Dallas Area Rapid Transit 1401 Pacific Avenue P.O. Box 660163 Request For Dallas, Texas 75266-7235 (214) 749-3482 Expression of Interest July 18, 2012 Subject: Request for Expression of Interest : REFI #1022199 –Uniforms Services and Supply Contract. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Authority has a future requirement for a multiyear uniform services and supply contract for DART’s Transportation Department personnel. A new scope of services and specification has been prepared in draft format for an industry review and comment via this RFEI process. DART’s new requirements include uniforms with improved materials, blends, and styles. There is new emphasis on electronic ordering and reporting, express pickup of orders and supply chain services. This requirement will result in a new solicitation and resulting contract which will need to be in place no later than January 2013. We are seeking expressions of interest and comments from suppliers and vendors from the uniform supply/service industry. DART is seeking firms who can provide the following but not limited to: personnel, facilities, tailoring, alterations, embroidery and supply chain management of uniforms meeting DART’s new requirements as drafted and attached. We seek your interest and comments in order to improve the draft scope of services and specifications. You are encouraged to suggest better approaches or alternatives. To be more specific, this RFEI is intended to gather information that will assist DART in finalizing its solicitation documents for its follow on procurement. Please note that responding to the RFEI does not automatically afford or guarantee any privileges, consideration or to be chosen as the successful vendor in the event a future solicitation is issued. Scope of Services Requirements Summary 1. Facilities a. Store-front b. Modern day Fitting/Dressing Rooms c. Storeroom/Supply Chain Management 2. Alterations/Embroidery a. Business Hours meeting DART’s requirements 3. Electronic Online Ordering and Payment a. Debit Card Process b. Online ordering 4. Express services a. Employee Pickup b. On site delivery Page 1 of 2 RFEI-#1022199 Scope of Services for Operations Uniforms The contractor shall meet the following requirements upon award of contracts for supply and alterations of uniforms. The contractor shall provide all labor, tailoring services, clothing and sewing and embroidery equipment necessary to provide, alter and delivery of uniforms. All garments will be sized and cut to fit all sizes including alternate sizing requirements such as petite and big/tall sizes. Retail Store Environment The contractor’s facility shall meet the following requirements: . The facility shall be clean, clutter-free and smoke-free environment - Restrooms shall have a standard door with lock, clean and in good working condition. Restrooms are not acceptable as fitting/dressing room . Store-front environment with displayed racks - Inventory must be neatly stacked in the displayed racks and/or hung on the hanging rod according to sizes and/or colors . Fitting/Dressing Rooms - Shall have a minimum of two fitting/dressing rooms, approximate size dimension of 61” x 69” - Shall include a chair or a bench inside the fitting/dressing rooms - Shall have a standard size door with inside lock - Shall have a mirror, minimum size dimension of 24”W x 60”H and securely attached to the wall - Shall have a coat hook securely attached to the walls - Shall have a raised platform for measurement purposes with mirrors on the walls . Storeroom capabilities for stocking inventory item. All inventory items shall be placed on shelves . Supply Chain Management - Shall have enough in inventory to provide same day service . Embroidery/Alterations - Shall have a minimum of four personnel for alterations and embroidery during working hours. - Shall have a minimum of four “working” embroidery and sewing machines on site during working hours. - Shall provide “same day” service for items requiring minor alterations (hemming of pants/shorts/skirts/shirts-oxford-maternity) shall be handled the “same day”, providing that the employee arrives on or before 2:00 p.m. Any additional alterations must be completed within 24 hours from the drop-off time. - Sewing and/or embroidery shall be required on as need basis: • for special patches/emblems such position title changes and new position titles and worn or faded patches/emblems. • Replacing missing/broken buttons, pant hooks, missing/torn belt loops and fray hem. - Alterations shall be pressed, neat and well fitted. - No alteration of items to make available of another item (for example, cutting long sleeve shirts to make short sleeve shirts). RFEI-#1022199 Scope of Services for Operations Uniforms Page 2 . Business Hours - 9 am to 6 pm (Monday through Friday) and Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm. - Shall provide one week notice of business closure due to holidays, inventory and/or