Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a reliable, compliant supplier capable of delivering high-quality diathermy plates to support safe surgical procedures at Victoria Mxenge Hospital. The procurement aligns with public health service delivery goals, ensures patient safety during electro-surgical operations, and promotes local economic participation through structured preferential procurement mechanisms.

Scope

This is a one-off quotation for the supply and delivery of 25,000 diathermy plates. The successful bidder will be responsible for transporting all goods directly to the designated hospital facility, with all freight, handling, insurance, and incidental delivery costs fully incorporated into the quoted price. The contract validity period is 90 days, and delivery must be completed within the timeframe stipulated upon award. All supplied items must be brand new, unused, and possess a minimum remaining shelf life of six months from the date of delivery. Expired or second-hand products are strictly prohibited.

Technical Requirements

• Type: Single-use disposable adhesive pads or capacitive reusable mats.
• Dimensions: Adult size approximately 120 x 130 mm, providing a contact area of roughly 150 cm².
• Construction: Four-layer architecture consisting of a non-woven or foam backing, an aluminum foil or conductive hydrogel adhesive layer, a polyhesive/Z-axis adhesive layer, and a protective release liner.
• Cabling & Connectivity: 3-meter cables, available in pre-wired or non-wired formats, featuring REM/CQM-compatible connectors and AUX/Jack interfaces.
• Design Configuration: Split (dual-area) plates are mandatory to enable Contact Quality Monitoring (CQM) functionality, which triggers immediate machine alarms if pad contact is lost during use.
• Adhesive Properties: Hypoallergenic, firm yet repositionable, and hydrophilic pressure-sensitive formulation.
• Quality Standards: Full compliance with IEC 60601-1 and ISO 60601-1-1 international safety standards for medical electrical equipment.
• Packaging: Supplied individually by unit. Bidders must confirm specification compliance using the provided declaration form.

Skills and Capacity Requirements

While no specialized professional licenses are mandated, bidders must demonstrate:

• Proven logistical and supply chain capacity to manage bulk medical equipment delivery within strict municipal deadlines.
• Administrative and financial readiness, including active registration on the Central Suppliers Database (CSD) and valid SARS tax clearance status.
• Competence in navigating South African public sector procurement frameworks, including accurate completion of mandatory Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs) for conflict-of-interest disclosure, preference point claims, and contractual acknowledgment.
• Understanding of healthcare supply chain protocols to guarantee sterile, undamaged, and specification-compliant product delivery to clinical environments.

Key Terms and Specifications Explained

• Diathermy Plates: Surgical electrodes used to complete the electrical circuit in diathermy machines. They prevent tissue burns by providing a large, low-resistance return path for high-frequency currents.
• CQM/REM (Contact Quality Monitoring / Return Electrode Monitoring): Integrated safety technology that continuously verifies pad-to-skin contact. If separation occurs, the system alerts operators instantly, significantly reducing intraoperative burn risks.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A government procurement evaluation model allocating 80 points to competitive pricing and 20 points to socio-economic goals. In this tender, full points are reserved for fully South African-owned enterprises to promote local business development.
• IEC 60601-1 / ISO 60601-1-1: Globally recognized standards governing the electrical safety, essential performance, mechanical integrity, and electromagnetic compatibility of medical electrical devices and their accessories.