V211-27-014 Athletic Apparel Sponsorship

Virginia Military Institute (VMI), a Commonwealth of Virginia state agency in Lexington, is soliciting proposals under RFP V211-27-014 for exclusive athletic apparel sponsorship across all 18 varsity NCAA Division I programs, with proposals due October 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM per Addendum 1. The solicitation designates no specific set-aside. Offerors must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan unless they are SBSD-certified SWaM businesses, and VMI expects SWaM participation of no less than 42% of contract spend.

The awardee becomes the exclusive supplier of competition uniforms, footwear, sideline apparel, training gear, spirit wear, and related athletic equipment for 11 men's and 7 women's varsity teams. The provider must support competitive objectives, brand visibility, student-athlete experience, recruiting, and marketing while maintaining reliable ordering, inventory management, distribution, and customer service.

The initial term is five years with five optional one-year renewals, for a potential ten-year total. Addendum 1 states that offerors must meet minimum spend requirements set by their brand agreements. VMI reports averaging $280,000 per year in Under Armour purchases over the past three years through the current contract, excluding Club Sports and departmental wear. BSN Sports, the current apparel vendor, received total purchase orders of $368,645 in calendar year 2025, covering branded apparel and other goods. Invoices are payable within 30 days of receipt. Contract values carry eVA transaction fees of 1%, capped at $500 for SBSD-certified small businesses and $1,500 for other businesses.

Evaluation weights the financial proposal at 40 points, with quality of products and services, approach and methodology, and qualifications and experience at 20 points each. Proposals are submitted electronically through www.eva.virginia.gov. Offerors must complete eVA vendor registration and meet the solicitation's insurance and anti-discrimination requirements. The Commonwealth may negotiate with multiple qualified offerors and may cancel the solicitation or reject proposals at any time before award.