Supply of Corporate Uniforms

Overview

Background

Sometime this year we expect the Irish State to establish a public procurement competition to renew its Single Supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of Corporate Uniforms to public sector organisations for approximately a three year period.

The objective will be to issue a contract with a company or consortium group operating within the clothing service industry who can:

1. Manufacture, store and deliver bespoke great-looking Corporate Uniforms that are fit for purpose and satisfy all the corporate uniform requirements pertinent to the public sector;
2. Offer an onsite measurement and fitting service at defined locations throughout Ireland; and
3. Provide a competent, professional and friendly service at all times.

This is a great business opportunity for interested small to medium-sized enterprises who are capable of meeting the demand from the public sector for service efficiency and high-quality corporate uniforms, while keeping costs low.

Small to medium-sized enterprises can participate by forming consortiums with other SMEs or with larger organisations who can assist in the measurement, fitting, manufacture, supply and delivery of stock size corporate uniforms to both male and female public sector workers.

Prior experience in providing corporate uniforms to private and/or public sector companies will be necessary. Also, it will be important for any partnering manufacturers to confirm their use of acceptable labor practices, health and safety standards, and environmental standards.

Project Description

The range of services required includes the following:

1. Provision of fabric samples in line with the defined fabric specifications and standards, and accompanied by copies of test reports from the relevant manufacturers;
2. Facilitation of on-site fitting sessions to measure and allow public sector staff to try on stock corporate uniforms in order to ensure the right fit before they are supplied, at the onset of the contract period and thereafter to fit any new members of staff;
3. Supply of portable fitting facilities (e.g., a chair and a full-length mirror) at all fitting venues for use by public sector staff; and
4. The manufacture, supply and delivery of uniform packs after initial fittings such as:
   1. Rainsuit coats and trousers
   2. Softshell jackets
   3. Suit jackets and trousers
   4. Shirts
   5. Blouses
   6. Neckties (wrap around and clip on)
   7. Scarfs
   8. Jersey
5. Provision of a service to collect, alter, repair, replace and return delivered garments as needed.

Possible contracting authorities include:

1. Ministers of the Government of Ireland, Central Government Departments, Offices and non-commercial Agencies and Organisations which have a formal reporting and legal relationship to Central Government Departments, including all local authorities in Ireland (themselves including regional assemblies, local enterprise boards and library bodies);
2. Health sector organisations such as the Health Service Executive (HSE); the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and HSE-funded agencies delivering health and personal social services and are funded by more than 50% from Exchequer funds;
3. Third Level Educational Institutions (including universities, institutes of technology and members of the Education Procurement Service), and HEAnet and its member institutions and subsidiaries;
4. Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and ETB schools, and primary, post-primary, special and secondary schools as well as ETBs acting on behalf of schools;
5. An Garda Síochána (Police);
6. The Irish Prison Service; and
7. The Defence Forces.

The consortium group will need to have a minimum annual turnover of cira €500,000.

1. Prepare to respond to a Request for Tender (RFT) by working together and pooling the resources and experience of each member of the consortium.
2. Leverage the relevant skills, experience and expertise of each consortium member so that each party complements the others in a way that will enable the consortium group to secure the contract with the Irish State to:
   
   1. Manufacture, store and deliver bespoke great-looking Corporate Uniforms that are fit for purpose and satisfy all the corporate uniform requirements pertinent to the public sector;
   2. Offer an onsite measurement and fitting service at defined locations throughout Ireland; and
   3. Provide a competent, professional and friendly service at all times.

Business Requirements

1. Ability to manufacture, store, fit and/or deliver corporate uniforms.
2. At least three pertinent public sector case studies, preferably with a minimum value of €10,000 and where the contractual agreement was in place within the last three years starting from 2015.
3. Incorporated company.
4. Can provide 3 years of filed accounts.
5. Tax compliant.
6. Adequately insured.

Key Risks, Constraints & Dependencies

1. The expectation is that a RFT will be issued in September which doesn't leave much time to form a consortium and then respond to the RFT. However, it is still doable within the timeframe available.
2. The probability of not qualifying for or winning the contract.
3. Funding of the effort required to create and manage the consortium.