Tender Details
- Tender Title: Placement / Outright Purchase of Automated Nucleic Card Puncher for Universitas Including Service, Reagents, Consumables and Maintenance for Five (5) Years
- Tender No.: RFB017/26/27
- Tender Type: Request for Bid (RFB)
- Advert Date: 21 September 2026
- Closing Date: 23 October 2026 at 11:00
- Briefing Session: Compulsory
- Briefing Date: 25 September 2026 at 11:00
- Briefing Venue: Room 315, Block C, First Floor, Francois Retief Building, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Parkwest, Bloemfontein, 9301
- Required At: National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
- Tender Category: Laboratory, Sampling and Analytical Equipment, Reagents and Consumables
- Location: Bloemfontein, Free State
- Department/Company: National Health Laboratory Service
Tender Objective
The NHLS seeks to procure an automated nucleic card puncher for its Universitas DNA testing facility. The system is intended to automate a currently labour-intensive manual process, reduce processing time by up to three hours per shift and increase laboratory throughput for processing DNA profiles.
The equipment will support the facility’s capacity to handle up to 10,000 DNA profiles annually across six provinces and the South African National Defence Force.
Scope of Work
The successful bidder will be responsible for:
- Supplying and delivering the automated nucleic card puncher.
- Providing either an outright purchase or placement arrangement.
- Delivering the equipment within three months.
- Installing and commissioning the system.
- Providing instrument and software training on site.
- Supplying all required reagents and consumables.
- Providing ongoing technical support.
- Supplying spare parts throughout the five-year contract period.
- Providing routine and preventative maintenance.
- Supplying consumables on an as-and-when-required basis.
- Entering into a Service Level Agreement with the NHLS.
- Maintaining firm and fixed pricing for the contract duration.
Key Technical Requirements
The proposed system should:
- Comply with ISO 13485 quality management requirements.
- Have regulatory approval from at least one IMDRF member authority.
- Have a maximum width of 920 mm and weigh less than 250 kg.
- Integrate with a Windows 10 or newer computer.
- Support a PC with at least four USB 3.0 ports, 23-inch LED monitor, 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD.
- Include an integrated barcode reader for sample identification.
- Be compatible with multi-spot nucleic cards.
- Have interchangeable metal punch heads, preferably 1 mm and 2 mm.
- Allow laboratory personnel to change punch heads without technician intervention.
- Provide data export functionality.
- Support comprehensive digital image analysis of samples.
- Include contamination-control features such as enclosed punch heads, recognition of previously punched positions and automated wash cycles.
- Include emergency stop functionality and protective guards.
- Allow routine daily and monthly maintenance to be performed by end-users.
- Provide technical support and clearly defined downtime procedures.
Supplier & Personnel Requirements
Bidders must demonstrate:
- Proven experience in medical device installation.
- Laboratory information system integration expertise.
- Experience providing end-user training.
- Appropriate personnel for project management, technical implementation, commissioning and after-sales maintenance.
- Corporate financial solvency.
- Valid tax compliance documentation.
- Valid B-BBEE credentials.
- Appropriate security clearances for personnel deployed on site.
For consortiums or joint ventures, signed agreements must clearly identify the work split, financial responsibilities and proportional B-BBEE scoring.
Procurement & Documentation
The tender includes requirements relating to:
- PPPFA 80/20 preference system.
- Standard Bidding Documents, including SBD4 and SBD6.1.
- National Industrial Participation Programme (NIPP), where applicable to imported content.
- Regulatory and quality-management compliance.
Briefing Session
The compulsory information briefing will take place on:
Date: 25 September 2026
Time: 11:00
Venue: Room 315, Block C, First Floor, Francois Retief Building, University of the Free State, 205 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Parkwest, Bloemfontein, 9301
Contact: Zimasa Makhetha
Email: Zimasa.Makhetha@nhls.ac.za
Tel: (011) 386 6203