Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a reliable supply of colour-coded anaesthetic drug labels for use in operating theatre syringes. The labels are intended to standardise drug identification, minimise medication errors, and mitigate medico-legal risks associated with anaesthetic administration.

Scope

The procurement covers the supply of eight specific categories of syringe labels, measured in rolls. Required quantities span Oxytocin, Opiates, Vasopressors, Reversal agents, Sedatives, Induction agents, Local anaesthetics, and Antibiotics. All goods must be delivered to Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. The contract requires firm pricing valid for ninety days, guarantees that all supplied items are new and unused, and mandates a minimum shelf life of six months upon delivery. Late submissions, expired products, and second-hand goods are strictly excluded.

Technical Requirements

• Compliance with SANS 26825:2009 colour-coding standards for healthcare drugs.
• Dimensions: 32mm width × 16mm height per individual label.
• Material: Vellum substrate.
• Printing specifications: Top half colour-coded according to drug category; bottom half white. Drug names must be printed in a plain font, minimum 2.5mm height, using lowercase letters with an initial capital letter.
• Packaging: 500 labels per roll.
• Quality assurance: Fresh stock only. Expired or previously used items are prohibited.
• Verification process: Shortlisted bidders may be required to submit physical samples for specification and quality verification prior to final contract award.

Skills Requirements

This is a goods-supply tender; therefore, no specialised professional qualifications or clinical expertise are mandated. Bidders must demonstrate operational capacity to manufacture or source compliant medical-grade labels, manage logistics for timely delivery, and maintain full regulatory compliance. Essential administrative capabilities include active Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, valid tax clearance status, accurate completion of all mandatory returnable forms, and provision of documented proof of Black ownership (≥51%) to claim preference points.

Key Terms and Clarifications

• SANS 26825:2009: A South African national standard prescribing specific colours for anaesthetic and critical care drugs to standardise visual identification and reduce clinical errors.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: An evaluation methodology where 80% of scoring is based on price competitiveness and 20% is allocated to socio-economic goals, specifically companies with at least 51% Black ownership.
• Performance Security & Warranty: Successful bidders must furnish a performance guarantee within thirty days of award. The supplier warrants all goods against design, material, or workmanship defects for twelve months post-delivery.
• Sample Submission Protocol: Following initial scoring, the top three compliant bidders will be invited to submit samples. Failure to provide compliant samples results in disqualification. Previous suppliers may be exempted if they can provide recent order/invoice proof.