SME case study: uniforms contract
Updated 23 September 2026
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SME case study: Uniforms contract to provide Border Force and Immigration Enforcement with new uniform
Requirement
The initial supply of approximately 11,000 uniforms for Border Force (BF) and Immigration Enforcement, with ongoing provision of replacements or uniforms for new staff.
Approach
BF identified a newly let Uniforms Framework by Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) – a partner of Crown Commercial Services. In June 2013, BF worked collaboratively with YPO to compete the requirements and award a new contract resulting in the successful delivery of new standard uniforms by December 2013.
Interest
In total there were 6 suppliers on the YPO framework - 4 of these submitted bids.
Time
The procurement process from publish of mini competition under the Framework to award was approximately 4 weeks. This included evaluating and moderating bids in under a week.
What we achieved
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One new SME supplier to the Home Office
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Successful collaboration with YPO
Standard industry timeframes for production and delivery of bespoke Uniform is 6-9 months. This involves, for example, sourcing and dyeing fabrics, cutting and sewing, adding zips / buttons and pockets and as most uniforms are made in the Far East shipping can take 3 months.
We managed to secure a deal which will allow for delivery in the shortest possible timeframe, i.e. 6 months.
A suitable new uniform with the desired specification delivered on time and rolled out as planned across BF in January 2014.