special events Debit System Must be knowledgeable of, and demonstrate proven experience of managing a stored value card system. The contract must be able to initiate a stored value card system at contract start-up. Electronic Online Ordering/payment Debit Card Process . Any supplies and service to be furnished under this contract shall be ordered by issuance of an approved debit card process or voucher supplied directly to the contractor by the DART Transportation employee. The employee will present the debit card or voucher to the contractor and be allowed to order and receive any item identified within the Schedule of the contract. The Authority is to be held responsible for the amount of the debit card or voucher only. Any amount over the debit card or voucher limit is the sole responsibility of the employee. In the case of the Initial Uniform vouchers, the Authority is responsible for only those items specifically identified within the contract schedule. All debit card or vouchers are subject to the terms and conditions of this contract. In the event of conflict between any voucher and this contract the contract shall control. Voucher Ordering Limitations, per pay voucher of initial uniform voucher 1) Minimum Order: No Minimum 2) Maximum Order: The authority is responsible for the amount listed on the pay voucher or initial uniform voucher only. Electronic On-line Ordering Provide website ordering system where employee may order items on-line and have items delivered to their home address. Express Services Employee Pickup . All clothing item requiring minor alterations (defined as hemming) shall be handled the “same day”, providing that the employee arrives on or before 2:00 p.m. Any additional alterations must be completed within 24 hours from the drop-off time. Express Service will allow the employees to pick up their items when it’s ready for pickup. On site delivery Other Options . Recycling uniforms o Received slightly used uniforms and make repairs to bring the uniforms up to code for recycling. Ability to accommodate special order needs REFI - #1022199 DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT Transportation Department Uniforms Specifications All garments will be sized and cut to fit all sizes including alternate sizing requirements such as petite and big/tall sizes. I. MENSWEAR (SHIRTS, TROUSERS AND SHORTS) A. Oxford Shirts - Short and Long Sleeves – Men – Supervisor (White) 1. Long and short sleeves white Oxford cloth. 2. 60% Cotton/40% Polyester or 65% Cotton/35% Polyester. 3. Tailoring: Vat Dyed poly core thread shall be used on all seaming, color to match garment. Inside seams shall be overlock and safety stitched. The seams joining the sleeve to the body will have a top stitch completely around. 4. Front: Left front shall have a center facing 1 ½ inches in width made of same material as shirt fabric extending from the collar stand to the bottom of the shirt, with two (2) rows of stitching 78 inches apart. The facing shall contain seven (7) vertical buttonholes placed ¾ inches from the edge. 5. Button: Seven (7) pearlized buttons on the shirtfront. 6. Yoke: There shall be a back yoke approximately 2 inches wide from the neckline down. 7. Sleeves: Sleeves are to be secured to the body of the shirt by means of single needle slaving. The single exposed stitch to be 3/8 inches from the edge of the shoulder. For the side closing seams, a narrow stitch with a safety stitch shall be used. Long sleeve with two (2) buttons horizontal on cuff. There shall be a full sleeve placket. Full placket front made of separate piece of material and sewn on. Short sleeve shall be straight and whole with 1-inch hem. 8. Collar: Button down collar. Collar stays shall be at least 1/32” thick and of good quality plastic material. Stays shall be underneath the collar of the shirt. RFI- 1022199 Transportation Department Uniforms Specifications Page | 2 9. Pockets: One (1) pocket, patch type, pointed at the bottom. The pocket shall be die cut and creased to give uniform shape and size. It shall measure 4 ½ inches wide and 5 inches deep with 1 inch stitched hem. To be single stitched on the edge with each upper corner securely held with a ¾ inch triangular stitch made with apex down. The pocket shall also have stitched “pencil opening”; measuring 1 ¼ inches on left side of pocket. 10. Emblems/Patches: “DART” chevron emblem shall be sewn on left arm sleeve of the shirt, 1-½ inches from the edge of the shoulder stitch, see attachment 1 for proper placement. Patches shall be sewn below the “DART” chevron emblem on left arm sleeve, see attachment 2 for proper placement. 11. Shall provide extra long body shirts in sizes XL and above. Size markings shall be marked with black indelible ink on the inside of the collar and outside of the left front tail. B. Oxford Shirt - Short and Long Sleeve – Men – Operators (Light Blue) 1. Colors: Blue (Operator) – all sizes shall be of the same dye lot.