Optometric Services and Consumables

The Western Cape Government Department of Health & Wellness, through Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH), invites bids for the provision of optometric services and optometric consumables for a period of three (3) years. The successful bidder will render optometric services at the hospital's eye unit, working alongside the eye specialist, and will supply a full range of paediatric optometric consumables. Premises for consultations are provided free of charge. The service requires a weekly session of up to four hours, or until all booked patients are seen, with annual leave capped at 12 sessions (six weeks). Leave exceeding three weeks must be covered by an experienced locum at no additional cost to the department.

Consumables and services cover a broad paediatric range. Frames are required for children from birth to six years, including standard frames, flexible one-piece frames, and specialised high-specification frames for extremely small infants, frames with removable nose bridges, and frames with adjustable silicone earpieces. Lens requirements include impact- and shatter-resistant single vision lenses at various prescription strengths, with optional extras such as UV protection, hard coating, photochromic tint, bifocals, and high-index lenses. Contact lenses (soft monthly disposables, extended wear, hard, scleral, and prosthetic) and multipurpose cleaning solution are required for children up to 12 years. Ready-made ocular prostheses with scleral shading and paediatric orbital socket expanders are also in scope. Each pair of spectacles must include a case and cleaning cloth, and each pair of contact lenses a holder and first cleaning solution, at no extra charge. Bidders must be able to manufacture or procure all listed items and deliver optometric consumables within four weeks of ordering, while spectacle delivery beyond six weeks without reasonable cause attracts penalties.

Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database and the Western Cape Supplier Evidence Bank, be tax compliant, and hold current HPCSA registration and a valid SAHPRA or MCC certificate for the medical devices offered. Stage 1 assesses compliance with mandatory documents, Stage 2 involves clinical evaluation of one sample of each item and may include a practical refraction demonstration on patients, and Stage 3 applies the 80/20 preferential procurement points system. Prices must be firm, inclusive of VAT, and submitted on the official pricing schedule (WCBD 3.1), with estimated quantities that are not guaranteed. The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 11:00, and bids must be physically delivered to the designated bid box at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital's administrative building in Rondebosch. Late or electronic submissions will not be accepted unless formally authorised.