Objectives

The primary objective is to procure a qualified supplier capable of delivering specialized contact lens fitting and dispensing services for patients diagnosed with keratoconus at Grey’s Hospital. The procurement ensures timely access to medically approved ocular prosthetics, maintains compliance with provincial health department standards, and aligns with national preferential procurement policies.

Scope

The scope covers a once-off supply and professional fitting of keratoconus-specific contact lens sets, specifically the Rose K2 XL corneo-scleral fitting set and Rose K2 KC GP lenses. Suppliers must also provide all mandatory ancillary dispensing materials, including large suction holders, ultra-small applicators, insertion solutions, disinfecting solutions, and preservative-free daily cleaners for rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. All deliveries must be made directly to Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, with logistics and handling costs fully incorporated into the quoted price. The quotation validity period is ninety days, and the arrangement is structured as a single delivery event.

Technical Requirements

• All lenses and accessories must be brand new, unused, and retain a minimum shelf life of six months upon delivery.
• Strict compliance with the attached specification is mandatory, covering exact lens models, sizing parameters (16–20mm fitting), and curvature requirements tailored for irregular corneas.
• Bidders must submit a valid licence issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) authorizing the manufacture, import, export, or wholesale distribution of medical devices.
• Quotations must be completed using official government forms without retyping, accompanied by fully executed SBD declarations, Central Supplier Database (CSD) verification, and SARS tax compliance confirmation.
• Top-scoring bidders during preliminary evaluation may be requested to submit physical samples via email, accompanied by a compulsory sample register. Non-compliance results in disqualification.
• Prices must be firm, inclusive of VAT (where applicable), and cover full delivery to the designated hospital site. Expired or second-hand products are strictly prohibited.

Skills & Qualification Requirements

• Demonstrated clinical or technical expertise in ophthalmic/optometric contact lens fitting, particularly for complex corneal conditions requiring custom diagnostic and therapeutic lens systems.
• Proven operational capacity to supply specialized medical devices while maintaining regulatory compliance within the public healthcare sector.
• Administrative proficiency to accurately complete government procurement documentation, including preference point claims, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and compliance checklists.
• Logistical capability to execute a single, time-bound delivery without compromising product integrity or hospital scheduling.
• Companies that are at least fifty-one percent Black-owned will receive preferential scoring under the provincial procurement framework.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

• Keratoconus: A progressive degenerative eye condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape, requiring custom-fitted rigid or scleral contact lenses to restore vision and prevent further ocular damage.
• Corneo-scleral & RGP Lenses: High-performance optical devices that rest partially on the cornea and partially on the sclera (the white of the eye), designed to vault over irregular corneal surfaces. RGP stands for rigid gas permeable, a material engineered to allow oxygen transmission while maintaining structural precision.
• SAHPRA Licensing: A statutory requirement mandating that any entity handling medical devices in South Africa must hold active regulatory authorization to ensure product safety, efficacy, traceability, and legal distribution.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A standard public procurement evaluation model allocating eighty points to competitive pricing and twenty points to socio-economic transformation goals, specifically rewarding enterprises with majority Black ownership.
• Once-off Contract: Indicates a single transactional purchase rather than an ongoing supply agreement, requiring immediate fulfillment upon award without renewal provisions.