point system applies, with 80 points for price and 20 for specific goals (B-BBEE status, with EME/QSE and Level 1 to 4 contributors claiming points). Mandatory returnable documents include a completed SBD 1 (Invitation to Bid), a pricing schedule, SBD 4 (Declaration of Interest) and SBD 6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form), with proof of CSD registration required before award. Bidders must also provide a valid SARS Tax Compliance Status PIN or CSD number. Failure to submit mandatory documents may lead to disqualification, subject to a seven-day grace period. Bids must be emailed to frontierscmquotations@sanparks.org by 09 November 2026 at 11:00, with a bid validity of 90 days from the closing date. Only one offer per bidder is accepted, and no alternative offers are permitted. Payment is made within 30 days of invoice after delivery. This opportunity offers a clear, well-defined supply contract with a short delivery window, and it allows qualifying suppliers to contribute to biodiversity monitoring and protected-area management.