Stage Machinery Repair and Maintenance Services

The South African State Theatre (SAST), a Schedule 3A public entity under the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is inviting quotations from suitably experienced service providers for the repair and maintenance of its stage machinery and control systems over a 36-month period. The scope covers the upper stage machinery, lower stage machinery, PLC control systems, and operating software support. Work is to be delivered at the SAST premises at 320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria, and is governed by a service level agreement that defines the minimum preventative maintenance standards.

The required preventative maintenance includes inspection, testing, cleaning, lubrication, adjustment, calibration, and servicing of the upper and lower stage machinery in accordance with OEM recommendations and applicable safety requirements. It also extends to associated mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and safety systems, including motors, drives, control panels, sensors, limit switches, emergency-stop circuits, and safety interlocks. The service provider must perform diagnostics, configuration verification, software backups, restoration testing, and optimisation of PLC control systems, Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), operating software, automation systems, and communication networks. Inspection, servicing, and alignment of the revolve (turntable) system, including linear motors, drive assemblies, bogies, rail systems, encoders, and position sensors, is also required. Successful bidders must submit a maintenance report after every scheduled service and maintain system backups, maintenance records, and equipment history throughout the contract.

The pricing schedule covers call-out and service fees, technician, engineer, and PLC/automation labour rates, emergency and after-hours call-outs, remote PLC support, travel, and other applicable charges, with quotes for any replacement parts or repairs submitted separately. Bidders are evaluated in four phases: administrative compliance, mandatory requirements, technical specification compliance, and price and specific goals, with an 80/20 preference point system. Mandatory requirements include at least two recent, dated and signed reference letters for similar work within the last five years, a valid COIDA Letter of Good Standing, and CVs of key personnel with a minimum of three years' relevant experience. Bidders must be registered on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database and hold a valid SARS tax compliance PIN. Clarification queries must be submitted by email no later than two days before the closing date.