Objectives

The primary objective is to appoint a qualified service provider to maintain and clean the gardens and grounds at King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex for a four-month contract period. The service aims to ensure a safe, hygienic, and aesthetically pleasing environment for patients, staff, and visitors while strictly adhering to public health, environmental, and occupational safety standards.

Scope of Work

The contractor shall deploy twenty permanent staff members to execute comprehensive grounds maintenance across the hospital complex. Key responsibilities include:

• Weekly lawn mowing, edging, and weed control, maintaining grass height below 150mm.
• Maintenance of flower beds, shrubs, and hedges, including monthly turning, pruning, and replacement of dead foliage.
• Daily cleaning of concrete, tarred, paved areas, parking lots, and pathways, including oil spillage removal and weed spraying.
• Cleaning of gulleys, drains, and gutters, ensuring free flow and regular inspection.
• Weekly removal of all garden refuse, leaves, and alien vegetation from site.
• Control of alien plants and weeds using approved herbicides, with disposal of cleared vegetation.
• Cleaning and clearing of vegetation within 1.5 meters of both internal and external perimeter fences.
• Provision of all necessary machinery, protective clothing, black wheelie bins, and regular performance reporting.

Technical Requirements

• Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Hazardous Substances Act. An operational OHS plan must be submitted, and all herbicides must be stored and applied safely without damaging soil, bird life, or existing grass.
• Machinery & Equipment: Supply of specified tools including chainsaws, brush cutters, slasher machines, leaf blowers, pruning saws, rakes, forks, brooms, hosepipes, and step ladders. Service records for all machinery must be provided.
• Staff Attire & Safety: Uniforms embroidered with company name, safety boots, gloves, masks, goggles, long-sleeve aprons, wet floor signs, and visible name tags. Visual danger warnings must be displayed at all times.
• Supervision & Monitoring: A dedicated supervisor must be on-site during all shifts. Weekly self-monitoring and monthly formal performance discussions with facility management are mandatory.
• Workforce Standards: Compliance with minimum wage regulations, submission of a certified Bargaining Council Certificate, enforcement of a documented disciplinary code, and strict prohibition of child labour.
• Penalties: Failure to maintain the required 20-person workforce incurs a daily penalty of 0.04% of the contract sum, deducted from outstanding payments.

Skills Requirements

• Horticultural Expertise: Staff must possess practical experience in lawn care, shrub management, hedge trimming, and general landscaping.
• Specialised Tree Work: Advanced pruning and removal of dangerous branches require trained personnel capable of working at height and managing heavy machinery safely.
• Chemical Handling: Personnel must be trained in the safe mixing, application, and storage of herbicides in compliance with hazardous substance regulations.
• Supervisory Competency: The on-site supervisor must demonstrate proven knowledge of infection control protocols, workplace orientation procedures, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Healthcare Environment Awareness: Staff must understand and adhere to strict hygiene, confidentiality, and conduct boundaries within an active hospital setting.

Notable Terms & Conditions

• Cover-Quoting Prohibition: Submitting multiple quotations to manipulate pricing or secure contracts is strictly classified as corruption and fraud. Verification processes will detect this, resulting in immediate disqualification.
• Bargaining Council Certification: Contractors must operate under industry-specific wage agreements and provide official certification proving compliance with sectoral determinations for the cleaning/gardening industry.
• 80/20 Preference Points System: Evaluation allocates 80 points to price and 20 points to specific goals. Full preference points are awarded to enterprises that are 100% owned by Black African women, verified through CIPC documentation and Central Supplier Database checks.
• Sample Submission Requirement: Following initial scoring, the top three bidders may be required to submit physical samples for final evaluation. Failure to provide compliant samples may result in disqualification regardless of prior scores.