Objectives

The primary objective is to procure and deliver custom-manufactured plastic dart tags and matching applicators to support a national Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring programme focused on long-term finfish tagging and population tracking.

Scope

• Supply 2,500 D-tags specifically designed for teleost fish species.
• Supply 6 compatible D-tag applicators.
• Deliver all goods to a designated departmental location, with all freight costs and statutory taxes fully incorporated into the quoted price.
• Ensure full compliance with municipal certification, public procurement regulations, and preference point documentation.

Technical Requirements

• Physical Specifications: Tags must be plastic-based with a small dogleg barb and plastic tip. The marker diameter must be approximately 1.6 mm, designed for application via a needle with an outer diameter of approximately 3.3 mm.
• Printing & Identification: Each tag must feature a unique D-tag number, recovery contact details, and a repeated D-tag number. An identification number must be printed at both ends of the marker. One line of text must be optimised for maximum font size to display the national postal location for tag recoveries.
• Numbering Protocol: Assigned numbers must not overlap with existing ORI sequences to prevent data duplication.
• Anatomical Fit & Retention: The barb must anchor behind the second or third basal rays or pterygiophores of the first or second dorsal fins. For elasmobranchs, the design ensures secure lodging in cartilaginous tissue below the dorsal fin or within the wings of rays and skates to minimise post-release tag loss.
• Size Compatibility: Optimised for fish measuring between 40 cm and 80 cm.
• Compliance & Submission: Bidders must provide a valid Food Premises Certificate issued by the relevant municipality in the company’s name. Quotations must be submitted on official letterhead, include banking details, CSD MAA number, and completed SBD4 and SBD6.1 forms. Prices must remain firm until delivery, with quotations valid for 90 days unless otherwise stated.
• Evaluation Framework: Uses an 80/20 preference point system: 80 points allocated to price competitiveness and 20 points to specific goals (enterprises with >50% ownership by historically disadvantaged groups).

Skills Requirements

• Precision Manufacturing & Micro-Printing: Capability to produce dimensionally accurate plastic tagging components with consistent print resolution and anti-duplication numbering systems.
• Marine Equipment Engineering: Understanding of aquatic animal anatomy, tissue mechanics, and tagging protocols to ensure optimal retention rates across diverse species.
• Regulatory & Procurement Compliance: Proficiency in South African public sector procurement processes, including CSD registration, BBBEE accreditation validation, tax compliance, and municipal facility certification.
• Quality Control & Logistics Management: Ability to maintain batch uniformity, adhere to strict delivery timelines without price escalation, and manage end-to-end supply chain execution.

Explanation of Specialised Terms

• D-Dart Tags & Dogleg Barb Design: These are specialised marine tagging devices engineered to anchor securely in fish tissue. The "dogleg" barb geometry prevents backward slippage, while the plastic tip reduces tissue damage. They are specifically calibrated for teleost (bony) fish and are applied near dorsal fin structures to maximise retention during long-term ecological studies.
• Specific Goals Preference System: A South African procurement mechanism that awards up to 20 points to tenders submitted by companies with more than 50% ownership by Black people, women, or persons with disabilities, aligning with national transformation policies.
• CSD MAA Number: The Central Supplier Database Master Acceptable Account number, a mandatory government registration identifier verifying a supplier’s tax clearance, B-BBEE status, and legal compliance.
• Food Premises Certificate: A municipal licence typically required for facilities handling materials intended for biological or consumptive use, ensuring manufacturing environments meet hygiene, safety, and material-handling standards.