Athletic Apparel

The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is seeking a vendor to supply comprehensive athletic apparel for its NCAA Division III athletic programs through a competitive bid process (RFB #23-0001-CF). The procurement covers 25 varsity sports across 13 women's and 12 men's programs, with an extensive requirement for team apparel, stock uniforms, footwear, team accessories, and equipment. Bidders must be authorized manufacturers, distributors, or dealers with a minimum of five years of experience in sports apparel provision and must submit three client references. The bid solicitation requires vendors to propose discounts off the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for each product category, with firm prices remaining fixed throughout the contract term. Key dates include written questions due by June 16, 2022, written responses provided approximately June 17, 2022, and the final bid due date of June 24, 2022. The contract will begin July 1, 2022, and extend through June 30, 2023, with potential automatic renewals for four additional one-year terms. Awards will be made conditionally with a six-month trial period, and the vendor will be selected based on the lowest aggregated costs calculated by applying proposed discounts to estimated categorical spending.

The procurement includes significant opportunities for diverse businesses, with preferences for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE), Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB), and Veteran-Owned Businesses (VB). The contract allows for extension to other University of Wisconsin System campuses, State of Wisconsin agencies, and Wisconsin municipalities through cooperative purchasing arrangements. Vendors must comply with non-discrimination and affirmative action requirements, and certified minority bidders may receive a 5% preference under Wisconsin Statutes. The estimated annual spend for Nike apparel was $301,000 based on Academic Year 2021 purchases, with the contract requiring the awarded vendor to contribute $5,000 annually to the Blugold Booster Club and $15,000 in annual product contributions. The total package value will be calculated by subtracting monetary contributions from total costs after applied discounts, with additional monetary contributions potentially serving as a tiebreaker if initial bids are equal. Vendors must also provide comprehensive insurance, undergo background checks for certain roles, and certify compliance with debarment regulations.