Objectives

The primary objective is to procure a reliable supplier for the one-off delivery of essential medical and surgical consumables to St Apollinaris Hospital. The procurement seeks to maintain uninterrupted clinical operations, enforce strict quality and safety standards, and stimulate local economic growth by awarding preference points to enterprises manufacturing within KwaZulu-Natal.

Scope

The tender covers the supply and delivery of a defined list of single-use medical and surgical items. The agreement is structured as a once-off contract with a quotation validity period of 90 days. The procuring facility retains the right to adjust or reduce ordered quantities based on actual demand. Key items include:

• Disposable surgical shaving razors (non-sterile, carbon/medical steel blade)
• Umbilical cord clamps (sterile, single-use, ethylene oxide sterilized)
• Sterile spinal needles (Quincke point, size 22G)
• Surgical blades (carbon steel, sterile, single-use)
• Stitch cutters (carbon steel, sterile, single-use)
• Haemostatic absorbable gelatin soft sponges (sterile, 70x50x10mm)
• Disposable blood administration sets (10 drops ratio)

All goods must be delivered to the designated hospital facility, with delivery costs fully incorporated into the quoted price.

Technical Requirements

Bidders must satisfy the following technical and quality specifications:

• Quality Standards: All products must comply with SABS, SANS, or CKS standards. Certificates of compliance must be provided when requested.
• Sterility & Condition: Items marked as sterile must remain sealed and unused. Expired, second-hand, or damaged goods are strictly prohibited.
• Shelf Life: Delivered products must retain a minimum validity period of six months from the date of handover.
• Pricing Structure: Quotations must reflect firm, all-inclusive pricing covering goods, packaging, transport, and VAT (if registered). Price adjustments during the contract period are not permitted.
• Documentation Compliance: Bidders must submit fully completed official quotation forms, including the Bidder’s Disclosure (SBD4), Preference Points Claim Form (SBD6.1), and updated CIPC registration documents. Alterations or use of correcting fluid will invalidate the submission.

Skills and Bidder Requirements

To progress through evaluation, bidders must demonstrate the following capabilities and compliance standing:

• Regulatory Registration: Active verification on the Central Suppliers Database (CSD) with a valid SARS tax clearance certificate.
• Administrative Proficiency: Ability to accurately complete all mandatory returnable schedules without omissions, ensuring full adherence to municipal procurement formatting rules.
• Delivery Capacity: Demonstrated logistical capability to fulfill order volumes within agreed timeframes. Bidders with two or more unexplained prior delivery defaults will be disqualified.
• Evaluation Literacy: Understanding of the preferential procurement scoring framework, which applies an 80/20 weighting system (price vs. specific goals).
• Ethical Compliance: Commitment to transparent bidding practices. Cover-quoting, collusive arrangements, or misrepresentation of company relationships will result in immediate disqualification and potential reporting to the Competition Commission.

Key Contractual Terms & Definitions

The tender incorporates standard public sector conditions with specific operational directives:

• 80/20 Preference System: An evaluation methodology allocating 80 points to competitive pricing and 20 points to specific socio-economic goals (promotion of KZN-based manufacturing). Failure to submit proof for specific goals yields zero points but does not automatically disqualify the bid.
• Prime Interest Rate Penalty: A financial deterrent for late delivery. Penalties are calculated daily at the prevailing prime interest rate against the value of delayed goods until fulfillment occurs.
• Termination & Restriction Clauses: The department may terminate contracts for default, fraud, or corruption. Serious breaches or repeated underperformance may trigger a restriction penalty, barring the supplier from future public sector contracts for up to ten years.
• Force Majeure: Covers unforeseeable, uncontrollable events (e.g., natural disasters, epidemics, government embargoes). Suppliers must notify the purchaser promptly and continue reasonable efforts to perform despite the disruption.