NPT0040/26: Bid/No-Bid Brief and Compliance Matrix
TenderGulf sample brief. Prepared Monday 26 October 2026.
How to read the references: "p." means the page number printed at the foot of the Arabic conditions booklet. The PDF has 34 pages and the printed numbers match the PDF page numbers (the cover is page 1). "cl." means the booklet clause. "Item list" means the English item list (357 pages, dated 22/10/2026). "Manual, slide N" means the third document, NUPCO's Arabic user guide for the MEDEVAL medical devices platform (35 slides, file name "Supplier-User-Manual-11"). Text marked Our reading is TenderGulf analysis, not document text. Our English is a working translation: the Arabic original governs (cl. 3.1, p. 9).
1. Header
| Field | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tender number | NPT0040/26 | Booklet cover; item list header |
| Buyer | NUPCO, the National Unified Procurement Company for medicines, devices and medical supplies, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund. "Beneficiary entities" means NUPCO or government entities. | p. 2; cl. 1.1.3, p. 3 |
| Title (English) | Item list header: "OPEN FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL DEVICE LEASING". | Item list p. 1 |
| Title (Arabic) | الاتفاقية الإطارية المفتوحة لتأجير الأجهزة الطبية | NUPCO tenders list; booklet cover |
| Type | Open framework agreement: new suppliers may join during its term; awarded offers stay in force. The goal is to provide medical devices to government health entities through an operating lease model covering supply, installation, commissioning, training, preventive and corrective maintenance and life cycle management, with at least 95% operational readiness. | cl. 1.1.10, p. 4; cl. 8.8.1, p. 29 |
| Status on tender page | Available / New | Tender page, read 26 October 2026 |
| Opening (publication) date | Sunday 25 October 2026 | Tender page |
| Enquiry cut-off | Not stated in the booklet. Enquiries go to NUPCO in writing or by email "until the last day for supplier enquiries stated in the tender announcement". The announcement is not in the public document set. | cl. 1.2.2, p. 5 |
| Submission deadline | Wednesday 23 December 2026. Time of day: not stated in the booklet (it defers to the announcement). | Tender page; cl. 4.2.1, p. 12 |
| Bid opening | Thursday 24 December 2026, at NUPCO headquarters or online. Time: not stated in the booklet. | Tender page; cl. 4.7.1, p. 13 |
| Booklet fee | SAR 18,400. Local factories and SMEs get 50% of the fee back (excluding VAT) after bid opening, once they submit proof. Whether VAT is added: not stated in the booklet. | Tender page; cl. 1.1.2.2, p. 3 |
| How the booklet is bought | Through the SADAD service; documents released electronically on the NUPCO platform after purchase, to agents and distributors accredited and qualified with NUPCO and specialised in the items. The manual adds: press "participate", accept the terms, then pay the MEDEVAL invoice through SADAD, biller number 903; the tender opens about 10 minutes after payment. | cl. 1.1.2.1, p. 3; cl. 1.3, p. 5; Manual, slide 22 |
| Where bids go | Electronically through NUPCO's official channels (www.nupco.com), after filling the NUPCO platform registration form, following the submission mechanism. The manual is for MEDEVAL at https://medeval.nupco.com. | cl. 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2, p. 3; cl. 4.2.3 and 4.2.4, p. 12; Manual, slide 3 |
| Tender email | ME_SOLUTIONS@NUPCO.COM, "the official email for the tender". Correspondence must go from the bidder's official email registered with NUPCO. | cl. 8.8.14, p. 34; cl. 3.4.1, p. 9 |
| Other NUPCO emails in the manual | Products: ME_PRODUCTS@NUPCO.COM. Guide and tenders: ME_TENDERS@NUPCO.COM. Requests: ME_REQUESTS@NUPCO.COM. | Manual, slide 35 |
| NUPCO address in booklet | Short address RASA7638, building 7638, additional number 2416, postal code 13315, Al Sahafa district. | p. 34 |
| Scope size | 132 groups, each one main device with quantity 1; 7,947 lines in total (132 main devices, 2,404 accessory and configuration lines, 5,411 pre-installation works lines). | Item list, computed |
| Estimated value | Not stated in the booklet or the item list. | n/a |
2. Bottom line
- This is a lease, not a sale. The winner owns the devices for the whole contract (cl. 8.8.4.1, p. 30), installs them, keeps them at least 95% ready (cl. 8.8.9, p. 32) and is paid quarterly, half-yearly or yearly against that readiness, with penalties deducted automatically (cl. 8.8.10.1 and 8.8.10.4, p. 32). Contracts run 5 or 10 years by item (cl. 8.8.5, p. 31).
