Advertisement and Appointment of a Contractor for the Compliance Upgrade of Provincial Vehicle Testing Pitlanes and K53 Tracks, Ongoing Maintenance and Annual Calibration
Tender Details
- Tender Number: CSRT/BID07/2026/27
- Department: Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport
- Tender Type: Request for Bid (Open Tender)
- Province: Free State
- Contract Period: 36 Months
- Closing Date: 02 November 2026 at 11:00
- Briefing Session: 23 October 2026 at 11:00
- Briefing Session: Compulsory
- Briefing Venue: Lengau Testing Centre, 301 O R Tambo Drive, Hamilton, Bloemfontein
- Place of Performance: Provincial vehicle testing stations across the Free State
- Tender Documents: Available through the National Treasury eTender Portal
Tender Overview
The Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport invites suitably qualified and experienced contractors to provide comprehensive compliance upgrades, ongoing maintenance and annual calibration services for provincial vehicle testing pitlanes and K53 driving test tracks.
The appointed contractor will be responsible for ensuring that vehicle testing stations comply with applicable legislative, safety, technical and operational requirements throughout the 36-month contract period.
The project covers approximately 60 provincial vehicle testing stations across various districts in the Free State.
Objectives
The primary objectives of the tender are to:
- Upgrade provincial vehicle testing facilities to the required compliance standards.
- Ensure testing equipment remains accurate, reliable and properly calibrated.
- Maintain vehicle testing pitlanes, K53 tracks and associated infrastructure.
- Improve the safety and operational efficiency of testing stations.
- Ensure compliance with applicable South African legislation and standards.
- Maintain accurate vehicle fitness assessments.
- Provide ongoing technical support and rapid equipment repairs.
- Train relevant personnel in equipment operation and quality assurance procedures.
Scope of Work
The appointed contractor will be required to undertake the following:
Vehicle Testing Equipment
Supply, install, commission, maintain and calibrate specialised equipment, including:
- Brake testers.
- Scuff gauges.
- Heavy-duty play detectors.
- Headlamp aimers.
- Hydraulic pit jacks.
- Loadcells.
- Vehicle weighing equipment.
- Other equipment required for compliant vehicle testing operations.
Civil and Facility Upgrades
The contractor will undertake facility improvements, including:
- Repainting vehicle inspection areas.
- Sealing and repairing drainage systems.
- Repairing doors and windows.
- Automating roller shutters.
- Upgrading lighting systems.
- Clearing vegetation around testing facilities.
- General compliance-related infrastructure improvements.
Maintenance Services
The contractor will provide ongoing maintenance for installed equipment and facilities, including:
- Preventative maintenance.
- Corrective maintenance.
- Equipment repairs.
- Fault diagnosis.
- Replacement of defective components.
- Emergency technical support.
- Compliance with specified repair turnaround times of approximately 24 to 72 hours.
Annual Calibration
Annual calibration must be performed on all applicable testing instruments to ensure that equipment remains accurate and compliant with legislative requirements.
Calibration activities must comply with the relevant requirements of the Legal Metrology Act and applicable regulatory standards.
Quality Assurance and Documentation
The contractor must establish and maintain a comprehensive quality assurance system and provide updated statutory and technical documentation, including applicable:
- National Road Traffic Act requirements.
- South African National Standards (SANS).
- Equipment calibration records.
- Maintenance documentation.
- Quality assurance procedures.
- Testing and inspection records.
Training
The appointed contractor will be required to provide structured training for:
- Management representatives.
- Vehicle examiners.
- Technical personnel.
- Other relevant testing station staff.
Training must cover equipment operation, quality assurance procedures, compliance requirements and applicable vehicle testing standards.
Technical Requirements
All equipment, installations and services must comply with applicable South African legislation and standards, including:
- National Road Traffic Act, Act 93 of 1996.
- Legal Metrology Act, Act 9 of 2014.
- SANS 10216 relating to motor vehicle testing stations.
- SANS 10047 relating to driving tests.
- Applicable requirements of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
- Applicable Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
Electronic and Electrical Infrastructure
The project will include:
- Integration of testing software with eNATIS.
- Three-phase electrical power upgrades.
- Multicore cabling.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems.
- Control boards.
- GPI systems.
- SAC systems.
- Loadcell conditioners.
- Other electrical infrastructure required for testing equipment.
Weighing Equipment
The contractor must provide calibrated weighing equipment capable of handling vehicle loads of approximately 40 to 60 tons, where required.
Occupational Health and Safety
The successful bidder must submit and implement a detailed Occupational Health and Safety Plan that complies with the Construction Regulations, 2014, and other applicable OHS legislation.
A resource verification exercise will also be conducted by the employer before contract execution.
Personnel and Skills Requirements
The tenderer must demonstrate sufficient technical, managerial and operational capacity to successfully execute the contract.
Key personnel and capabilities include:
- A Contracts Manager with a Bachelor of Technology in Project Management or relevant qualification.
- Appropriate professional registration with recognised professional bodies.
- At least five years’ relevant experience for the Contracts Manager.
- Qualified mechanical and electrical technicians.
- IT developers capable of hardware and software integration.
- Certified fitters.
- Trained fleet operators.
- Personnel capable of providing rapid technical response and repairs.
- Personnel qualified to conduct relevant training programmes.
- Adequate supervisory and project management capacity.
Contractor Requirements
Tenderers should demonstrate:
- Valid CIDB registration/grading applicable to the works.
- Active tax compliance status.
- Proven experience in similar vehicle testing station upgrades, maintenance or related technical projects.
- Adequate technical resources, equipment and personnel.
- Capacity to provide maintenance and emergency repair services within stipulated turnaround periods.
- Ability to conduct accredited training aligned with relevant SANS standards and road traffic legislation.
- Capacity to complete the required resource verification process.
Important Compliance Standards
The project is subject to various regulatory and technical requirements.
K53 Tracks: Standardised driving test routes used to assess driver competency. The tracks must meet prescribed requirements relating to surfaces, markings, bollards and other infrastructure.
eNATIS: South Africa’s electronic traffic administration system. Testing systems must be capable of integrating with eNATIS for the required electronic submission and processing of vehicle testing information.
SANS 10216: The standard governing the design, equipment and operational requirements of motor vehicle testing stations.
Annual Calibration: The periodic verification of testing instruments to ensure measurement accuracy and continued regulatory compliance.
Briefing Session
Attendance at the briefing session is compulsory.
- Date: Friday, 23 October 2026
- Time: 11:00
- Venue: Lengau Testing Centre
- Address: 301 O R Tambo Drive, Hamilton, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tenderers should ensure that they attend the compulsory briefing session and comply with all instructions issued during the session.
Enquiries
Technical Enquiries
Mr JJ Kleynhans
Cell: 082 929 9249
Email: Kleynhanssj@freetrans.gov.za
Tender Enquiries
Ms M Coangae
Telephone: 051-409-8703
Email: CoangaeM@freetrans.gov.za
Closing Date
Tender Closing Date: Monday, 02 November 2026 at 11:00.