Professional Engineering: Hospital Generator Upgrade

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works is inviting quotations from consulting engineering firms to provide a multi-disciplinary professional services team for the upgrading and replacement of the generator set at the main substation of Ladysmith Hospital, a regional hospital in the uThukela Health District. The existing 325kVA generator feeds critical loads, including the Operation Theatre, but is old, obsolete and no longer able to carry the full load because of additional equipment added over the years. Spare parts are difficult to source and slow to manufacture, making reliable emergency power a significant challenge. The project will dismantle the existing generator set, panels and fuel tank, and commission a new generator of approximately 500kVA with associated panels, controls and fuel tank. The final capacity will be confirmed during the Design Development stage after a full investigation. The building's emergency power network, distribution boards and panels will also be redesigned, reconfigured and refurbished so that all critical loads remain supplied, and the generator will be integrated with the distribution system. The scope also includes a three-year maintenance contract for servicing the generator set.

The appointment requires three registered professionals, each holding Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) registration with ECSA: an Electrical Engineer (acting as Principal Agent and Principal Consultant), a Mechanical Engineer and a Structural Engineer. The Mechanical Engineer will cover internal water reticulation, fire services and substation HVAC, while the Structural Engineer will design support structures for the larger generator and address machine vibration transmission to the building. Services follow the standard consultant stages in the Framework for Infrastructure Delivery and Procurement Management (FIDPM), from Stage 1 to Stage 7, with an estimated project duration of seven months including the tender stage. Designs must comply with SANS 10142, SANS 10400 Part 1 and applicable SABS standards. Consultants must attend at least two site meetings per month during planning and construction, and the Electrical Engineer is responsible for issuing Certificates of Compliance. Fees are based on ECSA gazetted rates, applied to an estimated construction cost of R4,150,000 (including VAT). The Electrical Engineer fee is calculated on 100% of the value, Mechanical on 10% and Structural on 5%. Because the works value is below R1 million, the mechanical and structural fees are time-based.

Mandatory criteria are assessed on the whole team. The lead consultant must show experience on at least three electrical works projects within the last seven years, supported by award letters and client reference letters. Each professional must have at least three engineering or building projects completed after registration, supported by a detailed CV and proof of registration. Bidders must also be registered on the Central Supplier Database, hold a valid letter of good standing from ECSA, provide a CIPC printout no older than one month, and submit a stamped Appendix A fee proforma. Professional indemnity cover is also required, although the tender documents state different minimum amounts (R1 million in Appendix C and R2 million to R5 million in the Contract Data), so bidders should confirm the requirement with the Department. The evaluation uses the 80/20 price and preference system, with 20 points available to enterprises located in the DPWI Midlands Region, specifically Amajuba, uThukela and Umzinyathi municipalities. Proof of local address is required, such as a municipal account, a signed lease agreement or a letter from a ward councillor. A compulsory pre-tender briefing is scheduled for 29 October 2026 at the Ladysmith Hospital Maintenance Workshop. The advert and tender document give different start times (10:00 and 11:00), so attendance should be confirmed with the contact person. Bids close on 18 November 2026 at 11:00 and must be deposited in the bid box at the Department of Public Works Midlands Region office, 40 Shepstone Road, Hyde Park, Ladysmith.