- Price is a fixed monthly rent per device. Bidders quote a fixed monthly lease price for each main device and each configuration item or module, plus a separate price for each accessory and for pre-installation works. The evaluated value is the monthly rent times the number of lease months set for the item (cl. 5.3.5.1 to 5.3.5.6, p. 16; cl. 8.8.10.2 and 8.8.10.3, p. 32).
- Bid only as, or together with, a Saudi agent or distributor that can finance capital equipment for 5 to 10 years, run field service with 24 to 72 hour response times across the Kingdom, and carry the maker's support for the whole term (cl. 8.8.9, p. 32; cl. 8.8.13, p. 33; cl. 8.1.16, p. 24).
- Do not bid as a foreign maker alone. Documents go only to NUPCO-qualified agents and distributors (cl. 1.3, p. 5), the MEDEVAL account needs a NUPCO supplier number and a Chamber-certified form (Manual, slide 3), and spare parts and maintenance must come through the agent or authorised distributor (cl. 8.1.16, p. 24).
- Scoring is 60% technical, 40% financial. A "not comply" on any critical specification or critical add-on excludes the offer; offers under 40% of the technical score or 60% of the total may be excluded (cl. 5.3, p. 14 to 17).
- Time is on your side this time: 58 days to the deadline. The longest jobs are MEDEVAL product approval, the mandatory site visits (cl. 8.7.6, p. 29) and the lease financing model. Start all three this week.
3. Scope
Method. We converted the 357-page item list to text with pdftotext and parsed all 7,947 rows (SN 1 to 7,947, none missing). A line whose item number has no suffix is a main device; suffixes "-001" and similar are accessories or configuration items; suffixes "-P001" and similar are pre-installation works (civil, electrical, mechanical). Every main device has UOM "EACH" and quantity 1, and every group holds exactly one main device. Our reading: quantity 1 means NUPCO is setting a rent per unit, not committing to volumes; beneficiaries order later (cl. 6.4.1, p. 20).
| Family (item code prefix) | Main devices | Accessory lines | Works lines | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical imaging (MMI) | 32 | 863 | 2,146 | CT 64, 64 dual energy, 128 and 256 slice; SPECT CT; PET CT; MRI 1.5T and 3T; linear accelerator; digital X-ray (floor, ceiling basic and advance, mobile dual detector); bone densitometer; fluoroscopy; C-arm general and 3D; mammography and mobile mammography truck; angiography single and biplane; cath lab single plane and hybrid; CT and MRI injectors; seven ultrasound systems |
| Sterilisation and CSSD (MIF) | 11 | 92 | 3,008 | Steam sterilisers 4, 10 and 12 STU; low temperature H2O2 steriliser; washer disinfectors 12 and 18 DIN; washer cart; ultrasonic cleaners; CSSD tracking system |
| Operating room (MOR) | 29 | 706 | 0 | Anaesthesia machines (basic, mid range, premium, MRI compatible); navigation systems (ENT, neuro, orthopaedic, spine); laparoscopic and arthroscopy towers; electrosurgical units; phaco and femtosecond cataract lasers; excimer angioplasty laser; heart lung bypass; cell saver; balloon pump; operating tables; drills; digital OR |
| Dental (MDL) | 10 | 148 | 257 | Dental units basic and advance; CBCT; panoramic with ceph; digital intraoral X-ray; dental laser; piezosurgery; surgical motor; 3D printer; central compressor |
| Intensive care and neonatal (MIC) | 7 | 117 | 0 | ECMO; nitric oxide delivery; HFO neonatal ventilator; neonatal incubator; bedside monitors; point of care cardiac and kidney analyser |
| Outpatient and diagnostics (MOP) | 9 | 106 | 0 | ENT workstation; laryngoscopy and stroboscopy towers; sleep lab; EEG epilepsy monitor; urodynamics; pulmonary function; excimer derma laser; exam table |
| Laboratory (MLB) | 8 | 54 | 0 | Chemistry analyser; MALDI TOF identification; automated microbiology; pathogen reduction; cryostat; grossing station; centrifuge; blood donation trailer |
| Ambulance (MAL) | 2 | 77 | 0 | Ambulance vehicles type I and type II, fully equipped, with a "5 years or 200,000 km" full-service maintenance line |
| Ward (MWD) | 4 | 59 | 0 | Electric bed mid range; ICU bed; psychiatric bed; emergency stretcher |
| Ophthalmology (MPT) | 4 | 21 | 0 | OCT; wide field fundus camera; infant retinal camera; excimer laser |
| Rehabilitation (MRH) | 3 | 30 | 0 | Shock wave therapy; ultrasonic therapy; upper limb workstation |
| Pharmacy (MPH) | 3 | 17 | 0 | Outpatient pharmacy robot; unit dose packager; 700 L medication refrigerator |
| Endoscopy (MED) | 3 | 61 | 0 | Endoscopy workstations standard and advance; UV endoscope disinfector |
| Simulation (MSI) | 3 | 0 | 0 | Gynaecology, orthopaedic and interventional radiology simulators |
| Total | 132 | 2,404 | 5,411 |
Item list points to note
- Largest groups: the eight CSSD sterilisers and washers carry 376 pre-installation works lines each (walls, ceilings, floors, doors, plumbing, electrical, CCTV recorders). PET CT has 149 works lines, SPECT CT 146, angiography biplane 126.
