Tender Summary

Objectives

The primary objective is to procure and deliver clinically effective ankle foot orthoses to support patient rehabilitation by preventing foot drop at the designated provincial hospital. The procurement seeks to secure reliable, high-quality medical devices while adhering to public sector procurement legislation and promoting local economic participation.

Scope

The contract encompasses the supply and delivery of eighty (80) ankle foot orthoses, allocated across four specific configurations: twenty left medium, twenty left large, twenty right medium, and twenty right large units. The scope includes all packaging, handling, and delivery costs to the specified facility. Successful suppliers must provide brand-new, unused products with a minimum remaining shelf life of six months upon delivery. The procurement follows a structured five-stage evaluation process covering administrative compliance, delivery capacity, technical specification adherence, pricing with preference points, and potential sample verification.

Technical Requirements

• Material Construction: Devices must be manufactured from lightweight, thin-walled polypropylene, carbon fibre, or low-profile medical-grade textiles.
• Structural Features: Each orthosis must include an adjustable hook-and-loop forefoot strap to prevent slippage and control rotational movement, a footplate extending to the metatarsal sulcus or full foot length for optimal weight distribution, an ankle-retaining strap to secure the heel, and a proximal calf strap for upper leg stability.
• Regulatory & Quality Standards: All products must comply with applicable South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) or South African National Standards (SANS) requirements. Suppliers must hold a valid licence from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) authorising the manufacture, wholesale, or distribution of medical devices.
• Product Condition: Expired, refurbished, or second-hand items are strictly prohibited. Compliant bidders may be invited to submit physical samples for clinical and technical verification prior to contract award.

Skills and Experience Requirements

• Supply Chain Track Record: Bidders must provide proof of at least one previous order and corresponding delivery note to a public or private health facility, demonstrating operational capability in healthcare logistics.
• Financial Capacity: Alternatively, bidders may submit a financial statement dated within one month, showing a balance equivalent to at least forty percent of the quoted value.
• Compliance Documentation: Up-to-date CIPC registration, a valid B-BBEE status certificate or sworn affidavit, Central Supplier Database (CSD) verification, and SARS tax clearance confirmation are mandatory.
• Performance History: Suppliers with a documented history of failing to deliver orders without acceptable justification will be disqualified.

Key Contractual and Evaluation Terms

The quotation operates under a fixed-price framework valid for ninety days. Payment will be processed within thirty days of invoice submission, contingent upon satisfactory delivery and acceptance. A standard warranty period applies, lasting twelve months from delivery and acceptance or eighteen months from shipment, whichever concludes first. Delays in performance will incur penalties calculated at the current prime interest rate per day. The procuring entity reserves the right to negotiate prices with shortlisted bidders and to reject any non-compliant quotations without obligation to award.

Explanation of Key Terms

80/20 Preference System: A procurement scoring model where eighty points are awarded based on price competitiveness and twenty points are reserved for specific transformation goals (here, prioritising South African-owned enterprises).

SAHPRA Licensing: Mandatory regulatory approval from the national health authority permitting the legal manufacture, wholesale, or distribution of medical devices in South Africa.

SABS/SANS Compliance: Certification that products meet nationally recognised safety, quality, and performance standards for medical equipment, ensuring clinical reliability and consumer protection.