Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure high-quality, sterile, x-ray detectable gauze swabs for clinical and surgical use at Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital. The procurement aims to enhance patient safety by ensuring that all surgical swabs can be visually confirmed via radiographic imaging before wound closure, thereby preventing retained foreign objects. Additionally, the tender seeks to comply with national public procurement legislation while promoting socio-economic transformation through preferential scoring for locally owned enterprises.

Scope

The successful bidder will be required to supply thirty-five (35) boxes of specified gauze swabs to the designated hospital facility. The scope encompasses complete delivery, compliant packaging, labeling, and adherence to all regulatory, quality, and contractual conditions. Quotations are evaluated across five mandatory stages: administrative compliance, delivery capacity, specification adherence, pricing with preference points, and sample verification. The quotation validity period is ninety days, and all prices must remain firm throughout the contract term. Late submissions, expired products, or non-compliant documentation will result in immediate disqualification.

Technical Requirements

• Dimensions: 100mm x 350mm x 16ply
• X-ray Detection: Must incorporate a woven, x-ray opaque visible marker integrated directly into the swab structure
• Material: Soft, highly absorbent cotton with low linting properties
• Packaging: Supplied in bundles of five with easily removable ties; each bundle wrapped in medical-grade paper, vacuum-formed plastic, or paper, with a clearly traceable label
• Sterility: All swabs must be delivered in a sterile condition
• Unit Size: One box contains 500 swabs
• Quality Standards: Must comply with SABS/SANS specifications and maintain a minimum shelf life of six months upon delivery
• Regulatory Compliance: Supplier must hold a valid SAHPRA license authorizing manufacture, wholesale, or distribution of medical devices

Skills & Capacity Requirements

• Demonstrated operational capacity to supply medical consumables, proven through submission of at least one prior order and delivery note from a public or private health facility, or a financial statement confirming liquidity of at least 40% of the quoted value
• Active registration on the Central Suppliers Database (CSD) with verified tax compliance status
• Submission of valid B-BBEE status certificate or sworn affidavit (for EMEs/QSEs) and updated CIPC registration documents
• Ability to accurately complete mandatory Standard Bid Document (SBD) forms, including conflict-of-interest declarations and preference point claims
• Readiness to provide physical product samples upon request for technical verification against specification criteria
• Understanding of public sector contract management, including penalty clauses for delayed delivery, warranty obligations, and incident reporting procedures

Clarification of Key Terms

X-ray Detectable Gauze: Surgical swabs engineered with a radiopaque marker woven into the fabric. This allows medical staff to verify via X-ray imaging that all swabs have been removed post-surgery, significantly reducing the risk of retained surgical items and associated complications.

SAHPRA License: Mandatory regulatory authorization issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. It legally permits a company to manufacture, wholesale, or distribute medical devices within South Africa and ensures products meet national safety and efficacy standards.

80/20 Preference Point System: A government procurement evaluation model where eighty percent of the total score is allocated to price competitiveness and twenty percent to specific socio-economic goals. In this tender, the full twenty points are reserved for fully South African-owned enterprises to support Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) objectives.

SBD Forms: Standardized government bid documents requiring mandatory declarations regarding company ownership, state employment conflicts, tax compliance, and preference point eligibility. Incorrect completion or omission results in automatic disqualification.