- 31 of 132 groups include pre-installation works: all CSSD equipment, most fixed imaging, CBCT, panoramic X-ray and both dental units. Our reading: for these the bidder is also a fit-out contractor, priced separately (cl. 8.8.10.3, p. 32).
- No brand is named. Item text is one line per row; detailed specifications, their weights and required accessories sit on MEDEVAL.
- The item list has no lease-term column. The booklet says contracts are split into 5-year and 10-year items "according to the quantities table" (cl. 8.8.5, p. 31). Which items are 5 and which are 10 is not visible in the public documents.
- Bids may be for all items or for a specific item (cl. 2.7.2.1, p. 8). Our reading: a maker of one device type can bid only its own group.
4. What leasing changes
| Topic | What the booklet requires | Clause and page |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | All devices stay the lessor's property for the contract term. At the end the beneficiary may extend the lease, buy the devices under an ownership mechanism in the contract (if any) or by separate agreement, or not renew; then the supplier removes the devices within 30 days, at its cost, repairing the site. | cl. 8.8.4, p. 30 |
| Term | Items leased for 5 years or for 10 years. The term counts from the commissioning, installation and training record. The years per item are indicative; the beneficiary may change them with the supplier for the public interest. | cl. 8.8.5, p. 31; cl. 5.3.5.8, p. 17 |
| Framework validity | Awarded offers valid three Gregorian years from final results; beneficiaries may add quantities at the same prices. | cl. 8.8.6, p. 31 |
| Delivery | Supply, install and commission within 180 days of site handover, with a written timetable. | cl. 8.8.7, p. 31 |
| Pricing | Fixed monthly rent per main device and per configuration item; separate price per accessory and per pre-installation works, then added to the device price; the rent covers supply, installation, testing, training, preventive and corrective maintenance, spare parts and updates for the whole term. | cl. 5.3.5.1 to 5.3.5.4, p. 16; cl. 8.8.10.2 and 8.8.10.3, p. 32 |
| Payment | Quarterly, half-yearly or yearly, based on meeting 95% operational readiness, as the beneficiary sees fit. Other payment mechanisms may be agreed. Performance is checked each billing period and a completion certificate states any penalties. | cl. 8.8.10.1 and 8.8.10.5, p. 32; cl. 8.8.9, p. 32 |
| Warranty and maintenance | Whole term: scheduled preventive visits, full corrective repair, calibration, labour and parts at the supplier's cost, software and component updates, electrical, mechanical and functional safety tests. Medical consumables are not included. | cl. 8.8.8, p. 31; cl. 8.4 and 8.5, p. 27 and 28 |
| Maker support | Every device fully supported by the maker for the whole term; operating life may not exceed the maker's recommended life; free replacement or upgrade if the maker ends support or parts or updates stop. | cl. 8.8.13, p. 33 |
| Spare parts | Each device supplied through the agent or accredited distributor, responsible for spare parts and maintenance for the lease term. | cl. 8.1.16, p. 24 |
| Registration | Register the devices on the NUPCO platform and with the SFDA. | cl. 8.8.8.2, p. 31 |
| Ambulances | The beneficiary's licensed staff drive; the vehicle stays registered to the supplier, which insures it, keeps its papers valid and gives a replacement vehicle after an accident, theft, total loss or unrepairable fault. The beneficiary pays traffic fines from driving, the supplier those from vehicle papers. | cl. 8.8.3, p. 30 |
| Termination | Beneficiary may terminate without liability after three written warnings, after three readiness failures, for failure in repair or maintenance, or on bankruptcy or loss of licence. | cl. 8.8.12, p. 33 |
Service levels (cl. 8.8.9, p. 32)
| Service | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operational readiness (uptime) | At least 95%, measured half-yearly |
