Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure, supply, and deliver a single Six Minutes Walk Test Tablet Device for clinical use at Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.

Scope

The procurement covers the full operational lifecycle of the medical device, including:

• Supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning at the designated hospital.
• Provision of all essential accessories, starter packs, dual user/service manuals, calibration software, and diagnostic tools.
• A minimum 24-month guarantee/warranty period encompassing all maintenance, spare parts, labour, travel, and regulatory quality assurance testing.
• Comprehensive training for institutional health technology personnel.
• A fully costed, comprehensive maintenance and service agreement for three years post-warranty, with a renewable option.
• Guaranteed spare parts availability for ten years and ongoing technical support throughout the equipment's life cycle.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must supply a new, latest-generation tablet-based system aligned with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) protocol. Mandatory technical specifications include:

• Wireless Monitoring: Bluetooth-enabled wrist pulse oximetry enabling untethered patient mobility, with interchangeable finger, ear clip, and forehead sensors.
• Data & Interface: Real-time graphical tracking, an Easy-View numeric mode, and manual entry fields for blood pressure, oxygen therapy parameters, rate of perceived exertion, and Bode index. Must function standalone or integrate with external software.
• Safety & Standards: CE certification, compliance with IEC 60601-1 and 60601-1-2 medical electrical standards, SANs colour-coded mains cabling (minimum 3 metres), and a 15 Amp approved plug.
• Documentation & Software: Two bound sets each of user and original service manuals (including schematics, PCB layouts, fault-finding guides, and calibration data), plus all diagnostic software and security credentials at no extra cost.
• Warranty Conditions: Guarantee duration extends day-for-day during downtime. A loan unit must be provided if the primary device is removed for repairs. All future patient-safety-critical hardware/software upgrades must be supplied free of charge.

Skills Requirements

Suppliers must demonstrate proven technical and operational capabilities, including:

• Local Service Infrastructure: A verified repair and calibration facility within KwaZulu-Natal, operated by direct employees or formally appointed subcontractors.
• Advanced Technical Expertise: Technicians must hold Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certification to perform diagnostics, calibration, and repairs down to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) component level.
• Rapid Response Capability: Commitment to dispatch a qualified technician within 24 hours of malfunction reporting, supported by a documented technician-to-equipment ratio.
• Training Competency: Ability to deliver manufacturer-equivalent training to hospital staff, concluding with issued Certificates of Competency within three months of delivery.
• Regulatory & Financial Compliance: Valid SAHPRA licensing (where applicable), proof of hazardous substance/radiation control compliance if relevant, and documented financial capacity or prior successful healthcare delivery records.

Explanation of Unusual Terms

Six Minutes Walk Test (6MWT): A standardised clinical assessment measuring cardiopulmonary functional capacity. The quoted tablet system wirelessly captures vital signs during ambulation to ensure consistent, comparable patient data across clinical settings.

PCB-Level Repair: Refers to advanced electronic maintenance where technicians diagnose faults and replace individual micro-components on printed circuit boards, rather than swapping whole modules. This ensures deeper technical self-sufficiency and reduces long-term dependency on external suppliers.

Comprehensive Maintenance Agreement: A post-warranty contract fixing all costs for preventative/corrective maintenance, spare parts, labour, travel, software patches, and virus removal over a three-year period, eliminating unpredictable operational expenditures.