Procurement

Invitation to small businesses to participate in the GEMS Procurement Advice Centre (PAC) initiative

The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) was registered under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 with effect from 1 January 2005 and commenced member enrolment on 1 January 2006. The Scheme’s registered office is based in the Menlyn Maine Precinct, Pretoria.

GEMS is dedicated to advancing its transformation initiatives and supporting small businesses seeking to enter the competitive procurement landscape or wishing to increase their competitiveness in the procurement environment. GEMS is equally committed to promoting procurement compliance among companies interested in responding to GEMS and other tenders.

GEMS has, therefore, implemented a Procurement Advice Centre (PAC) to promote providers’ procurement competitiveness.

GEMS would like to extend an invitation to any small businesses*, with a focus on those in the Healthcare Industry, to participate in the Procurement Advice Centre's Tender Training and Supplier Database Registration Coaching Program, initiated by GEMS.

The program support interventions span across a maximum duration of six (6) months, during which you will participate in various online training sessions and complete practical tender exercises.

Interested small businesses (focusing on those in the healthcare industry) are required to provide GEMS with their contact information, company profile, and a valid B-BBEE certificate, which must be submitted to only the email address ProcAdviceCentre@gems.gov.za for consideration. GEMS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to place an applicant in the Program. 

All enquiries could also be directed by mail to ProcAdviceCentre@gems.gov.za

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLEASE REGISTER YOUR INTEREST AS A BUSINESS AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. 

*Small businesses are defined as EMEs/ QSEs with at least 51% Black ownership or at least 30% Black Women ownership.

Invitation to register on the GEMS Database of Suppliers 

The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) was registered under the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 with effect from 1 January 2005 and commenced member enrolment on 1 January 2006. The Scheme’s registered office is based in the Menlyn Maine Precinct, Pretoria. 

In accordance with the Scheme's Supply Chain Management Policy, GEMS may call upon suppliers in the database by way of requests for quotations, requests for proposals, and/ or tenders. Importantly, the registration of a supplier on the Supplier Database does not guarantee that GEMS will do business with that supplier or have business opportunities going forward. 

GEMS hereby informs the market, as part of its annual intervention, that suppliers interested in rendering services or providing goods to GEMS may request an application form to be completed and considered.

Service providers who completed an application prior to 2022 and who have not received an official response from GEMS must also complete a new application. Service providers who were added to the GEMS Supplier Database prior to 2021 will also receive an email from GEMS to complete a new application form and update their information.  Service providers who fail to submit a new application will be removed from the GEMS Supplier Database in due course. Suppliers placed on the Supplier Database have a responsibility to inform GEMS at least annually when pertinent organisational data changes to ensure it remains valid. 

According to GEMS’ SCM Policy, GEMS will not consider more than one supplier with the same or a majority of the same owners/ directors for the same database category. In such a case, the suppliers will be informed that only one of those suppliers can be considered for placement in the database for that specific category.

The work the Scheme will perform in 2027 may necessitate the provision of goods and services noted in the application document, which will range from consulting services to goods. 

GEMS is committed to the principles of B-BBEE and adheres to all relevant legislation. The participation of B-BBEE controlled, B-BBEE owned companies, companies that are at least 51% Black owned, companies that are at least 30% Black Women owned, EMEs, QSEs, as well as Black Designated Groups as per the Codes of Good Practice and SMMEs is encouraged. Suppliers who do not have extensive experience in a specific category may also be considered in such categories and under specific circumstances. Certain categories of services, as indicated in the application form, may be reserved for suppliers who do not have extensive experience. 

Currently, application forms can be downloaded from the GEMS website or be obtained electronically by sending an email to database@gems.gov.za.  

Interested suppliers are required to complete an application form, email, and submit the forms electronically, as well as the required documentation to database@gems.gov.za. No hard copy versions of any documentation that is delivered will be considered, and no application sent to another email address within GEMS, other than the noted address, will be considered.

Training/ guiding sessions available to support application completion

Non-compulsory sessions are available to providers on how to complete the application to support any applicants.  Suppliers who are interested in attending one of the sessions must email database@gems.gov.za, indicating which session they wish to attend, and must provide the company name and the email address to which the invitation can be sent.

Available dates:  09 October 2026 and 13 November 2026: Time: 10h00-12h00

All enquiries should be directed by mail to database@gems.gov.za.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:  ONGOING