| Response to reports | 24 hours in main cities, 48 hours in neighbouring areas, 72 hours in remote areas |
| Repair, total failure | 7 working days after inspection at most |
| Repair, partial failure | 3 working days after inspection at most |
| Replacement device | When repair is not possible within the set time |
| Technical support hours | 9 hours a day, 5 working days a week |
Penalties (cl. 8.8.11, p. 33)
| Breach | Penalty | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Late response | 1% of the payment value per day of delay | Per report |
| Readiness below the set level at half-year end | 5% of the payment value | Per payment |
| Late repair, total failure | 1% of the payment value per day | Per report |
| Late repair, partial failure | 1% of the payment value per day | Per report |
| Preventive maintenance shortfall | 0.5% of the payment value per day | Per schedule |
| Safety tests shortfall | SAR 5,000 per device | As needed |
| Technical updates not applied | SAR 3,000 per device | As needed |
| Training shortfall | SAR 2,000 per training | On request |
Our reading: who this lets in and who it keeps out.
- The natural bidder is a Saudi agent of a capital equipment maker with a balance sheet or bank line that can carry 5 to 10 years of rent. A distributor that only resells cannot carry ownership, insurance, removal and uptime risk.
- A foreign maker takes part through its Saudi agent, or through a consortium agreed before bidding and certified by the Chamber of Commerce (cl. 4.3, p. 12 and 13). Subcontracting needs NUPCO's written approval (cl. 4.4, p. 13). A leasing company can finance, but the agent must stay responsible for parts and maintenance (cl. 8.1.16, p. 24).
- The maker's decisions: the residual value it assumes after 5 or 10 years, whether it guarantees parts and software for the full term (cl. 8.8.13), and the rent floor it allows its agent.
5. What the third document (MEDEVAL user guide) changes
The guide is a general NUPCO manual; its screenshots use another tender (an open framework agreement for pharmacy, NPT0012-26). The booklet makes the submission mechanism binding (cl. 4.2.3 and 4.2.4, p. 12; cl. 5.6, p. 17).
| Change for bidders | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Account | New account: email ME_PRODUCTS@NUPCO.COM with employee name, email, mobile, company name, NUPCO supplier number and a registration form certified by the Chamber of Commerce. A new company needs name, official email, phone and NUPCO company number. | Manual, slides 3 and 4 |
| Manufacturer record | The bidder creates each manufacturer: name, email, phone, website, fax, headquarters country, state, city, street; subsidiary link to a parent maker. | Manual, slides 9 and 10 |
| Product registration | Each product: maker, product name, supplier, brief description, item type (main device or standalone accessory), medical or non-medical, country of origin as on the AR certificate, launch year, agency type (exclusive or distributor), model number, photo. | Manual, slide 12 |
| Approval stages | Created, Pending Review, Pending Approval, Final Approval, Approved; also Document Review, Expired Document, Transfer Request (agency move between suppliers) and Additional supplier. | Manual, slide 11 |
| Linking | No line can be bid without registering and approving the product and linking it to the line. | Manual, slide 24 |
| Enquiries | Committee questions arrive in TMS Management, Clarifications, each with its own reply deadline. | Manual, slide 33 |
| Negotiation | After technical acceptance, NUPCO shows a target price; the bidder enters a discounted price, VAT 0% or 15%, embedding type, pack type and size, then confirms. | Manual, slide 34 |
Our reading: a bidder that has never used MEDEVAL needs the account, the manufacturer record and approval of every device and accessory before it can link a single line. With 58 days, that is feasible if registration starts in October.
