Objectives

The primary objective is to secure a reliable supplier for the one-off provision of high-quality Plaster of Paris to support orthopaedic and prosthetic services within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. The aim is to ensure the timely delivery of compliant, medical-grade materials essential for patient casting, treatment, and the fabrication of orthopaedic aids and surgical footwear.

Scope

The contract covers the supply and delivery of 120 units of Plaster of Paris, each packed in 40kg bags. Delivery must be made to the designated Orthopaedic Services facility at the specified hospital location. The agreement is structured as a single, once-off transaction with a quotation validity period of 90 days. All transportation and delivery costs must be fully incorporated into the quoted price. The procurement follows a mandatory three-stage evaluation process: administrative compliance verification, physical sample evaluation, and a combined price and preferential procurement scoring system.

Technical Requirements

• Physical & Chemical Properties: Product must be white powder foam, non-combustible, with a density of 2.53 g/cm³, solubility of 8g/litre, pH level between 7–8, and a non-porous structure.
• Performance Characteristics: Setting time must range from 15 to 20 minutes per cast. Once set, the material must be easily workable using standard clinical shaping tools and capable of achieving an ultra-smooth finish when finished with sandpaper.
• Safety & Quality Standards: Must cause no adverse skin reactions, be environmentally friendly, carry a minimum one-year shelf life, and hold South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) approval. Expired or second-hand goods are strictly prohibited.
• Packaging & Labelling: Items must be individually packaged and clearly labelled with manufacturer details. Packaging must protect contents during transit and indicate suitability for both left and right limb applications.
• Sample Submission: One representative sample must be delivered physically by the closing date for compliance testing. Late or unmarked samples will result in disqualification.

Skills & Capability Requirements

As this is a goods-supply tender, requirements focus on organisational capability and regulatory compliance rather than individual personnel qualifications. Bidders must demonstrate:

• Manufacturing or sourcing capability to provide SABS-approved, medical-grade Plaster of Paris that consistently meets strict chemical, physical, and performance benchmarks.
• Logistics and supply chain competence to deliver all 120 units to the prescribed destination within agreed timelines, including proper handling and packaging protocols.
• Administrative and financial capacity to maintain active Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, valid tax clearance status, and accurate Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) documentation.
• Familiarity with public sector procurement compliance, including completion of mandatory returnable forms, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and adherence to anti-collusion and transparency regulations.

Key Terms & Unusual Concepts

• SABS Approval: Certification confirming the product complies with rigorous South African national safety, quality, and performance standards for medical and industrial supplies.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A government procurement scoring model where 80 points are awarded based on competitive pricing and 20 points are allocated for socio-economic goals. Full points are granted exclusively to enterprises that are 100% owned by Black Africans.
• Cover-Quoting: A prohibited collusive practice where multiple affiliated entities submit coordinated bids to artificially influence pricing or market share. The department conducts automated and manual verification to detect and immediately disqualify such arrangements.
• Domicilium Citandi et Executandi: A legal term referring to the bidder’s officially registered address for all formal communications, contractual notices, and legal proceedings.
• Surform Blades/Arbinette: Specialised manual trimming and shaping tools used by orthopaedic technicians. The supplied plaster must remain chemically and structurally compatible with these standard clinical instruments post-hardening.