Govt calls for bids to buy 1,000 diesel double-cabs
The government has called bids for 1,000 brand-new, automatic-transmission, 4WD diesel double-cabs.
The tender was advertised on September 29, with a closing date of October 22, 2026. The procuring entity is the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, which has also separately called bids for 175 tractors, 100 backhoe loaders, 100 gully emptiers and 160 tippers.The double-cab procurement is the largest of the lot. The latest tender has notably relaxed several technical and eligibility requirements compared with the controversial 1,775-vehicle procurement floated last year.
In October 2025, the Finance Ministry advertised a tender for 1,775 brand-new 4WD automatic diesel double-cabs. Only 12 days—seven working days—were given for offers to be submitted. It was questioned on the basis that the bid specifications appeared to leave just one vehicle supplier eligible. That procurement was not pursued.Under the new 2026 thresholds, the government is now allowing a smaller engine—2,400 cc instead of the previous minimum of 2,500 cc. The vehicle no longer needs to be as powerful (there is a 7 per cent reduction in minimum engine power requirement when compared with last year’s tender).There is also a 12.5 per cent reduction in torque (torque is what gives a vehicle its ability to pull heavy loads and handle demanding conditions). And while the 2026 tender wanted ground clearance of more than 300 mm (deemed high), the current specification is for more than 220 mm—a change that could expand the range of eligible vehicles.
The new tender, therefore, permits less powerful double-cabs, including vehicles with slightly smaller engines and less pulling power, than those allowed under last year’s specifications.Other specifications that led to allegations last year of one supplier being favoured have also been changed. For instance, bidders must now have 10 local service centres, but only five need to be owned; franchise/dealerships are permitted. Last year, they were required to own 10 service centres, with five outside the Western Province.
Previous sales experience has been lowered from 1,000 units of the proposed make to 500. Average annual turnover is reduced from Rs 10 billion to Rs 8 billion. But bid security is up from Rs. 50 million to Rs. 250 million, a five-fold increase. The new tender also requires Rs 5 billion in financial resources, through credit facilities or liquid assets.