6. Compliance matrix
"Gate" means failure can exclude the bid or the line. "Scored" means it affects the 60/40 evaluation.
| Requirement | What the booklet says (our translation) | Clause and page | Who must hold it | Gate or scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who can buy the documents | Released after purchase to agents and distributors accredited and qualified with NUPCO and specialised in the items. | cl. 1.3, p. 5 | Saudi agent or distributor | Gate |
| Who counts as a competitor | Factories, drug companies, agents, local producers, suppliers, or companies abroad. | cl. 1.1.5, p. 3 | Either | Definition |
| Platform account | NUPCO platform registration; MEDEVAL account and product approval as in section 5. | cl. 1.1.1.2, p. 3; Manual, slides 3 and 24 | Bidder | Gate |
| SFDA documents | Valid MDEL, AR and MDMA, uploaded stamped with the offer; devices registered with the SFDA. | cl. 1.5.6 to 1.5.9, p. 6; cl. 8.8.8.2, p. 31 | Our reading: MDEL and AR held by the Saudi agent; MDMA per product | Required document |
| Agency certificate | Agency certificate for the makers in the offer. | cl. 1.5.11, p. 6 | Agent holds, maker issues | Required document |
| Saudi company documents | CR, zakat/tax, GOSI, Chamber, Saudization (each when legally required), Capital Market Authority proof if listed, Monshaat certificate for SMEs, valid and stamped. | cl. 1.5.1 to 1.5.5, 1.5.10, 1.5.12, p. 6 | Bidder | Required |
| Prior use in Saudi hospitals | The product must have been bought and tried before by beneficiary entities (reference hospitals), stated in the remarks field with documents. NUPCO may accept or reject the product. This prevails over platform specifications. | cl. 5.2.1 to 5.2.3, p. 14 | Product track record | Our reading: a gate for new entrants |
| Site visit | Field visits to sites are mandatory; the bidder must inspect sites before bidding, and its offer is an admission that it understands the work. No claims for unseen site conditions. | cl. 8.7.1, p. 28; cl. 8.7.5 and 8.7.6, p. 29 | Bidder | Gate |
| Pre-installation works | Bidder does all preparation for installation per maker requirements, including civil, architectural, electrical, mechanical, networks, communications and safety systems; prepares designs and gets approvals; restores sites. | cl. 8.7.3 and 8.7.4, p. 28 and 29; cl. 8.1.15, p. 24 | Bidder | Binding |
| Language of offer | Offers in Arabic; another language may be added; Arabic prevails. | cl. 3.1, p. 9 | Bidder | Gate |
| Currency and price format | Saudi riyals, unit price for the smallest unit, no more than four decimals; unit price without VAT, VAT in its own field. | cl. 3.2, p. 9; cl. 7.1.2 and 7.1.3, p. 21 | Bidder | Format rule |
| What the price covers | All costs: supply, installation, testing, training, preventive and corrective maintenance, spare parts and updates for the contract term; VAT, duties, freight, loading, storage and transport. | cl. 5.3.5.3, p. 16; cl. 7.1.1, p. 20 and 21; cl. 3.6, p. 10 | Bidder | Scored |
| Offer letter | Upload with tender name and number, total value, number of items, attachments and initial guarantee details, discounts. | cl. 4.1.5, p. 12 | Bidder | Exclusion risk |
| Reservations | Buying the documents and bidding means acceptance of all terms without reservations; NUPCO may reject incomplete, vague or qualified bids. | cl. 2.11, p. 9; cl. 5.6, p. 17 | Bidder | Exclusion risk |
| Brands | Disclose all trademarks in the quantity and price schedules. | cl. 4.1.2, p. 11 | Bidder | Exclusion risk |
| Alternatives | Basic offers only. | cl. 4.1.1, p. 11 | Bidder | Gate |
| Use of bidder information | NUPCO may use information submitted by bidders for any commercial purpose. | cl. 3.5.3, p. 10 | Bidder | Accepted by bidding |
| Initial bank guarantee | 1% of the offer value covering all items and priced accessories; offers without it are excluded. Through Bawatak within the submission period; in NUPCO's name; on first demand; unconditional and irrevocable; 120 days from opening, auto-renewing; no cash or cheques. | cl. 3.7.1 to 3.7.1.5, p. 10 and 11 | Bidder | Gate |
