Objectives

The primary objective is to procure, supply, and deliver a single mobile surgical suction system (non-electric pipeline-type aspirator) to Appelsbosch Hospital under the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. The procurement aims to secure reliable, clinically compliant medical equipment that supports surgical and anaesthetic procedures while adhering to provincial health technology standards and public procurement regulations.

Scope

The scope covers the complete end-to-end provision of the suction unit, including manufacturing/supply, transportation to the hospital site, physical installation, clinical commissioning, and operational demonstration. The contract is once-off and requires the successful bidder to provide comprehensive user and technical documentation, structured training for hospital personnel, and an extended post-delivery warranty and maintenance framework. All associated costs, including VAT, delivery, installation, and training, must be bundled into the quoted price.

Technical Requirements

• Equipment must be a mobile, non-electric theatre aspirator mounted on a stable, evenly balanced wheeled trolley.
• Must feature at least two 1500ml autoclavable polysulphone graduated bottles with easily removable, non-corrosive shut-off lids.
• Equipped with a controllable high-vacuum regulator (0 to –100 kPa), adjustable diaphragm type, and a pressure gauge.
• Includes a 4-metre colour-coded vacuum hose terminating in a SABSA/Heyer-type probe.
• Must comply with international electrical safety standards (IEC 60601-1 & 60601-1-2), the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and SANS 0142 wiring codes.
• Requires CE certification, electromagnetic interference protection, and a hospital-grade mains cable (minimum 3 metres).
• Strictly new equipment; refurbished or reconditioned units are explicitly excluded.
• Must provide two sets each of user operation/maintenance manuals and original service/repair manuals containing fault-finding guides, circuit diagrams, PCB layouts, calibration guides, and exploded mechanical diagrams.
• Warranty/guarantee minimum of 24 months from commissioning, covering all labour, spares, travel, QA testing, and downtime extensions.
• Spare parts availability guaranteed for ten years post-delivery, with local stock verification rights reserved by the department.
• Compliance with the Hazardous Substances Act and submission of relevant Radiation Control licence numbers or official exemption proof where applicable.

Skills Requirements

• Demonstrated capability to operate a fully equipped service and repair facility within KwaZulu-Natal, subject to inspection.
• Employment of permanent, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-trained technicians based locally, capable of responding to malfunctions within 24 hours.
• Technical expertise to deliver advanced training to hospital Health Technology Services staff, extending down to printed circuit board (PCB) level diagnostics, calibration, and repair.
• Proficiency in medical equipment logistics, regulatory compliance, clinical commissioning protocols, and long-term supply chain management.
• Ability to maintain accurate local inventory of critical spare parts and manage post-warranty technical support commitments.

Notable Terms and Conditions

The procurement utilizes an 80/20 preferential scoring system, allocating 20 points specifically to companies with at least 51% Black ownership, supported by a valid BBBEE certificate or sworn affidavit. Evaluation follows four mandatory stages: administrative compliance, delivery capacity, specification adherence, and price/preference scoring. Failure at any stage results in immediate disqualification.

The loan set clause ensures uninterrupted clinical operations by requiring the supplier to provide a temporary replacement unit during warranty repairs, with all associated costs borne by the supplier. PCB-level training refers to highly specialized instruction enabling hospital technicians to diagnose, calibrate, and repair internal electronic components, rather than basic operational training. Prices must remain firm for the validity period, expired or second-hand products are prohibited, and late submissions will not be considered. The department reserves the right to negotiate with shortlisted bidders to ensure value for money before final award.