Uniform Retender Project moves to procurement stage
This month, the Uniform Retender Project reaches a significant milestone; procurement for potential suppliers of our uniforms, level 1 PPE and associated logistical services commences.
We have released a Request for Proposal on Government Electronic Tender System (GETS) so that potential suppliers understand what services we are looking for, can learn about the types of uniform and level 1 PPE items we provide our personnel and then, if interested, submit a bid. As part of this, potential suppliers will be able to check out samples of the uniform and level 1 PPE that make up the catalogue at NHQ, to ensure they can meet our needs if they do bid.
This is just the first step in our procurement journey though.
From August to October, we will look at all the bids, shortlist our preferred and seek approval to progress to the next stage of procurement. Alongside this, will be the first of two user phases where front line people will be engaged.
Normally we would only have one trial phase but the importance of this mahi (work) is such that we’ve introduced a ‘wearer assessment’ phase. Selected stations will try some pieces of uniform from suppliers with feedback helping us make a more robust final decision.
Later this year, we will start contract negotiations with a preferred supplier with a ‘wearer trial’ set to start in December through to May, as the final stage of procurement happens in the background. This trial phase will allow us to test the end-to-end processes between Fire and Emergency and whoever the preferred supplier is.
As we move into the procurement process, some elements of this project cannot be communicated about as they’re commercially sensitive, but we will provide updates, when possible, over coming months.