For immediate release
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, March 23, 2009 – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced the awarding of a three-year contract to Logistik Unicorp Inc. of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, to provide and manage the supply of the Canadian Forces’ military uniforms.
“I am proud to see a homegrown Quebec company providing our Forces with top of the line Canadian-made uniforms,” said Minister Paradis. “This contract will inject close to $200 million into our economy and secure 550 Canadian manufacturing jobs.”
PWGSC awarded this contract following a competitive process and the military uniforms and related articles of clothing, to be worn by 160,000 Canadian Forces full-time personnel, reservists and cadets, will be manufactured in Canada.
“Our military is among the most respected in the world and they deserve the best clothing and equipment,” said Minister MacKay. “These uniforms will be worn with pride by members of the Canadian Forces who serve our country.”
This contract is part of the Department of National Defence’s efforts to consolidate hundreds of individual contracts for uniform items under one management program.
The Canadian Content Policy applied to this procurement and limited suppliers to only those offering Canadian goods.
Today’s contract replaces a previous military uniform contract with Logistik Unicorp Inc., which expired on January 31, 2009. This new contract will ensure a continuous supply of uniforms for the Canadian Forces.
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For more information about the procurement process, please contact:
Mary-Ann Dewey-Plante
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Christian Paradis
Public Works and Government Services Canada
613-218-6961
Jay Paxton
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Peter MacKay
Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
613-996-3100
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
Media Liaison Office
Department of National Defence
613-996-2353/2354
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.
In 1996, the Department of National Defence consolidated hundreds of individual contracts for uniforms under one management program. This reduces the need for clothing warehouses, provides for on-line ordering, and enables 10-day delivery anywhere in Canada. The contract to provide and manage the supply of military uniforms is part of this consolidation.
Following this competitive procurement process, Logistik Unicorp Inc. of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, was awarded a three-year contract valued at $190.8 million. The contract terms include options to extend it for up to six more years. It requires the company to produce and maintain the supply of military uniforms for approximately 160,000 Canadian Forces personnel, including reservists and cadets.
The contract will maintain 550 Canadian textile-manufacturing jobs in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Toronto and Winnipeg.
To ensure an open, fair and transparent procurement process, Public Works and Government Services Canada issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on the Government’s Electronic Tendering Service – MERX™ – on May 16, 2008. The RFP remained open until June 17, 2008.
The Canadian Content Policy applied to this procurement and limited suppliers to only those offering Canadian goods.
This contract replaces a previous contract with Logistik Unicorp Inc. for the provision and management of military uniforms which expired on January 31, 2009. The awarding of the contract allows Canadian Forces personnel to have access to a continuous supply of military uniforms including pants, shorts, shirts, jackets, coats, hats, boots and shoes.
