Objectives

The primary objective is to procure a single unit of a portable, hand-held tonometer for clinical use at St Chad’s Community Health Centre. The acquisition aims to enable accurate, efficient measurement of intraocular pressure to support ophthalmic screening, diagnosis, and ongoing patient management within the provincial health network.

Scope

The contract encompasses the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and formal acceptance testing of one complete tonometer system. Delivery must be completed within seven days of order issuance. The scope includes provision of a starter pack containing all essential accessories, comprehensive user and service documentation, manufacturer-level technical training for institutional staff, and a minimum twenty-four-month warranty. A fully costed preventative maintenance agreement for three years following warranty expiry is also required. The contract is a once-off supply with a quotation validity period of ninety days.

Technical Requirements

• Technology & Design: Must utilise rebound technology for non-contact, accurate intraocular pressure measurement. The unit must be hand-held, fully portable, battery-operated, and feature an easily readable digital display suitable for all lighting conditions. All instrument probe tips must be identical.
• Compliance & Safety: Must hold ISO, CE, and South African Medical Council or FDA approval. Must comply with IEC 60601-1 and 60601-1-2 international electrical safety standards, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and SANS wiring codes. The unit must be protected against electromagnetic interference.
• Accessories & Documentation: Must include a carrying case, charger, USB cable, computer software, and a minimum of one hundred probes at no additional cost. Bidders must provide two sets each of user and original service/repair manuals (including fault-finding guides, schematics, PCB layouts, and calibration data), calibration software, and troubleshooting tools.
• Warranty & Support: A twenty-four-month warranty commences upon successful commissioning and acceptance by Health Technology Services. It covers all labour, spares, travel, and regulatory testing costs. Downtime extends the warranty period day-for-day. A loan unit must be provided during repairs. A verifiable local service facility in KwaZulu-Natal with technician response within twenty-four hours is mandatory. Spare parts must remain available for ten years.
• Product Condition: Must be the latest commercially available model, brand new, and never refurbished.

Skills Requirements

• Bidders must demonstrate access to original equipment manufacturer-trained technicians capable of delivering advanced, PCB-level diagnostic and repair training to institutional engineering staff.
• Suppliers must maintain a documented local service and calibration facility within KwaZulu-Natal, with clearly listed permanent technical personnel and defined equipment-to-technician ratios.
• Financial and operational capacity to sustain a comprehensive twenty-four-month warranty, guarantee long-term spare part availability, and deliver a competitively priced three-year preventative maintenance contract.
• Ability to facilitate clinical evaluations, technical demonstrations, and compliance verification processes mandated by provincial health authorities.

Explanation of Unusual or Complicated Terms

• Rebound Technology: A modern, non-contact method for measuring eye pressure where a lightweight probe gently rebounds off the cornea, providing rapid, accurate readings without anaesthesia or topical drops.
• HTS Specification E 184: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health’s standardized technical framework governing electronic medical equipment procurement, ensuring uniform safety, serviceability, and interoperability across facilities.
• PCB-Level Training: Advanced technical instruction enabling hospital engineers to diagnose, calibrate, and repair equipment at the printed circuit board component level, rather than performing only superficial or module-level maintenance.
• 80/20 Preference Point System: A South African public procurement evaluation model allocating eighty percent of scoring to price competitiveness and twenty percent to designated socio-economic goals, specifically promoting South African-owned enterprises.
• SBD Forms: Standard Bidding Document forms used for statutory declarations, including conflict-of-interest disclosure (SBD 4) and preferential procurement claims based on enterprise size and ownership (SBD 6.1).