Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to secure a qualified supplier for the reliable provision of certified microbiological reference materials required for water quality testing, laboratory calibration, and method validation at Johannesburg Water SOC Ltd.

Scope

The contract covers the supply and delivery of microbiological reference materials divided into six distinct categories. Suppliers may bid for individual categories, and awards may be granted on a per-category basis:

• Category 1 – Cultures: Freeze-dried bacterial strains including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Vibrio species, and Legionella pneumophila.
• Category 2 – Bacteriophage Positive: Bacteriophage ΦX174 samples.
• Category 3 – Suspensions: Parasite suspensions (Ascaris lumbricoides, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis).
• Category 4 – Agglutination Serums: Vibrio cholerae diagnostic serums (O1, O139, Inaba, Ogawa).
• Category 5 – CRMs: Certified Reference Material pellets for plate counts and coliform testing, supplied with applicable buffer solutions.
• Category 6 – Vibrio Culture: Additional Vibrio cholerae non-O1 cultures.

Technical Requirements

• All items must be provided in specified formats (Lyfo disc or Kwik Stik for cultures, liquid suspensions, serum vials, or pellet formulations) with exact quantities per category.
• Every product must be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
• Pricing must be firm, inclusive of all applicable taxes (including VAT), and valid for a minimum of 60 days after the closing date.
• Bids must comply with standard municipal bidding documentation, including valid tax clearance, BBBEE certificate or compliant sworn affidavit, proof of Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, and signed MBD forms (Declaration of Interest, Independent Bid Determination, etc.).
• Submissions must be made electronically via the designated government e-tender portal.

Skills and Experience Requirements

• Proven expertise in the sourcing, storage, handling, and distribution of microbiological reference materials and cultures.
• Mandatory submission of at least two contactable reference letters or documented projects demonstrating successful past supply and delivery of similar microbiological products.
• Familiarity with public sector procurement compliance, regulatory standards, and socio-economic empowerment frameworks.

Key Terms and Clarifications

• COA (Certificate of Analysis): An official document verifying that the supplied material meets specific analytical, purity, and potency standards.
• MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): A standardized document detailing hazardous properties, safe handling protocols, storage conditions, and emergency response measures for biological or chemical substances.
• Lyfo disc / Kwik Stik: Commercial proprietary formats for freeze-dried microbial cultures designed for stable storage and rapid laboratory reconstitution.
• CRMs (Certified Reference Materials): Highly standardized materials with traceable, certified values used to validate testing accuracy, calibrate equipment, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• 80/20 Point System: A procurement evaluation model where 80 points are allocated to competitive pricing and 20 points to specific socio-economic goals, primarily verified BBBEE status and black economic empowerment levels.
• PPPFA & BBBEE: References to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment standards, which dictate mandatory compliance and scoring criteria for public sector tenders.