Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure a reliable, compliant supplier for the one-off provision of sterile medical filtration equipment to support critical surgical and blood management procedures at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. The procurement ensures continuous access to high-performance leucocyte filters while adhering to provincial health supply chain regulations, quality assurance standards, and preferential procurement policies aimed at socio-economic development.

Scope

The tender covers the supply and delivery of 140 units of leucocyte filters integrated with administration sets. Delivery is restricted exclusively to the designated hospital facility within the KwaZulu-Natal province. The contract operates on a once-off basis with a ninety-day quotation validity period. Evaluation follows a structured five-stage process encompassing administrative compliance, delivery capacity, specification adherence, pricing, and sample verification for top-ranked quotations. Successful bidders must comply with all general and special conditions of contract governing public sector procurement.

Technical Requirements

• Filtration Efficiency: Must achieve greater than 99% leucocyte removal and over 82% fat particle reduction.
• Physical Specifications: 40-micron screening mesh, latex-free materials, vented spike configuration, and a hold-up volume between 31 and 32 millilitres.
• Performance Standards: High flow rate capability designed for rapid blood infusion during surgical or emergency interventions.
• Packaging & Labelling: Sterile, single-use units requiring clear marking of trade name, specifications, sterilisation method, manufacturing site, CE certification, lot number, and expiry dates. Shelf life must guarantee a minimum of five years from the date of sterilisation.
• Regulatory & Administrative Compliance: Valid SAHPRA licence for medical device wholesale/distribution, Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) verification or sworn affidavit, SARS tax clearance, and fully completed SBD returnable documents.

Skills Requirements

No specialised clinical or technical skills are mandated for the supplier. The tender requires standard supply chain competencies, including inventory management, logistics coordination, and strict adherence to sterile medical goods handling protocols. Bidders must demonstrate operational capacity to fulfil the 140-unit order without prior delivery defaults, financial stability, and proficiency in navigating public procurement documentation, including GCC/SCC compliance, preference point claims, and sample submission procedures.

Clarification of Unusual or Complicated Terms

• Leucocyte Filter with Administration Set: A specialised intravenous device used primarily in cardiac, vascular, and trauma surgery to collect, filter, and reinfuse salvaged patient blood. It removes white blood cells and lipid particles to prevent immune reactions and organ damage during autotransfusion.
• Hold-Up Volume: The internal fluid capacity of the tubing and filter chamber before blood enters the patient’s circulation. Precise volume control is essential for accurate dosing and haemodynamic safety during cardiopulmonary bypass.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement evaluation model allocating eighty percent of scoring weight to competitive pricing and twenty percent to socio-economic goals, specifically prioritising enterprises owned by youth.
• SAHPRA Licensing: Mandatory regulatory approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, ensuring that imported or manufactured medical devices meet national safety, efficacy, and quality standards prior to clinical deployment.