Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to procure indelible ink finger marking pens that meet specified quality, safety, and operational standards for electoral purposes. The pens must be capable of marking voters' fingers clearly, withstand removal, and be produced within South Africa, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.

Scope

The scope includes the supply, delivery, and packaging of a total of 240,000 indelible ink finger marking pens to the Electoral Commission's designated warehouse in Gauteng. The procurement covers the development, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of the pens, along with associated documentation such as safety data sheets, production confirmation, and quality certificates. The contract is a one-time purchase with potential for additional orders based on electoral needs.

Technical Requirements

• Design and develop indelible ink pens capable of marking up to 1,000 fingers without failure, clogging, or spillage.
• Marking must be visible, not exceeding 5mm, and remain visible for at least 14 hours, with removal requiring washing or rubbing.
• The ink must be anti-viral, anti-bacterial, non-inflammatory, and safe for use on human skin.
• The ink should withstand removal by disinfectants without losing efficacy.
• Application must not require specialized action and should be easy to apply on a voter’s finger.
• Packaging must ensure integrity during storage and transport, with individual pens in sealed boxes, cartons of 100 units, and pallets not exceeding 1.5m in height and 500kg in weight.
• Labels on packaging must specify contents, quantity, date of manufacture, and manufacturer details.
• Delivery must be completed by 30 August 2026, with prior notification and adherence to delivery protocols.
• Samples must be submitted for testing, demonstrating compliance with specifications, including printing and packaging standards.

Skills and Capabilities Requirements

• Established manufacturing capability within South Africa, with proof of manufacturing location and capacity to produce the required quantity.
• Control over product design and production processes, with no subcontracting allowed.
• Ability to develop production strategies ensuring timely delivery and quality compliance.
• Experience in producing safety-compliant, skin-friendly ink products suitable for electoral use.
• Capability to provide technical documentation, safety data sheets, test certificates, and independent laboratory verification.
• Proven track record through references or previous project documentation demonstrating industry experience.
• Capacity to meet quality control standards, including inspection and testing procedures.