Citywide Custom Apparel Services

The City of Clearwater, Florida is issuing Request for Proposal 14-26 for Citywide Custom Apparel Services, soliciting qualified vendors to provide screen-printed t-shirts, embroidered shirts, polos, woven button-down shirts, jackets, high-visibility apparel, and related customization services for citywide departmental use across volunteer programs, athletic tournaments, special events, and camps. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's e-Procurement Portal by 10:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the RFP having been released on March 27, 2026 and advertised in the Tampa Bay Times on April 1, 2026. The City anticipates reviewing proposals from April 28 through May 12, 2026, with vendor presentations potentially scheduled for the week of May 26, 2026 and award recommendations expected during that same week, followed by City Council authorization in June 2026. Vendors must demonstrate vendor qualifications and references (25% evaluation weight), product quality and selection (20%), pricing and location (20%), customization and branding capabilities (15%), order fulfillment and delivery (10%), and customer service and account management (10%). Required qualifications include carrying commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 general aggregate, commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and professional liability of $2,000,000 per occurrence, with deliveries required within 10-15 business days from proof approval and FOB Destination freight prepaid to various Clearwater locations. Pricing shall be based on percentage discounts off Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price or vendor catalog pricing, with a minimum three percent discount preferred, and all pricing must remain firm for the initial one-year term including transportation, insurance, and warranty costs.

The RFP does not indicate any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational eligibility based on disadvantaged enterprise status or other classifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents provided. The initial contract term is estimated to run from June 2026 through June 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods available at the City's discretion, though no minimum quantity of work is guaranteed and the City intends to award contracts to multiple responsive and responsible vendors. The City's standard payment terms are NET 30 with Electronic Funds Transfer or Automated Clearing House payment methods required. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the available documentation. Unsuccessful bidders must pay a bid protest fee equal to one percent of the contract amount, with a minimum of $50 and maximum of $5,000, as proposals are considered public records under Florida Statute Chapter 119.