Tender Summary: Supply & Delivery of Needlefelt T900L

Objectives

The primary objective is to procure high-quality industrial needlefelt materials for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health’s Regional Laundry at Cato Manor. The procurement seeks to secure a reliable, one-off supply that meets stringent operational standards to ensure optimal performance of laundry ironing equipment and maintain consistent linen processing quality.

Scope

• Item: Supply and delivery of 20 units of Polyester/Needle Felt T900L.
• Delivery Destination: Regional Laundry Cato Manor.
• Contract Duration: One-off transaction.
• Quotation Validity: 90 days from the closing date.
• Evaluation Framework: Three-stage assessment comprising administrative compliance, mandatory sample evaluation, and price/preference points allocation using an 80/20 scoring model.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must supply products that strictly comply with or exceed the following specifications:

• Construction: 100% polyester scrim reinforced needle felt featuring an asymmetric/multi-filament yarn build specifically engineered for laundry ironer applications.
• Weight & Thickness: 900gsm ± 5% and 5mm ± 7.5%, respectively.
• Dimensions: Base roll size of 6400mm × 3200mm, to be precisely cut to match ironer specifications.
• Thermal & Mechanical Properties: Maximum continuous operating temperature of 150°C and surge temperature of 170°C; elongation capped at 1.5% under 50N/5cm load; shrinkage limited to 3.0% at 170°C.
• Surface Treatment: Heat-set and hydrolysis-resistant finishes.
• Product Condition: New, unused goods only; minimum remaining shelf life of six months; expired or second-hand items are strictly prohibited.
• Sample Submission: Mandatory upon written request; failure to provide samples results in immediate disqualification.

Skills Requirements

No formal professional qualifications or specialized personnel certifications are explicitly mandated. However, bidders must demonstrate:

• Manufacturing or supply capacity capable of producing industrial textiles meeting precise dimensional, thermal, and mechanical tolerances for laundry ironer rollers.
• Full administrative and regulatory compliance, including active Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, verified tax clearance status, and complete company registration documentation.
• Competency in preparing accurate pricing schedules, correctly claiming preference points, and submitting all mandatory returnable forms without omission or alteration.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

Needlefelt T900L: This denotes a specialized industrial textile pad used as backing material for laundry ironer rollers. The "T900L" designation indicates a target density of 900 grams per square meter optimized for high-temperature, high-moisture institutional laundry environments. Strict adherence to weight, thickness, heat resistance, and hydrolysis resistance is critical; even minor deviations can cause roller degradation, uneven fabric pressing, and compromised linen quality.

80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement scoring framework where 80 points are allocated to price competitiveness and 20 points to designated transformation goals. For this tender, full preference points are awarded exclusively to enterprises that are 100% owned by Black Africans.

Hydrolysis Resistance: A chemical finishing process that prevents polyester-based textiles from breaking down when repeatedly exposed to steam, hot water, and alkaline detergents. This property ensures the needlefelt maintains structural integrity and performance throughout its service life in a commercial laundry setting.