Objectives

The Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) aims to appoint a qualified medical aid brokerage provider for a twelve-month term. The primary objective is to secure integrated advisory, administrative, educational, and wellness coordination services that support employees across approved medical aid schemes. The engagement focuses on ensuring equitable scheme access, informed benefit selection, proactive health management, and seamless administration, delivered at no direct cost to the organisation.

Scope of Services

• Provide brokerage and advisory services for five approved schemes: Discovery Health, LA Health, Busamed, Bonitas, and SAMWUMED.
• Communicate scheme developments, benefit changes, contribution adjustments, and health trends within fourteen days of official approval.
• Conduct member needs analyses and deliver employee education programmes to align staff with optimal benefit options.
• Coordinate annual wellness initiatives and health days in collaboration with the Durban ICC Employee Wellness Programme.
• Manage and resolve billing queries and assist with in-house administration procedures for participating aids.
• Deliver monthly healthcare industry updates, provide gap cover advisory, and maintain a dedicated digital resource portal.
• Produce quarterly and year-end reports detailing impact, utilisation, and wellness metrics across all schemes.
• Maintain a monthly onsite presence and distribute informational materials (newsletters, SMS alerts, posters, staff surveys).
• All services must be rendered free of charge to the Durban ICC.

Technical Requirements

• Licencing & Accreditation: Valid accreditation from the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) and a financial services licence. Current accreditation with Discovery Health and LA Health Medical Schemes is mandatory; proof must accompany the bid.
• Experience & Documentation: Minimum three years in the industry, supported by a company profile and reference letters not older than three years.
• Infrastructure: Service delivery systems must include a contact centre, a medical aid brokerage website, and electronic communication tools.
• Reporting & Methodology: Submission of sample quarterly reports and a comprehensive methodology detailing project management, multi-scheme administration, wellness programme integration, and adaptive service delivery.
• Compliance & Registration: Full adherence to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Occupational Health and Safety Act, and standard municipal bidding declarations. Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and eThekwini Vendor Portal.
• Evaluation Framework: A minimum of 70 functionality points is required to advance. Scoring covers industry knowledge (20%), references (10%), infrastructure (20%), reporting (20%), and methodology (30%). An 80/20 preference point system applies, weighting functionality heavily alongside specific socio-economic goals.

Skills Requirements

• Legislative & Industry Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the Medical Schemes Act (No. 131 of 1998) and current healthcare brokerage practices.
• Corporate Benefit Negotiation: Proven track record of negotiating medical aid benefits for corporate clients of comparable scale to the Durban ICC.
• Multi-Scheme Administration: Demonstrated capacity to simultaneously administer and support both open and closed medical aid schemes within a large corporate environment.
• Communication & Education: Strong ability to translate complex medical aid terminology into clear, actionable guidance through training, workshops, and digital resources.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Proficiency in analysing utilisation data, tracking health trends, and producing comprehensive impact reports that inform strategic wellness interventions.
• Project Management: Structured approach to service delivery, including seamless integration with existing internal programmes and agile response to legislative or scheme changes.

Key Terms & Definitions

• CMS Accreditation: Legal authorisation granted by South Africa’s regulatory body for medical schemes, permitting brokers to legally advise on and administer medical aid products.
• POPIA Compliance: Adherence to national data protection laws governing the lawful collection, processing, and security of employee personal and health information.
• 80/20 Preference System: A procurement scoring model where 80% of points are allocated to functional capability and 20% to specific transformation goals (e.g., South African ownership).
• MBD Forms: Standardised Municipal Bidding Documents required for legal, tax, ethical, and supply chain compliance declarations in South African public sector procurement.