Rio Tinto Company (RTIO) seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Suppliers suitably experienced, equipped and qualified to perform exploration and evaluation drilling services under the categories outlined below.

Successful EOI respondents will be invited to partake in a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) for the engagement of Suppliers to perform drilling services over a possible five (5) year term.

Category 1: Hydrogeological Drilling Services

Suppliers will be required to provide Hydro Drilling services (including drilling and construction of production bores and monitoring bores), for RTIO’s drilling programs at various Pilbara sites as requested.

Suppliers will be required to provide all:

a. labour and supervision personnel, including, without limitation, a drilling crew, fitters, technical and professional support;

b. transportation to, from and within a site;

c. drill consumables;

d. drill materials;

e. plant and equipment; and

f. tools.

Category 2: Dimond Drilling and / or RC Drilling

Suppliers will be required to provide diamond drilling and/or RC drilling, for RTIO’s drilling programs at various Pilbara sites as requested.

Suppliers will be required to provide all:

a. labour and supervision personnel, including, without limitation, a drilling crew, fitters, technical and professional support;

b. transportation to, from and within a site;

c. drill consumables;

d. drill materials;

e. diamond drill bits;

f. plant and equipment; and

g. tools.

Category 3: Reverse Circulation Grade Control (RCGC) Drilling

Suppliers will be required to provide RC drilling and sampling for the purposes of in-pit mining grade control practices.

This work will be conducted at high density in-pit; drill holes will be close spaced and sampled in line with current grade control requirements (5m). Samples will be processed through internal Rio Tinto Iron Ore site-based laboratories and must meet internal requirements to support sample processing and return. When sample volume exceeds internal lab capacity, some samples may be sent to external Perth labs.

From 2025, RTIO will be performing this practice across all RTIO mine sites and pits.

EOI Rules

1. The EOI does not impose any binding commitment by any member of the Rio Tinto Group to purchase any Goods or Services from you.

2. Rio Tinto has the sole and absolute discretion to:

2.1. amend or withdraw the EOI at any time; and

2.2. accept or reject all or part of a response.

3. Rio Tinto is not responsible for any costs incurred by you arising out of or in connection with this EOI.

4. Your EOI must be submitted by the EOI Closing Date.

Further Notification

This scope of work is a summary description of goods and/or services that may be required by Rio Tinto and may be subject to change in Rio Tinto’s absolute discretion.

Your business capability statement, as stored on your portal profile, may be downloaded and referenced when the responses to the expression of interest are reviewed. It is recommended that Suppliers review the portal business details section to ensure all information, including contact email address, annual turnover and employee numbers, is current and accurate.

As this is an Expression of Interest (EOI) only, the specifics of the package of work relating to breadth of scope, location and timing may be subject to change. If successful, the Supplier/s will be notified of any changes prior to award.