Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government Health Department
4 April 2001
The Gauteng Health Department acknowledges that the validity of the existing contract expired in August 1999 but was extended to November 2000. A further extension is being requested presently from the Gauteng Tender Board to allow the validity of the current tender to permit leasing of a limited number of vehicles to meet current needs under the present tender. Our figure however show that the breakdown rate remains at 10% which is not at all excessive by comparison with other hard usage vehicles.
The Department is, and has long been committed to value for money whenever contacts are closed. In this particular case, especially given the amount of money involved and the importance of selecting the contractors, vehicles and management systems, time was taken in ensuring that the specifications were correct. In addition, the tenders had to be referred back to the Tender Board for enquiries to the tenders a few times. Given the fact that the ambulance fleet was in good condition. It was more important to ensure that the correct decisions were made than to adhere to an arbitrary time-scale. However, this has meant that the tender validity has expired and will be re-advertise this weekend. It is expected that it will be awarded within 3 months.
With regard to the full provision of full maintenance ambulances it must be said that in terms of maintenance and servicing obligation of the present contractors, the procedure remains the same as during the original contract period. This means that the original contractors will provide services and the maintenance of the fleet on a month-to-month basis until the new tender has been finalised. With regard to the acquisition of new vehicles, arrangements are currently being made to acquire some vehicles so that optimum numbers of vehicles will continue to be available for the citizen of our province.
It must be emphasised that at no stage after the expire of the original tender were the citizens of Gauteng compromised, and the Department will like to assure the public that until the new tender is awarded in the next 3 months the present fleet of ambulances will be available to meet the emergence needs of the province.
Released by the Gauteng Health Department
Directorate of Communications
For more information, please contact:
Hope Huma - Media Liaison Officer to the MEC
At 011-355-3543, 082-555-2302
Popo Maja - Head of Communications
At 011-355-3212, 082-373-1169