Tender Summary: Theatre Towels

Objectives

The primary objective is to secure a reliable, one-off supply of high-quality, clinically compliant theatre linen to support surgical procedures and patient care at Queen Nandi Regional Hospital. The procurement prioritises infection control, patient comfort, and adherence to provincial health standards, while simultaneously advancing local economic development through structured preferential procurement policies.

Scope

The contract encompasses the supply and direct delivery of 1,200 units of theatre linen in a single transaction. The required quantities are:

• 300 units: Small Theatre Towel Drapes
• 300 units: Medium Theatre Towel Drapes
• 300 units: Large Theatre Towel Drapes
• 200 units: Large Patient Theatre Blue Gowns
• 100 units: Extra-Large Patient Theatre Blue Gowns

All goods must be delivered to the designated hospital facility. Transportation, handling, and insurance costs must be fully incorporated into the quoted price. Items must be brand new, unused, and possess a minimum remaining shelf-life validity of six months from the date of delivery.

Technical Requirements

All supplied items must strictly adhere to the following manufacturing and quality parameters:

• Theatre Towels: Constructed from 100% cotton that is fast-dyed and fully pre-shrunk. Colour must match CKS 129-40c Jade Green. Each piece must feature "KZN" lettering (20mm height) printed in black across the entire surface. Stitching must utilise M80 mercerised thread at a density of five stitches per 10mm. Raw edges must be hemmed 0.6cm wide and double-stitched. A dye-fast size tab must be sewn onto every item, displaying the item number, dimensions, manufacturer name, and production month/year. Finished dimensions are 90 × 72 cm (Small), 90 × 135 cm (Medium), and 135 × 150 cm (Large).
• Patient Gowns: Must be 100% cotton, blue, buttonless, and feature an open-back design extending from top to bottom. Required sizes are Large and Extra-Large.
• Quality Benchmark: All textiles must comply with SABS 1401 Part 3 (1983) Type P48 specifications.
• Sampling Protocol: Following the closing date, the top three scoring bidders will be contacted to submit physical samples for verification prior to final evaluation.
• Documentation: Bidders must submit updated CIPC registration, B-BBEE status certificate or sworn affidavit, Central Supplier Database (CSD) compliance report, tax clearance validation, and verifiable proof of previous successful deliveries to healthcare facilities.

Skills and Capacity Requirements

While formal academic qualifications are not mandated, the tender implicitly requires suppliers to demonstrate:

• Manufacturing/Distribution Capability: Proven ability to produce or source medical-grade linen that meets exact dimensional, stitching, dye-fastness, and shrinkage tolerances.
• Logistics Management: Competence in coordinating timely, cost-inclusive delivery to the specified hospital location without delays or damage.
• Administrative Compliance: Proficiency in compiling and submitting mandatory regulatory documents, including CSD registration, SARS tax clearance, B-BBEE verification, and historical delivery evidence.
• Sample Fulfilment: Operational readiness to quickly produce and dispatch physical product samples upon evaluation request.

Key Terms and Specifications Explained

• CKS 129-40c Jade Green: A South African Colour Standard reference code ensuring precise dye matching across textile batches, critical for consistent hospital laundry processing and inventory identification.
• SABS 1401 Part 3 (1983) Type P48: A national quality benchmark for hospital linen that dictates fabric weight, tensile strength, colourfastness, shrinkage limits, and durability for repeated clinical washing and sterilisation cycles.
• M80 Mercerised Thread & 5 Stitches per 10mm: Industrial sewing parameters that guarantee seam integrity and resistance to fraying under high-temperature laundering and heavy clinical use.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A procurement scoring model where 80 points are awarded based on competitive pricing and 20 points are allocated for socio-economic goals, specifically favouring enterprises registered and operating within the King Cetshwayo District.
• RDP Goal (District Enterprise Promotion): A policy mechanism designed to stimulate local economic participation by awarding maximum preference points to businesses physically located and operating within the specified municipal district, verified via utility bills, ward councilor letters, and CSD data.