International Open Tender (Lotted)
South Africa — Equipment Procurement for a 180 MWp Solar PV and 60 MW / 240 MWh Storage Project (Five Lots)
180 MWp / 240 MWh
PV & BESS
Northern Cape, South Africa
Country
5 equipment lots
Procurement Lots
2026-12-18
Bid Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Equipment procurement for a 180 MWp solar PV and 60 MW / 240 MWh storage project in South Africa
Tender Reference
MEA/EP/2026-05
Country
Republic of South Africa, Northern Cape (near Upington)
Project Type
Equipment procurement for a renewable independent power producer (IPP) project in a high-irradiation arid region
Installed Capacity
180 MWp DC PV plus 60 MW / 240 MWh battery storage (4-hour duration)
Procurement Method
International open tender in five lots: Lot 1 modules, Lot 2 inverters and transformers, Lot 3 trackers, Lot 4 BESS, Lot 5 SCADA and communications; partial bidding permitted
Employer
Cape Solar Partners (Pty) Ltd (SPV)
Regulatory Framework
Aligned with South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP); tariff approval obtained
Delivery Terms
Staggered deliveries Q1–Q4 2027; DAP Durban/Cape Town port or site delivery (Upington) optional
Bid Language & Currency
English bid, priced in USD or ZAR
02Project Background
South Africa's power system has long faced peaking constraints and load shedding, and the government continues to procure renewables and storage through REIPPPP. Combining PV with a 4-hour storage system materially strengthens supply during morning and evening peaks.
The employer has entered the equipment procurement phase, using lotted international tendering. Manufacturers may bid directly or jointly with local agents and must submit local content and skills transfer plans.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Lot 1 — PV Modules | N-type bifacial modules ≥ 600 Wp, efficiency ≥ 22.3%, 25-year linear warranty, approx. 300,000 pieces |
| Lot 2 — Inverters & Transformers | String inverters ≥ 300 kW with module-level monitoring and PID protection, plus 33/0.8 kV compact transformers |
| Lot 3 — Trackers | Single-axis trackers with 25-year structural warranty, designed for ≥ 40 m/s basic wind speed and dusty conditions |
| Lot 4 — Battery Energy Storage | LFP liquid-cooled system 60 MW / 240 MWh (4-hour), ≥ 6,000 cycles, including PCS and EMS, DC-coupled configuration |
| Lot 5 — SCADA & Communications | Plant SCADA, PV-storage coordinated control, forecasting interface and communications compliant with NRS 097 grid requirements |
| Supply Package | Packaging and transport, packing lists and warranty documentation, on-site technical support, spare parts (2 years' consumption) and training |
| Quality Management | Cooperation in factory acceptance (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT); third-party test reports required for critical equipment |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Bid Bond | 1% of lot value, minimum USD 30,000 per lot |
| Performance Bond | 5% of contract value as a performance guarantee |
| Payment Terms | 30% advance plus 70% against shipping documents under L/C (or as otherwise agreed) |
| Warranty | Modules: 25-year linear performance; inverters: 10 years; trackers: 25-year structural; BESS: 10 years or 6,000 cycles |
| Delivery Period | All deliveries within 12 months of contract effectiveness; delay LDs of 0.05% per day capped at 5% |
| Local Content & BBBEE | Local content plan and BBBEE rating certificate required and scored under the PPPFA framework |
| Insurance & Transport | Manufacturer bears cargo insurance to the delivery port/site; risk per Incoterms 2020 |
| Dispute Resolution | AFSA arbitration in South Africa, South African law governs |
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05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
Manufacturing & Track Record
Products supplied globally in the last 3 years: ≥ 300 MW for modules, inverters or trackers, or ≥ 300 MWh for storage
02
Product Certification
Modules IEC 61215/61730; inverters IEC 62109; storage IEC 62619, UL 9540A and NFPA 855 compliance; trackers with structural calculations and wind tunnel test reports
03
Financial Capability
3-year average turnover ≥ USD 50 million with a bank credit reference
04
Local Support
Local South African service presence or agent (with spare parts stock and technical support), or commitment to establish one within 6 months of award
05
Certifications
Valid ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certificates
06Key Milestones
22 Sep 2026
Tender Notice Issued
15 Oct 2026
Document Registration Deadline
5 Nov 2026
Clarification Requests
18 Dec 2026, 11:00 SAST
Bid Submission & Opening
5 – 25 Jan 2027
Technical Evaluation & Sample Testing
Expected 31 Jan 2027
Notification of Award
Expected Q2 2027
First Delivery
Expected Q1 2028
Completion of Deliveries
07Evaluation Criteria
Technical Evaluation60%
- Product performance and specification compliance25%
- Manufacturing capability and track record20%
- Warranty package and local support15%
Price Evaluation30%
- Evaluated lot by lot on the basis of total landed cost at the delivery point
Local Content & BBBEE10%
- Local content ratio, BBBEE rating, local employment and skills transfer plans
Award Principle
Each lot awarded independently; one bidder may win multiple lots
