Objectives

To secure a qualified service provider capable of delivering reliable, safe, and professional porter and messenger services across the hospital facility. The primary aim is to ensure seamless patient transport, specimen and logistics handling, and general operational support while maintaining strict compliance with health sector standards, labour regulations, and municipal procurement frameworks.

Scope of Work

• Provide continuous 24-hour portering coverage, seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays.
• Deploy a total of 26 personnel divided into two shifts: 20 day-shift staff (operating 06:00–16:00 and 08:00–18:00) and 6 night-shift staff (18:00–06:00).
• Base operations at the Casualty Department under the direct supervision of a designated Chief Porter who manages daily task allocation.
• Execute core duties including safe transportation of patients via wheelchairs and stretchers, transfer of deceased persons to the mortuary, collection and delivery of laboratory specimens, handling official mail and correspondence, assisting ambulatory patients, inspecting and sanitising medical trolleys, and escorting wheelchair-dependent visitors.
• Maintain a fixed monthly contract price for the agreed duration, with automatic annual adjustments guided by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Technical Requirements

• Uniforms & Branding: Contractor-supplied, professional attire (navy trousers/skirts, white shirts, navy jerseys/raincoats, black closed shoes) with the company name and contact details printed on the reverse.
• Safety Equipment: Mandatory steel-capped safety shoes for all staff; provision of disposable gloves, aprons, and face masks.
• Identification: Daily-worn ID badges featuring employee photographs, full names, and company details.
• Communication: Provision, maintenance, and charging infrastructure for two-way radios assigned to each staff member.
• Documentation & Compliance: Valid Central Suppliers Database (CSD) registration, original tax clearance certificate, B-BBEE verification certificate, COIDA letter of good standing, proof of workman’s compensation registration, and bank statements confirming a 30% capital reserve against the quoted contract value.
• Insurance: Third-party liability and infrastructure damage cover with a minimum value of R1,000,000.
• Medical Compliance: Baseline and periodic medical fitness certificates for all deployed personnel.
• Equipment Management: Contractor supplies all necessary tools and consumables; all items must be removed from hospital grounds daily and may not be stored on-site.

Skills Requirements

• Proven Experience: Demonstrated track record in healthcare portering and messenger services (minimum three years strongly preferred for full evaluation scoring).
• Supervisory & Operational Management: Ability to compile duty rosters, monitor shift compliance, conduct weekly performance checks, and escalate issues to facility management.
• Clinical Environment Competency: Understanding of hospital workflows, patient safety protocols, infection prevention basics, and appropriate conduct when interacting with patients, visitors, and clinical staff.
• Administrative Capability: Proficiency in documentation, incident reporting, and maintaining accurate service delivery records.
• Interpersonal & Conflict Resolution Skills: Professional demeanour, ability to de-escalate situations, and strict adherence to confidentiality and code-of-conduct policies.

Explanation of Key Terms

• COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act): South African legislation mandating that employers register with the Compensation Fund to cover medical costs and lost wages for employees injured or ill due to workplace incidents.
• CSD (Central Suppliers Database): National Treasury’s unified online registry used to verify supplier legitimacy, tax compliance status, historical performance, and eligibility for public sector contracts.
• B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment): Government policy framework designed to redress historical economic inequalities by promoting ownership, management participation, skills development, and enterprise development among historically disadvantaged groups.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A standard procurement scoring model where 80 points are awarded based on price competitiveness and 20 points are allocated to specific socio-economic goals, such as prioritising enterprises located within the target municipality or those meeting designated ownership criteria.