Regional corporate uniform tender a resounding success

A collaborative corporate uniform tender in the Loddon Mallee region has demonstrated the benefits of health services working together as a collective with HealthShare Victoria (HSV).

Six months after the appointment of local suppliers to a panel, feedback from the eight participating health services has been extremely positive, with five additional health services requesting to participate in the collaborative tender.

Echuca Regional Health Procurement Manager Fiona Langdon says it has been a very worthwhile exercise.

“Working together reduced the duplication of work which eight health services would normally have had to do on their own and helped us achieve greater value overall, particularly with HSV driving the process,” says Fiona.

The collaborative tender marked the first time Heathcote Health Finance Assistant Pam Wallace has been involved in a procurement activity.

“Members of the group were always on hand to help and guide me through and I found the whole experience quite rewarding,” says Pam.

HSV Customer Relationship Manager for Loddon Mallee Trish Boschin led the cluster tender.

“It was the first time we have undertaken a regional collaborative uniform open market tender and it has been a great benchmark activity,” says Trish.

“COVID-19 is increasing demand for uniforms, which is trending towards clothing that is functional and fashionable, and this activity shows that health services can achieve great benefits by working together,” says Trish.

The successful supplier panel, including uniform businesses based in Echuca, Bendigo and Castlemaine, now provides competitive market rates for all participating health services and improved service, including reporting.

Health services involved in the sourcing activity are located in Echuca, Kyabram, Heathcote, Cohuna, Castlemaine, Maldon, Maryborough and Kerang.

HSV facilitates quarterly supplier relationship management sessions to monitor supplier performance and to drive continuous improvement in the apparel, service or processes for this category.