I read this on Reddit and was gobsmacked
Then I remembered a horror story from a South African public procurement process. Tuberculosis is a big problem in South Africa, and there used to be huge isolation hospitals for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients. I am not sure what the procedure is now, but it was forced isolation for these patients, for years sometimes.
The hospital in question had a public procurement process for the washing of its laundry (sheets, towels, scrubs, pyjamas, gowns, blankets, personal clothing). It was awarded and the sheets were duly sent to the winning actor. At some point the hospital started running out of things. They investigated further and…
…the company who had been awarded the contract did not have washing machines. Local women were washing the linen in the river (without washing powder as I remember). Laundry coming from infectious disease facilities usually has to be flushed, washed, bleached and soured, then ironed at very high heat. The laundry and transport workers need to have the appropriate protective clothing.
The person who won the award was apparently related to someone involved in process. His reply to the horror – ‘the advertisement for the contract did not mention that I had to have a washing machine’
I cut that article out and still have it somewhere. I am still shocked.
