PPE, Clothing and Uniforms
Framework Description
Crescent Purchasing Consortium's PPE, Clothing and Uniforms framework (tender reference CPC/MW/01/2024) covers personal protective equipment, clothing, uniforms and first aid supplies for CPC members and participating consortia. It started on 10 May 2024 and runs to 9 May 2027, with an option to extend to 9 May 2028. It has three lots and is a multi-supplier framework rather than a DPS, with applications closed.
Context & Use Case
Schools, colleges and other members use it for safety footwear, gloves and hazard protection, PE and sports kits, catering, laboratory and medical clothing, school and security uniforms, and first aid kits and defibrillators. They can direct award for low-value or urgent needs, or run a mini-competition or a full further competition using CPC's documents and user guide.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: PPE, including safety footwear, gloves and hazard protection clothing, with on-site fitting and measuring Lot 2: clothing and uniforms, including PE, sports, catering, laboratory, school and security wear, with embroidery and logo printing Lot 3: first aid supplies, including kits, defibrillators and CPR training manikins
Lots
Lot 1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Lot 2 Clothing and Uniforms; Lot 3 First Aid Supplies
Who Can Apply
Suits PPE distributors, workwear and uniform suppliers, and first aid suppliers serving education and public sector customers. Applications for this framework are closed, so suppliers not already appointed cannot join until it is re-tendered, likely around May 2027, or May 2028 if the extension is taken up.
Buyer Benefits
Members save the time of a full tender and get a choice of experienced suppliers, kept competitive by the multi-supplier structure. A dedicated first aid lot, personalisation services and customer portals make ordering simpler, and pooling spend with other members improves value. Buyers expect certified products, reliable stock and accurate sizing.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should promote their lot to members, respond quickly to mini-competitions and keep their financial health strong, as CPC monitors suppliers' credit scores. Others should follow CPC's framework page for news of the re-tender ahead of May 2027, check whether the extension to May 2028 is used, and prepare product certification, delivery commitments, personalisation capability and education references.
How Athena Can Help
For most PPE and uniform suppliers, the way into this CPC framework is the re-tender. Athena's framework entry service plans that application early, choosing the right lot and preparing the certification, policy and case study evidence CPC will ask for.
If you already hold a lot, our tender writing team helps you win mini-competitions with clear quality answers and pricing models. Our public sector bid help covers social value and bid/no-bid decisions on each opportunity.
