Objectives

The primary objective is to procure bulk quantities of hygienically sealed 7-in-1 disposable cutlery at fair and reasonable market rates. The tender aims to identify qualified suppliers who can consistently deliver food-safe products, adhere to South African Airways' procurement policies, meet strict quality and compliance benchmarks, and contribute to national transformation goals through preferential procurement mechanisms.

Scope

The scope covers the supply of disposable cutlery across six predefined volume tiers ranging from 100 to 3,000 units. Suppliers must provide unit and total pricing excluding VAT for each range. Physical product samples must be submitted alongside the quotation. All deliveries will be initiated exclusively through official purchase orders issued by SAA, and vendors are required to maintain a valid Tax Clearance Certificate throughout the contract period. The evaluation follows a sequential but potentially parallel process covering administrative compliance, substantive requirements, technical functionality, pricing, and specific transformation goals.

Technical Requirements

• Certification: ISO 9001 or equivalent Quality Management System certification with explicit documentation confirming food-grade acceptability. Local bidders must additionally provide South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) certification.
• Compliance Documentation: Fully completed returnable documents, a formal food contact compliance declaration, and 100% compliance with all substantive statements of compliance.
• Experience & References: Minimum of two completed contracts for similar cutlery products within the past three years, accompanied by reference letters on official client letterhead including contact details.
• Performance Scoring: Achievement of a minimum functionality score of 70% is mandatory to advance to price evaluation.
• Delivery Planning: Submission of a detailed implementation timeline table outlining lead times from contract award to final delivery.
• Sample Submission: Clearly labelled physical samples delivered by the closing deadline; non-submission results in automatic disqualification.

Skills Requirements

While not explicitly enumerated as standalone competencies, successful bidders must demonstrate proven operational capabilities in food-safe cutlery manufacturing or distribution. Required competencies include rigorous quality assurance management, regulatory compliance oversight, scalable production planning to accommodate tiered order volumes, and reliable logistics execution. Suppliers must also possess the administrative capacity to accurately complete procurement returnable documents, manage tax clearance validity, and align with standardized contractual frameworks.

Clarification of Key Terms & Conditions

• 7-in-1 Disposable Cutlery: Refers to either a multi-functional single utensil integrating seven distinct eating/stirring tools or a comprehensive bundled cutlery set engineered for airline service efficiency and space optimization.
• Functionality Threshold (70%): A mandatory scoring benchmark during the technical evaluation phase. Bids scoring below 70% are excluded from further consideration regardless of pricing advantages.
• Specific Goals (Preferential Procurement): Allocated preference points under South Africa's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment framework. Ten points are awarded for B-BBEE Level 1–2 status, and ten points for enterprises that are 30% or more black women-owned. Entities failing to qualify receive zero points in this category.
• Purchase Order Protocol: Goods or services must never be dispatched prior to receipt of an official SAA purchase order, ensuring centralized procurement control, contract alignment, and financial accountability.