Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing 2023
Framework Description
ESPO's Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing 2023 framework (reference 144_23) supplies PPE, corporate wear, healthcare and emergency services workwear, schoolwear and body armour to public bodies. It was procured under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, is not a DPS and is split into lots, with emergency services workwear broken down further. It runs from 21 November 2023 to 20 November 2027, with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
Councils, schools, NHS bodies, fire and rescue services, police forces and ambulance trusts use 144_23 to equip staff with protective clothing and uniforms, from everyday corporate wear to specialist firefighter or police kit and body armour. Buyers view the documents after completing ESPO's Access & Confidentiality Agreement, then buy from the suppliers in the relevant lot or sub-lot.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Clothing Lot 2: Corporate Wear Lot 3: Healthcare Workwear Lot 4: Schoolwear Lot 5: Emergency Services Workwear (5.1 Firefighter, 5.2 Police, 5.3 Ambulance and Paramedic, 5.4 Paramedic Cycle) Lot 6: Body Armour
Lots
Lot 1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Clothing; Lot 2 Corporate Wear; Lot 3 Healthcare Workwear; Lot 4 Schoolwear; Lot 5 Emergency Services Workwear; Lot 5.1 Firefighter Workwear; Lot 5.2 Police Workwear; Lot 5.3 Ambulance and Paramedic Workwear; Lot 5.4 Paramedic Cycle Workwear; Lot 6 Body Armour
Who Can Apply
Suits PPE distributors, workwear and uniform manufacturers, and specialist body armour suppliers. Applications for 144_23 are closed, so suppliers not already appointed cannot join during its term. As it ends on 20 November 2027 with no extension, a replacement procurement is the next opportunity.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers can source items that must meet safety standards, such as PPE, firefighter kit and body armour, from suppliers already checked by ESPO. Separate sub-lots for firefighter, police, ambulance and paramedic cycle workwear put buyers in front of suppliers who know those specifications, and grouping public sector demand helps hold down unit prices.
Next Steps
With about a year left and no extension, expect ESPO to plan a replacement for 144_23; watch its frameworks pages and Find a Tender. Prepare product certification, quality management evidence, supply chain and ethical sourcing information, and references from public sector uniform or PPE contracts. Appointed suppliers should keep competing for call-offs until 20 November 2027.
How Athena Can Help
PPE and workwear tenders turn on certification, supply chain assurance and price per garment. Athena's framework bid writing service can prepare your application for the replacement of 144_23, choosing the right lots and making sure every standard and certificate is evidenced.
If you are appointed now, our competitor scoring and pricing work helps you win call-offs, and our public sector bid advice covers social value and ethical sourcing answers that buyers increasingly score.
