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In June, the department of health posted a circular revealing its award of a three-year condom and lubricant tender.
Based on this circular, City Press employed the calculation pattern the department used for 37 other contracts – by which it arrived at a sum of 3 billion male condoms and 54 million female condoms. Based on the department’s circular and formulas, City Press also arrived at a sum of 6 billion sachets of lubricant that needed to be ordered. The department has since contested the lubricant numbers and added an addendum to the circulars on its website detailing how the numbers should be interpreted.
THE DEPARTMENT’S RESPONSE:
The article, “Tender was not condomwise” by Athandiwe Saba (City Press, October 11 2015), created the impression that the national department of health had awarded a tender with illogical volumes of lubricant. The inaccuracy in the award volume of “6 billion sachets” was the result of how the awarded volume was read and interpreted.
The department awarded 60 million sachets (not 6 billion) of lubricant over three years to two suppliers. This amounts to 20 million sachets a year. The sachets are packed in quantities of 100 per pack, which is equal to 600 000 packets of 100 sachets.
Given the confusion that was created by the article, the department has published an addendum to clarify the award volume. The addendum is on the department of health’s website.
A total of 3 billion male condoms was awarded over three years to eight suppliers – 1 billion male condoms in total per year. A total of 54 million female condoms was awarded to five suppliers: 15 million condoms in year one, 18 million in year two and 21 million in year three.
There was also a misunderstanding of the system of allocating black economic empowerment (BEE) points and how they are used in tenders. When a tender is advertised, bidders are expected to submit their BEE certificates to the national department of health as part of their bid.
In this regard, Barrs Medical submitted a BEE certificate that had allocated nine points to the company. The national department of health does not calculate the BEE points or re-evaluate the points allocated.
But it does verify that the certificate is a true copy of the original with the authority that issued it. The allocation of BEE points is governed by legislation determined by the department of trade and industry (the dti). The department asked the dti to investigate the points awarded to Barrs Medical. The dti confirmed that the certificate submitted by Barrs Medical was accurate.
The impression created by the article that the national department of health awards tenders irresponsibly is unfortunate.
CITY PRESS REPLIES:
The department was given three weeks to answer questions regarding the award. An extensive list of questions was sent to the spokesperson and two other officials.
In the story, City Press said that one of the officials contacted was Dr Anban Pillay, but would like to clarify that it was actually Dr Yogan Pillay.
Here are the documents on which the calculations were based on Condomwise Documents
