Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified supplier to provide certified Newtonian viscosity standard fluids for laboratory calibration and quality assurance purposes. The procurement seeks to secure traceable, precision reference materials while ensuring full compliance with South African public procurement legislation and preferential scoring frameworks.

Scope

The contract covers the supply of two specific reference fluids:

• One 500ml unit of Fluid 10 Newtonian viscosity standard fluid
• One 500ml unit of Fluid 100 Newtonian viscosity standard fluid

All deliveries and transactions will be governed by the Government General Conditions of Contract (July 2010). Bids will be evaluated using an 80/20 weighted scoring model, allocating 80 percent to price competitiveness and 20 percent to socio-economic preference goals as mandated by the Preferential Procurement Framework Act of 2000.

Technical Requirements

• Fluid 10 Specifications: Certified viscosity of 9.5 centipoise (cP) with a tolerance of ±1%, measured at 25 ± 0.1°C. Minimum expiry date must be three years or more post-delivery.
• Fluid 100 Specifications: Certified viscosity of 98.0 cP with a tolerance of ±1%, measured at 25 ± 0.1°C. Minimum expiry date must be three years or more post-delivery.
• Mandatory Documentation: Each submission must include a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), a Certificate of Analysis (COA) accompanied by a clear photograph, and a fully completed SBD4 declaration.
• Preference Documentation: Bidders must attach valid proof to claim socio-economic points: up to 10 points for ≥51% black ownership, 8 points for ≥30% women ownership, and 2 points for verified disability status. Incomplete or missing proof results in immediate disqualification.
• Submission Format: Electronic submission via the official procurement portal is mandatory. Microsoft Word or Excel files are rejected, and email submissions are strictly prohibited.

Skills Requirements

The tender does not mandate specialized technical or professional qualifications, as it pertains to the commercial supply of standardized laboratory reference materials. Suppliers are expected to demonstrate competent supply chain and logistics management, strict adherence to regulatory documentation standards, and reliable fulfillment capabilities. Familiarity with South African public sector procurement compliance, electronic bidding portals, and temperature-sensitive material handling is essential.

Explanation of Key Terms

• Newtonian Viscosity Standard Fluids: Precision-calibrated reference liquids whose viscosity remains constant regardless of applied shear stress. They are used to verify and calibrate viscometers in analytical laboratories.
• SBD4 Declaration: A statutory South African bid disclosure form requiring suppliers to declare whether they, their directors, or shareholders are employed by the state, or hold conflicting interests in related enterprises.
• BBBEE Preference System: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, a national transformation policy that awards procurement points based on demographic ownership criteria to promote economic inclusion.
• 80/20 Scoring Model: An evaluation methodology where 80 points are allocated to the lowest acceptable price, and 20 points are distributed across specific socio-economic goals, with the total score determining contract award.