Objectives

The primary objective is to procure safe, compliant, and high-quality post-delivery sanitary pads for clinical and patient care at St Margarets Community Health Centre under the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. The procurement aims to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential feminine hygiene products while adhering to public sector value-for-money principles.

Scope

The tender encompasses the supply and delivery of 57 packets of post-delivery sanitary pads to the designated health facility. The scope includes all logistics, transportation, and delivery costs, which must be fully incorporated into the quoted price. Quotations must remain firm and valid for 90 days. All supplied goods must be new, unused, and possess a minimum remaining shelf life of six months upon delivery. The contract is governed by standard public sector general and special conditions of contract, with evaluation following a structured five-stage compliance and scoring process.

Technical Requirements

• Product Specifications: Extra-long, cushioned sanitary pads designed without loops to maximize comfort and provide secure protection during heavy flow.
• Quality & Standards: Must be SABS-approved and conform to applicable South African National Standards (SANS/SABS) specifications.
• Packaging: Supplied in packets containing 12 units each.
• Compliance Documentation: Bidders must submit completed official quotation forms, SBD4 (Bidder Disclosure), SBD6.1 (Preference Points Claim Form), updated CIPC registration documents, B-BBEE status verification or sworn affidavit, and proof of tax compliance via the Central Supplier Database (CSD).
• Sampling Protocol: Physical samples must be available upon request. The top three highest-scoring bidders will be formally invited to submit samples for inspection; failure to provide a sample results in automatic disqualification.

Skills Requirements

No specialized clinical or engineering skills are required. Successful bidders must demonstrate standard supply chain and commercial competencies, including:

• Proven capability in sourcing, storing, and delivering medical consumables to public health facilities.
• Strong logistical planning to ensure timely delivery within agreed schedules and adherence to cold-chain-free storage requirements.
• Proficiency in public sector procurement compliance, including CSD verification, SARS tax clearance validation, and accurate completion of preferential procurement claim forms.
• Operational agility to respond promptly to sample requests and provide documentary proof of local manufacturing or production for preference point claims.

Unusual or Complicated Terms

• 80/20 Preference Point System: An evaluation framework where 80 points are awarded based on competitive pricing and 20 points are allocated for specific socio-economic goals, specifically prioritizing enterprises that manufacture or produce goods within the KwaZulu-Natal province.
• Anti-Cover-Quoting Clause: A strict prohibition against multiple related entities submitting separate bids for the same item. Automated and manual checks will identify overlapping ownership, directors, or addresses, resulting in immediate disqualification and potential restriction from future public sector contracts.
• Prime Interest Rate Penalty: Unlike fixed late fees, delayed deliveries incur daily financial penalties calculated using the current prime interest rate applied to the delivered price of the delayed goods, compounding until actual delivery.
• Performance Security: Upon contract award, the successful bidder may be required to furnish a performance guarantee (e.g., irrevocable bank guarantee or certified cheque) within 30 days to secure contractual fulfillment and protect the purchaser against default.