GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SUPPLIERS
The District School Board of Niagara (hereafter referred to as the DSBN) hereby invites submissions to pre-qualify suppliers of record for the supply Apparel and Promotional items commencing February 15, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. 

Consideration will be given to renew the contract for five (5) separate one-year periods ending December 31, 2028. The DSBN will be pre-qualifying multiple suppliers to provide coverage throughout the Niagara Region.

Suppliers that do not meet the original submission deadline are still eligible and encouraged to submit a proposal. Suppliers may submit a Pre-qualification proposal at any time throughout the duration of the contract. Additional Supplier(s) will be added to the list as they are received and reviewed by DSBN staff. 

Objective: 

The intent of this RFSQ is to prequalify Vendors of Record to provide various clothing requirements and other promotional items on an as needed basis. Various clothing requirements include spiritwear, gradwear, physical education apparel, clothing to recognize school/ international and other celebrated events, etc. Various additional promotional items are included in the scope of this RFSQ, including drinkware, bags and gifts, of which a representative, non-inclusive list has been provided.

This is not an all-inclusive list. Other Apparel and Promotional items may be added to this Prequalification for any future DSBN requirement.

DSBN schools and departments will purchase on the basis of “best fit” subject to the availability, quality, services and discount from a Supplier to meet DSBN requirements. For higher dollar value purchases, pre-qualified Suppliers may be given the opportunity to provide quotes. 

The DSBN reserves the right to obtain quotes from multiple pre-qualified Suppliers for items, at our discretion, although we are not required to do so and may proceed with a pre-qualified Supplier providing the highest minimum discount percentage or Supplier providing the service/product that best suits the individual need without further quotes.

The DSBN currently has 2 schools for which uniforms are required - DSBN Academy and Eden High. Those contracts expire June 30, 2024 and the scope of work may be incorporated into this Contract at expiry only at DSBN's discretion subject to pricing and availability of required items. 

The DSBN currently participates in the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace (OECM) Spiritwear and Sportswear Apparel contract, with extensions to May 28, 2024. DSBN smay continue to purchase under a new OECM contract past the current May 28, 2024 OECM contract expiry date if a new contract becomes available. Schools/departments may continue to purchase under those OECM Contracts and/or purchase from this Contract at their sole discretion, as best suits their needs. DSBN schools/departments may purchase from the prequalified Vendor of their choice best suiting their needs or request pricing from multiple prequalified Vendors at their sole discretions. 

There is no guarantee that any items will be purchased.

The DSBN serves over 40,000 students and their families in 78 elementary schools and 17 secondary schools across the 12 municipalities that make up the Niagara Region.

DSBN complies with the Broader Public Sector Directives (as directed by the Province of Ontario); and applicable trade agreements such as Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement, Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) and Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).