Objectives

The primary objective is to procure high-quality, custom-branded dressing gowns for adult males, adult females, maternity patients, and paediatric patients for clinical and patient-use at Untunjambili Hospital. The procurement also aims to support provincial economic development by awarding preference points to enterprises that manufacture or produce the required goods within the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Scope

This is a one-off supply contract covering the manufacturing, quality assurance, branding, packaging, and delivery of multiple quantities of terry towelling dressing gowns across specified sizes and categories. The scope encompasses full logistical delivery to the hospital, adherence to a ninety-day quote validity period, and provision of firm, all-inclusive pricing. The contract includes warranty provisions, defect remediation, and compliance with standard public sector supply chain management regulations.

Technical Requirements

• Material & Standards: Gowns must be manufactured from terry towelling fabric compliant with SABS 1401 Parts I and V (Type T36), double-sided, with a minimum weight of 200 grams per square metre.
• Colours: Female and maternity gowns must match rose pink (CKS 129-23 C); male and paediatric gowns must match mazarine blue (CKS 129-38 C).
• Construction: Adult gowns require a double-breasted, collarless design, one-piece back, unlined body, safety-stitched seams, front patch pockets, centre-back hangers, and double waistline belts. Paediatric gowns require a roll collar, raised double-stitched seams, and left-side pockets. All garments must feature fast-dye size tabs sewn into the neck area.
• Branding: Each gown must be printed with the KZN Health logo at the back.
• Quality & Compliance: Products must be new, unused, and free from manufacturing defects. Second-hand or expired items are prohibited. All goods must retain a minimum validity of six months post-delivery. Bidders must confirm SABS/SANS compliance and provide physical samples upon request for independent testing.
• Pricing & Delivery: Quotes must state firm prices inclusive of VAT (if applicable) and all delivery costs. Specific delivery timelines must be declared. Late submissions will be automatically rejected.

Skills Requirements

Bidders must demonstrate proven operational capacity in medical apparel manufacturing and public sector compliance. Required competencies include:

• Expertise in textile engineering, pattern drafting, and precision sewing to meet strict SABS fabric and construction standards.
• Capability in bulk production, colour consistency matching (CKS standards), and professional garment finishing.
• Supply chain and logistics management to ensure undamaged, time-bound delivery to the hospital site.
• Proficiency in South African public procurement compliance, including tax clearance validation, Central Suppliers Database (CSD) verification, and accurate completion of mandatory Standard Bidding Document (SBD) forms.
• Ability to manage performance security, warranty obligations, and rapid remediation of defective supplies under the General Conditions of Contract.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

• SABS 1401 Parts I & V (Type T36): The South African National Standard governing terry towelling textiles, defining technical benchmarks for absorbency, tensile strength, shrinkage resistance, and colourfastness to ensure suitability for healthcare environments.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A statutory procurement scoring framework where 80 points are allocated based on price competitiveness and 20 points are reserved for specific socio-economic goals, here prioritising KwaZulu-Natal-based manufacturing.
• CSD Registration: The Central Suppliers Database is the national government repository for vendor verification. Active verification confirms legal registration, tax compliance, and eligibility to contract with public entities.
• SBD Forms: Standardised declaration templates used to capture bidder identity, conflict-of-interest disclosures, tax status, and preference point claims. Incomplete or inaccurate submissions result in immediate disqualification.