Request for Proposal: Automated Fuel Management System
Tender Details
- Tender Number: COR8099/2025/RFP
- Tender Type: Request for Bid (Open Tender)
- Department/Company: Airports Company of South Africa Limited (ACSA)
- Tender Category: Airport Equipment and Operations; Fuel Management; Fuel Storage Tank Supply and Maintenance
- Contract Period: 7 months
- Tender Locations: George, King Phalo, Bram Fischer, Kimberley and Upington Airports
- Province: Free State
- Closing Date: 30 October 2026 at 11:00
- Briefing Session: 1 October 2026 at 09:00
- Briefing: Compulsory
- Venue: Virtual
- Special Conditions: N/A
- Place of Service: 1 Old Thaba Nchu Road, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tender Objective
ACSA seeks to appoint a qualified service provider to install, configure and maintain an Automated Fuel Management System across five regional airports for a period of seven months.
The system is intended to modernise fuel management by enabling real-time, web-based monitoring of fuel volumes during fuel offloading and aircraft fuelling operations.
Scope of Work
The successful bidder will be responsible for:
- Installing bulk fuel offloading and fuelling meters.
- Installing automated tank gauging systems.
- Installing tank overfill protection systems.
- Integrating the equipment into a SCADA platform for remote web-based monitoring.
- Assessing existing metering infrastructure for compatibility with web-based solutions.
- Recommending and implementing necessary infrastructure upgrades.
- Developing a web-based stock management solution.
- Providing visual displays of storage facilities and critical operational components.
- Providing a minimum 5-year support period.
- Guaranteeing availability of spare parts for 10 years after installation.
Technical Requirements
Key technical requirements include:
- Meter wet parts must be compatible with Jet A1 and Avgas.
- Copper alloys may not be used in components that come into contact with fuel.
- Electronic meter heads must include flow-rate indicators and preset functions for fueler loading.
- Meters must be certified for custody transfer duty.
- Standard flow rate of 1,000 litres per minute is required for both offloading and fuelling.
- Overfill protection systems must achieve Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3.
- Design and installation must comply with applicable international standards, including:
- API 2350, 5th Edition
- IEC 61508
- IEC 61511
- ISA 84
- Bidders must provide detailed manhour estimates, labour rates by staff grade and projected hours for each project phase.
Skills and Personnel Requirements
The project requires a multidisciplinary team that may include:
- Consultants
- Professional Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Control & Instrumentation Engineers
- Draughtsmen
- Installation Technicians
- Administrative Support
Lead Engineers must have:
- Proven experience in designing, installing, testing and commissioning automated tank gauging systems in the oil and gas industry.
- A BTech, BEng or BSc qualification.
- Registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Professional Engineer or Professional Technologist.
Installation Technicians must have:
- Approximately 4–10 years’ hands-on experience in automated tank gauging installation and maintenance.
- A QCTO-accredited trade test or National Diploma in electrical, electronics or instrumentation.
Personnel must also have relevant operational and maintenance expertise aligned with aviation fuel standards, including JIG, IATA, SANS and API requirements, together with appropriate professional registrations or accreditations.
Important Terms
- SCADA: A system used to monitor and control industrial processes remotely and in real time.
- SIL 3: A high-level safety integrity classification for safety instrumented systems.
- NEC3: A contract framework used for managing engineering, construction and other projects.
- NIPP: A government programme aimed at promoting local industrial development through qualifying procurement activities.
- B-BBEE 80/20: A preference-point system in which 80 points are allocated to price and 20 points to specified preference/socio-economic objectives, subject to the tender conditions.
Tender Enquiries
Contact Person: Patricia Nkambule
Email: Patricia.Nkambule@airports.co.za
Telephone: 011-723-1400