Objectives

The primary objective is to secure a reliable supplier for a one-off provision of low-sulphur diesel to ensure uninterrupted power generation at St Apollinaris Hospital and two associated clinics in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The procurement aims to maintain critical healthcare infrastructure while adhering to provincial health supply chain regulations, environmental standards, and preferential procurement policies.

Scope

The contract covers the supply and delivery of 2,435 litres of 50 PPM low-sulphur diesel across three designated locations: 1,700 litres for St Apollinaris Hospital, 450 litres for Qulashe Clinic (approximately 52 km away), and 285 litres for Sokhela Clinic (approximately 94 km away). Delivery must be coordinated at least one day in advance with the procuring facility. The contract is a single transaction with a 90-day quotation validity period. All delivery costs must be included in the quoted price, which must remain firm throughout the evaluation and potential award period.

Technical Requirements

• Diesel must meet SABS/SANS quality standards and be accompanied by a certificate of compliance when requested.
• Products must be new, unused, and possess a minimum shelf life of six months upon delivery. Used or second-hand products are strictly prohibited.
• Transportation vehicles must comply with strict safety and regulatory standards, including functional fire extinguishers, TREM cards, and dangerous goods declarations.
• Tankers must be equipped with mechanical and electronic flow meters, a heavy-duty delivery hose (minimum 10 metres), auto-shut-off dispensing nozzles, integrated water/fuel separator filters, and spill prevention systems (spill kits, drip trays, emergency shut-off valves).
• Pricing must be firm, inclusive of VAT (if applicable), and submitted using official government quotation forms without retyping or alterations. Late submissions will be rejected.

Skills and Qualification Requirements

• Suppliers must hold a valid petroleum operating licence.
• Drivers transporting the diesel must possess a Professional Driving Permit (PDP) for category D (dangerous goods).
• Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) with verified tax clearance status.
• Submission requires completed administrative forms, including Bidder’s Disclosure (SBD 4), General Conditions of Contract, Special Conditions of Contract, and the Preference Points Claim Form.
• To claim preference points under the specific goal for promoting KwaZulu-Natal enterprises, bidders must provide proof of local enterprise status (e.g., ward councilor documentation or utility bills).
• Financial and operational stability must be demonstrated through updated CIPC registration documents and relevant compliance certificates.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

50 PPM: Stands for 50 parts per million, denoting the maximum allowable sulphur content in the diesel. This low-sulphur specification reduces harmful emissions and aligns with modern engine protection and environmental standards.

PDP “D” Category: A Professional Driving Permit required by South African law for drivers transporting dangerous goods, ensuring they are formally trained in hazardous material handling, vehicle safety, and emergency response procedures.

TREM Cards: Transport Emergency Response Cards that provide immediate, standardized guidance to first responders on how to safely manage incidents involving hazardous chemicals during transit.

SANS 10231 & SANS 1518: South African National Standards governing road traffic regulations and fuel handling/safety protocols, respectively. Compliance ensures legal, standardized, and safe transportation practices.

80/20 Preference Point System: An evaluation methodology where 80 points are awarded based on competitive pricing and 20 points are allocated for specific socio-economic goals, such as supporting locally registered enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal. Failure to submit proof for these points does not disqualify a bidder but results in zero points for that category.