Supply of Microgrid and Solar PV Components and Structures

Eskom Rotek Industries (ERI), a subsidiary of Eskom, has issued tender E0426CSERI for the supply, delivery and offloading of microgrid and solar photovoltaic (PV) components and structures on an as-and-when-required basis for a period of five years. The contract is structured as a NEC3 Supply Contract (SC3) with no guaranteed volumes. Eskom will call off goods through drawdown Purchase Orders over the contract period, supporting ERI's construction and maintenance work on microgrid and solar PV projects at various Eskom power stations and sites. The tender covers a broad range of components, and the Unpriced Bill of Quantities lists 24 items. These include hybrid and grid-tie inverters rated from 5 kW to 250 kW, and inverter specifications extend to utility-scale central PCS units up to 500 kW. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) chemistry are also included, ranging from low-voltage units of 5-15 kWh to high-voltage modular systems of 20-200 kWh, together with containerised utility-scale units of 250 kWh and above. Solar PV modules rated 630 W and 645 W (N-type TOPCon bifacial) are required, along with roof, ground and carport mounting structures. Solar PV design and simulation software licences, and transport for material deliveries, are also in scope.

Technical requirements are demanding. Inverters and BESS must comply with standards including IEC 62109, IEC 62619, IEC 63056, NRS 097-2-1 and UN38.3, and must integrate with battery management systems, EMS and SCADA. PV modules must meet IEC 61215 and IEC 61730, and steel structures for outdoor use must be hot-dip galvanised to SANS 121. Suppliers must provide factory acceptance test reports, material certificates, galvanising certificates, NRCS approvals where applicable, and an ISO 9001 manufacturer certification. Eskom's QM58 supplier quality specification applies. Minimum warranties are 10 years for inverters and batteries, and 12 years product and 25 years performance for PV modules. Delivery requires a committed lead time of approximately five weeks, with full product samples due four weeks before bulk delivery. Packaging and logistics requirements include wooden crates for fragile items, waterproof wrapping, climate-controlled transport for batteries, and offloading equipment supplied by the contractor. Health, safety and environmental requirements are strict, and they include Eskom's Cardinal Rules, life-saving rules, and compliance with contractor criminal clearance requirements for access to power stations.

Evaluation is based on a functionality threshold of 75%, with experience weighted at 40%, technical capabilities at 50%, and execution and logistics at 10%. Bidders must supply evidence of similar work, such as appointment letters, purchase orders or reference letters. Mandatory returnables include the Integrity Declaration, SBD forms, local content declarations (Annexures C, D and E), the shareholding declaration, a tax compliance questionnaire, and an e-tendering training acknowledgement. The contract is priced through a price schedule with a 60-day payment term and includes delay damages of 0.1% per day, capped at 10% of the drawdown PO value. Closing is scheduled for 23 November 2026. For suppliers, the tender offers a long-term, multi-year framework with recurring demand, which provides strong value for companies able to meet the technical and compliance requirements.