Objectives

The primary objective is to appoint a qualified service provider for a four-month non-renewable contract to deliver comprehensive garden and grounds maintenance services across Benedictine Hospital and sixteen affiliated clinics in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Scope of Work

• Maintain all designated garden and ground areas, including mowing grassed zones, nature strips, and clearing vegetation within two metres of perimeter fences.
• Perform regular weeding, pruning, and trimming of trees, shrubs, and entrance flower beds, ensuring safe clearance for pedestrians and vehicles.
• Remove and properly dispose of all garden refuse, rubbish, and debris weekly, adhering to municipal bylaws and correct waste stream segregation.
• Sweep and blow pathways, gutters, driveways, and car parks post-mowing; conduct monthly inspections of drains and pits.
• Maintain mulched areas to a depth of 50–75 mm, aerating regularly and applying monthly top-ups.
• Service sixteen satellite clinics twice monthly, utilising institutional transport while supplying all personnel, machinery, and consumables.
• Allocate one dedicated staff member for weekend washing of state vehicles.

Technical Requirements

• Workforce Composition: Deploy fifteen (15) workers operating Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 16:00. Recruitment must comply with the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), a government initiative that mandates 70% of hires be drawn from the local community to stimulate regional employment, while 30% must possess prior industry experience.
• Uniforms & PPE: Supply fully embroidered uniforms, identification tags, safety footwear, heavy-duty gloves, dust masks, goggles, and task-specific protective gear.
• Machinery & Equipment: Provide and maintain a minimum fleet including six brush cutters, one ride-on lawn mower, chainsaws, pruning tools, rakes, spades, hoses, and approved herbicides. Submit documented service records for all machinery.
• Health, Safety & Compliance: Submit Job Safety Analysis (JSA) sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which are formal documents outlining workplace hazard assessments and safe handling protocols for chemicals/tools, prior to work commencement. Maintain a comprehensive safety file, ensure medical surveillance for all staff, and hold a valid Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Labour.
• Administrative & Financial: Prices must remain firm for the contract duration with zero escalations. Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), the national government repository for verifying supplier legitimacy, tax compliant, and submit a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) affidavit/certificate, three months of public liability insurance proof, a financial turnover confirmation, and a detailed project rollout plan.

Skills Requirements

• Proven track record in horticultural maintenance and groundskeeping, supported by at least one verifiable trade reference spanning a minimum of one year.
• Operational proficiency in safely using and maintaining power tools, brush cutters, chainsaws, and herbicide application equipment.
• Strong understanding of occupational health and safety frameworks, including the practical implementation of JSAs and compliance with environmental standards.
• Ability to conduct mandatory pre-commencement training for all recruits on site procedures, equipment handling, and safety protocols.
• Competence in workforce logistics, including shift planning, reliever management, and coordinated multi-site clinic maintenance scheduling.