| Initial guarantee exemptions | Local SMEs exempt; local factories may skip it, with proof on the NUPCO platform. | cl. 3.7.1.6, 3.7.1.7 and 3.7.2, p. 11 | Saudi SME or factory | Exemption |
| Final guarantee | 5% of each purchase order, within 15 working days of the order date. Not needed if the order is SAR 100,000 or less, or if goods are delivered and finally accepted within that period. | cl. 6.3.1 and 6.3.2.1 to 6.3.2.2, p. 19 | Awarded bidder | Gate per order |
| Bank acceptable | Local bank, or foreign bank through a local bank; Saudi Central Bank approved foreign bank where a Saudi guarantee cannot be had. | cl. 6.3.2.5 and 6.3.2.6, p. 20 | Bidder | Gate |
| Offer validity | 120 days from bid opening, extendable for a similar period. | cl. 3.3, p. 9 | Bidder | Gate |
| Withdrawal | Before deadline: guarantee back, fee kept. After deadline: guarantee may be forfeited. After orders: execution at supplier's cost. | cl. 4.6, p. 13 | Bidder | Penalty |
| Economic participation policy | Applies; comply and submit documents. Policy and undertaking form are tender documents. | cl. 1.1.6, p. 3; cl. 1.4.8 and 1.4.9, p. 6 | Bidder | Required. Not in our document set |
| Local content | Preference regulation for local content, SMEs and listed companies applies, with ZATCA rules of origin; local content certificates for national products. The preference is applied at the reverse auction stage. | cl. 1.1.7 to 1.1.9, p. 3 and 4; cl. 7.5.5, p. 23 | Saudi maker | Price adjustment |
| Regional HQ | Bidders must take into account Council of Ministers decision 461 dated 13/06/1445H on contracting with companies that have no regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia. No document or consequence is stated. | cl. 1.1.12.1, p. 4 | Our reading: affects maker group and agent | Unclear; ask NUPCO |
| Restricted origins | If directed, NUPCO may ask for another origin, exclude the offer, or cancel the item or contract. | cl. 1.1.13, p. 4 and 5 | Maker | Risk |
| Lowest price commitment | Price among the lowest in Saudi Arabia; report any lower price given during the term, or face exclusion and cancellation of orders. | cl. 2.9.2 to 2.9.4, p. 8 and 9 | Bidder | Gate during term |
| Negotiation | Including reverse auction. | cl. 2.9.1, p. 8; Manual, slide 34 | Bidder | Process |
| Evaluation weights | Technical 60%, financial 40%. | cl. 5.3.1 to 5.3.3, p. 14 | n/a | Scored |
| Technical scoring | Each specification is Critical, Major, Minor or Optional. Critical: full or partial (at least 90% of the value without affecting safety or clinical efficiency); non-compliance excludes. Others: non-compliance scores zero. Critical add-ons: non-compliance excludes. NUPCO may exclude offers under 40% of the technical score. | cl. 5.3.4, p. 15 and 16 | Product | Gate and scored |
| Financial scoring | Ranked on the evaluated value: total monthly rent of main device and required configuration times the number of lease months for the item. NUPCO may exclude offers under 60% of the total score. | cl. 5.3.5.5 to 5.3.5.7, p. 16 and 17 | Bidder | Scored |
| Splitting of awards | NUPCO may split an item or group between suppliers or makers; beneficiaries may choose. | cl. 2.7.1, p. 8 | n/a | Volume risk |
| Arithmetic errors | Written price beats figures; unit beats total; errors over 10% may exclude. | cl. 5.4, p. 17 | Bidder | Exclusion risk |
| Factory visit | Bidder pays for up to three people. | cl. 5.5, p. 17 | Maker hosts, bidder pays | On request |
| Committee queries | Answer within the set time or the offer may be excluded. | cl. 8.1.5, p. 23 | Bidder | Gate |
| Bid opening attendance | Authorisation letter; delegate must be a Saudi national. | cl. 4.7.1, p. 13 | Saudi agent | Required to attend |
| Objections | Within 5 working days of preliminary results. SAR 3,750 plus VAT per item or group through SADAD; refunded only if successful; 50% off for local factories. | cl. 5.8, p. 18 | Bidder | Process |
