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Systemic calls for tender

Infrastructure investments in the health sector often face manifold problems ranging from incompatible equipment, lack of knowledge to operate it and insufficient maintenance. As a result, adequate medical treatment is hampered and scarce funds are used inefficiently. A systemic call for tender offers an alternative approach. It comprises an integrated view starting from the planning phase and provides a holistic solution by one party.

While a systemic call for tender is not a one-size-fits-all solution for every investment situation, it offers significant advantages in appropriate cases. It can help to ensure greater sustainability (e.g. by including life-cycle costs), avoid breaks between planning and execution and reduce the coordination between otherwise separate construction and equipment suppliers.

Each case requires analysis in terms of how far the operation needs to be adjusted for optimal use of the new technological acquisition as well as a smooth progress of operation. Further, the permanent generation of the human and financial resources needed to achieve this must be ensured. Such an approach sharpens awareness of the dimensions and importance of the required reforms. It therefore bears considerable potential to influence the working culture on a lasting basis, to lead to quality enhancement in daily therapeutic practice and thus ultimately to optimize the use of the new technological acquisition at patient level.

To develop the potential of systemic calls for tender in the German development cooperation (DC), the GHA launched the “dialogue on systemic procurement in the health sector” initiative at the beginning of 2012. A study commissioned in the course of this initiative, deals with specific questions regarding technical cooperation (TC).

Differences between normal and systemic calls for tender

Normal calls for tender usually only cover the supply and installation of equipment and other services. By contrast, systemic calls for tender take into account the overall performance of the system throughout its life period, beginning with the planning, delivery, installation, long-term maintenance, training through to considering life-cycle costs. It may even include operational management of the system.

Advantages of systemic calls for tender

  • help to establish sustainability within the healthcare facilities by considering life-cycle-costs and including a long-term maintenance contract
  • improve the flow between planning and execution; therefore the know-how and experience of the bidders could be used to optimize the services
  • simplify the necessary coordination of the pre-installation requisites between the individual service providers and the equipment supplier

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