University of South Dakota Athletic Apparel and Supplies

The University of South Dakota (USD) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP #USD06092025) seeking qualified vendors for a five-year Volume Purchase Agreement for athletic uniforms, apparel, and supplies. The procurement covers comprehensive athletic apparel needs for multiple programs including football, soccer, softball, tennis, basketball, track, cross country, golf, swimming & diving, volleyball, and triathlon, serving a total roster of 592 athletes and staff. The contract is set to commence on July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2031, with potential three one-year extensions. Interested vendors must submit proposals by July 9, 2025, with contract award expected in early August 2025. Evaluation criteria will focus on product quality, pricing structure, vendor experience with higher education institutions, customer references, turnaround time, and overall financial considerations. Vendors must provide high-quality, name-brand products with international recognition and be prepared to offer significant discounts and product credits based on purchase quantities and athletic achievements. Questions and clarification requests must be submitted via email to Chris Phillips (chris.phillips@usd.edu) by June 23, 2025, with responses published as addenda on the Office of Procurement Management web site.

While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned in the documentation, the RFP indicates USD is replacing its current agreement with Adidas, which expires on June 30, 2026. The university currently expends approximately $450,000 annually on uniforms and apparel, with an additional $75,000 allocated for services like screen printing and embroidery. The total contract value over five years could potentially reach $2.625 million, not including potential extension years. The procurement appears open to national and international athletic apparel vendors with demonstrated capability to support comprehensive athletic program needs. The successful vendor will be expected to provide a robust product offering that can support USD's athletic programs, which have recently achieved significant success including conference titles and national playoff appearances. Vendors should be prepared to demonstrate extensive experience working with higher education athletic departments and the ability to provide a comprehensive, flexible athletic apparel solution that meets the university's diverse programmatic requirements.