Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to secure a reliable, once-off supply of medical-grade soda lime calcium hydroxide for clinical anaesthesia applications at Nkonjeni Hospital, operating under the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health.

Scope

The procurement encompasses the delivery of five (5) 5-litre bottles of soda lime calcium hydroxide. The arrangement is classified as a single, non-recurring supply contract. Successful suppliers must deliver the goods directly to the designated hospital facility within the stipulated delivery period. Quotation validity is fixed at ninety (90) days, and all prices must remain firm throughout the contract term. Delivery costs must be fully incorporated into the quoted unit price.

Technical Requirements

• Product Composition: The material must be soda lime calcium hydroxide blended with sodium or potassium oxide, specifically engineered for anaesthetic gas absorption.
• Packaging & Quantity: Five (5) units, each contained in a 5-litre bottle.
• Quality & Shelf Life: Goods must be brand new, unused, and compliant with applicable South African National Standards (SANS/SABS). Remaining shelf life must be a minimum of six months upon delivery.
• Documentation & Compliance: Bidders must submit completed official quotation schedules, General Conditions of Contract (GCC), Special Conditions of Contract (SCC), Bidder’s Disclosure (SBD4), and the Preferential Procurement Claim Form. Mandatory administrative prerequisites include valid tax clearance, Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, and proof of BBBEE status or a sworn affidavit.
• Evaluation Framework: Awards will follow an 80/20 preference point system, weighting 80 points on price competitiveness and 20 points on transformation criteria (specifically, enterprises with ≥51% Black ownership).

Skills Requirements

No specialized clinical or engineering skills are required. Suppliers must demonstrate standard commercial and logistical competencies, including:

• Capability to legally source, handle, and transport regulated medical consumables.
• Proficiency in South African public procurement compliance, including tax validation, CSD verification, and preferential scoring documentation.
• Reliable supply chain management to meet strict delivery windows and maintain product integrity during transit.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

• Soda Lime Calcium Hydroxide: A granular chemical absorbent used in closed-circuit anaesthesia machines. It chemically neutralizes carbon dioxide from a patient’s exhaled breath, enabling safe re-inhalation of oxygen-enriched gas during surgical procedures.
• Draeger Machine Canister: Indicates hardware compatibility. The product must physically fit and function correctly within standardized breathing circuit canisters manufactured by Draeger Medical, a major provider of anaesthesia and respiratory equipment.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A South African government procurement scoring methodology where 80% of the total evaluation score is derived from price, and 20% is allocated to socio-economic transformation targets (here, black economic empowerment ownership levels).
• GCC / SCC / SBD Forms: Standardized legal and administrative templates mandated in South African public procurement. GCC establishes baseline contractual rights and obligations, SCC introduces project-specific modifications, and SBD forms enforce transparency regarding bidder affiliations, financial standing, and company ownership structures.