| Latest models | Supply the newest devices and software, including linked computers and screens; declare product updates after award and supply them at no extra cost. | cl. 8.1.4 and 8.1.6, p. 23 | Maker and agent | Binding |
| Electrical and IT | 220 V single phase or 380 V three phase, 60 Hz; 50 Hz devices rejected; hospital-grade plugs; UPS where needed; EMI and virus protection; network compatibility. | cl. 8.1.10, 8.1.13 and 8.1.18, p. 24; cl. 8.1.19, 8.1.20 and 8.1.23, p. 25 | Maker | Gate for electric devices |
| Radiation | Quality and radiation leakage tests for X-ray and radioactive devices by an independent licensed third party. | cl. 8.2.8, p. 26 | Bidder | Binding at acceptance |
| Acceptance | Full operating test with the beneficiary's engineering department; no handover before acceptance tests. | cl. 8.2.4, p. 25; cl. 8.3, p. 26 | Bidder | Binding |
| Training | Full training for users and technicians at no extra cost, including biomedical engineers; materials in Arabic or English. | cl. 8.6, p. 28 | Bidder | Binding |
| Agency change | Old agent keeps supplying until transfer papers are approved. | cl. 8.1.7, p. 23 and 24 | Old and new agent | Binding |
| Framework updates | Every 6 months: newly localised products and mandatory-list items. Every year: offers rejected for incomplete SFDA, LCGPA or other certificates, and items not offered. Updated prices may not exceed agreed prices. | cl. 7.5, p. 22 and 23 | Bidder | Our reading: a rejected offer waits a year |
| Consortium | Allowed if agreed before bidding, Chamber-certified, leader named, joint liability, members do not bid separately. | cl. 4.3, p. 12 and 13 | Bidder and partners | Option |
| Documents not in our set | Tender announcement (with enquiry cut-off and times), draft framework agreement, supply conditions for NUPCO warehouses, e-marketplace requirements, economic participation policy and form. | cl. 1.4.3, 1.4.5 to 1.4.9, p. 5 and 6 | n/a | Obtain after purchase |
7. Deadlines, counted from Monday 26 October 2026
| Date | Day count | What must happen | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 25 Oct 2026 | Day minus 1 | Tender published. | Tender page |
| Date in announcement | Unknown | Last day for enquiries. Not stated in the booklet. | cl. 1.2.2, p. 5 |
| Late Oct to early Nov 2026 | Day 0 to about Day 14 | Maker and agent agree which groups to bid, the lease term model and the rent floor; agent buys the booklet (SAR 18,400 through SADAD, biller 903); opens or confirms the MEDEVAL account; registers manufacturers and products. | cl. 1.1.2.1, p. 3; Manual, slides 3 to 12 and 22 |
| November 2026 | About Day 14 to Day 45 | Mandatory site visits; pre-installation designs and works pricing for the 31 groups with works lines; enquiries to ME_SOLUTIONS@NUPCO.COM. | cl. 8.7.6, p. 29; cl. 8.8.14, p. 34 |
| December 2026 | About Day 45 to Day 58 | Technical answers per specification, monthly rents, accessories and works prices; 1% guarantee through Bawatak; Arabic offer letter; submit. | cl. 3.7.1.1, p. 10; cl. 4.1.5, p. 12 |
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 | Day 58 | Submission deadline. Time of day not stated in the booklet. No changes after upload. | Tender page; cl. 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, p. 12 |
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Day 59 | Bid opening; Saudi-national delegate with authorisation letter. | Tender page; cl. 4.7.1, p. 13 |
| Fri 23 Apr 2027 | Day 179 | End of 120-day validity unless extended (guarantee auto-renews). | cl. 3.3, p. 9; cl. 3.7.1.5, p. 11 (our date arithmetic) |
| Each purchase order | 15 working days | 5% final guarantee, unless an exemption applies. | cl. 6.3.2.1 and 6.3.2.2, p. 19 |
| Each site handover | 180 days | Supply, installation, commissioning. | cl. 8.8.7.1, p. 31 |
| Three years from final results | n/a | Framework ends; leases already signed run 5 or 10 years. | cl. 8.8.6, p. 31; cl. 8.8.5, p. 31 |
8. Bid/no-bid checklist: maker or Saudi agent of capital medical equipment
Any "No" in questions 1 to 9 means no-bid.
| # | Question | Yes / No | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is the bidder a Saudi agent or distributor accredited and qualified with NUPCO, with a NUPCO supplier number? | cl. 1.3, p. 5; Manual, slide 3 | |
| 2 | Does every device have an SFDA MDMA, and does the bidder hold MDEL and AR? | cl. 1.5.7 to 1.5.9, p. 6 | |
| 3 | Have Saudi government hospitals already bought and used the device, with documents? | cl. 5.2.1, p. 14 | |
| 4 | Can the bidder finance and own the devices for 5 to 10 years, and insure and remove them? | cl. 8.8.4 and 8.8.5, p. 30 and 31 | |
| 5 | Will the maker guarantee full support, parts and software for the whole lease term? | cl. 8.8.13, p. 33; cl. 8.1.16, p. 24 | |
| 6 | Can the field team meet 24, 48 and 72 hour response, 3 and 7 day repair and 95% uptime? | cl. 8.8.9, p. 32 | |
| 7 | Can the bidder do the mandatory site visits and price the pre-installation works? | cl. 8.7.6, p. 29; cl. 8.7.3, p. 28 | |
| 8 | Can the 1% guarantee be issued through Bawatak and the Arabic offer be ready by 23 December? | cl. 3.7.1.1, p. 10; cl. 3.1, p. 9 | |
| 9 | Can every device and accessory be approved on MEDEVAL before submission? | Manual, slides 11 and 24 | |
| 10 | Does the device meet every critical specification and critical add-on? | cl. 5.3.4, p. 15 and 16 | |
| 11 | Are electric devices 60 Hz, 220 V or 380 V, with hospital-grade plugs and UPS where needed? | cl. 8.1.13 and 8.1.18, p. 24 | |
| 12 | Is the monthly rent, fixed for the term, low enough to be among the lowest in Saudi Arabia? | cl. 2.9.2, p. 8; cl. 5.3.5.1, p. 16 | |
| 13 | Can we absorb penalties of 1% of the payment value per day of delay and SAR 2,000 to 5,000 per breach? | cl. 8.8.11, p. 33 | |
| 14 | Can we wait for quarterly, half-yearly or yearly payments tied to uptime? | cl. 8.8.10.1, p. 32 | |
| 15 | Can we fund a 5% final guarantee on each order above SAR 100,000? | cl. 6.3.2.1 and 6.3.2.2, p. 19 | |
| 16 | Does our group have a Saudi regional HQ, or have we checked decision 461? | cl. 1.1.12.1, p. 4 | |
| 17 | Is the SAR 18,400 fee justified by the groups we can serve? | Tender page |
9. Open questions for NUPCO
Timing: the enquiry cut-off is in the tender announcement, which is not public (cl. 1.2.2, p. 5). Send questions early, from the official address registered with NUPCO to ME_SOLUTIONS@NUPCO.COM (cl. 3.4.1, p. 9; cl. 8.8.14, p. 34).
- What is the last day for enquiries, and the time of day for submission on 23 December and bid opening on 24 December?
- Which items are 5-year and which are 10-year leases (cl. 8.8.5)? Where is that shown?
- Which sites must be visited (cl. 8.7.6), and how are visits booked?
- Is the 1% initial guarantee on the monthly rent, on the evaluated value over the lease term, or on another base?
- Is the 5% final guarantee calculated on each order's full lease value or on each payment?
- Is there an ownership transfer mechanism at the end of the lease, and on what price basis (cl. 8.8.4.2.2)?
- Payment period after each billing cycle, and against which documents? Not stated.
- Can a leasing or finance company be a consortium member while the agent stays responsible for maintenance (cl. 4.3 and 8.1.16)?
- How is 95% readiness measured: per device, per site, or per contract?
- Is prior purchase by reference hospitals (cl. 5.2.1) mandatory for capital devices new to Saudi Arabia?
- Under decision 461 (cl. 1.1.12.1), what must be submitted if the maker has no regional HQ in Saudi Arabia?
- Are any items on the local content mandatory list, and what preference applies at the reverse auction (cl. 7.5.5)?
- Please provide the tender announcement, the draft framework agreement and the economic participation policy and form (cl. 1.4).
10. Sources
- Conditions booklet (Arabic, 34 pages, saved as data/nupco/NPT0040-26/NPT0040-26-conditions-booklet.pdf): https://www.nupco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/NPT0040-26-كراسة-الشروط-لمنافسة-الاتفاقية-الاطارية-المفتوحة-لتأجير-الأجهزة-الطبية.pdf
- Item list (English, 357 pages, dated 22/10/2026, saved as data/nupco/NPT0040-26/items-list-NPT0040-26.pdf): https://www.nupco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/items-list-NPT0040-26.pdf
- MEDEVAL user guide (Arabic, 35 slides, saved as data/nupco/NPT0040-26/Supplier-User-Manual-11.pdf): https://www.nupco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Supplier-User-Manual-11.pdf
- NUPCO tenders list (status, opening date, submission and bid opening dates, booklet price, as captured 26 October 2026): https://www.nupco.com/en/tenders/tenders-list/
All three PDFs were downloaded on 26 October 2026. All 34 booklet pages were read as rendered pages, because the PDF text layer swaps some Arabic letters. The guide's slides on accounts, manufacturers, products, tender participation, enquiries and negotiation were read as rendered slides.