FURNITURE HIRE

The British Fashion Council (BFC) is looking to appoint a company to hire furniture for our 3 major events across the next 12 months, each held twice per year. These events include London Fashion Week, London Fashion Week Festival (previously London Fashion Weekend) and London Fashion Week Mens (previously LCM).

DATE OF EVENTS

London Fashion Week Men’s: January 2017/June 2017

London Fashion Week: February 2017/September 2017

London Fashion Week Festival: February 2017/September 2017

LOCATION

All events are at 180 Strand, London, WC2R 1EA

180 Strand is an iconic Brutalist building in the heart of the West End yet overlooking the river and a fertile space for creative people and ideas to thrive. Bringing fashion to the space will redefine a corner of London that had faded into the background. A beautiful new façade, drawing inspiration from the adjacent Garden Bridge will signal the shift. Moving the centre of gravity for fashion in London to 180 Strand will bring energy, creative talent and media buzz and lots of potential for collaboration.

The building will become the official BFC Show Space as well as the Designer Showrooms across the ground floor for each of the three events. The space will also house registration, photographers’ centre, corporate hospitality, press and buyers’ lounge and sponsor activation.

OUR REQUIREMENTS

Given the move of all events to the new venue we are seeking a furniture hire company to supply furniture and fittings across all 3 events, to bring together in an exciting new feel and create a new aesthetic we are trying to achieve with our events. Tenderer’s should not only quote on our requirements, but also provide their suggested aesthetic and look and feel of the furniture, through providing photographs and options.

  1. LONDON FASHION WEEK MENS

In summer 2012, the British Fashion Council introduced London Collections Men, the menswear specific showcase, which has now been rebranded to London Fashion Week Men’s. LFWM takes place in January and June each year, attracting international buyers and press. The event grew out of the Men’s day at London Fashion Week due to the growing con- tent and interest. LFWM is the first event in the Menswear calendar and showcases British and inter- national brands and businesses. The showcase includes emerging designers as well as established businesses and heritage brands.

Further information about the event can be found at

Based on 50 – 60 exhibitors, and our previous requirements at LFWM, we estimate our requirements to be the following, however tenderers should include pricing estimates should our requirements change:

FURNITURE / QUANTITY
LARGE RAIL / 45
SMALL RAIL / 20
TALL LARGE RAIL / 0
TALL SMALL RAIL / 5
MINI CONSOLE TABLE / 5
CONSOLE TABLE / 25
LARGE PLINTH / 0
MEDIUM PLINTH / 10
LARGE CONSOLE TABLE / 5
PLINTH (0.4X0.4X0.4) / 0
PLINTH (0.4X0.4X0.6) / 5
SHELVES / 5
STORAGE MIRROR / 5
LARGE PLINTH WITH DOOR / 5
PERSPEX CHAIR / 5
STRAIGHT LIT RACKS / 5

2.LONDON FASHION WEEK

London Fashion Week takes place twice a year in February and September showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of influential media and retailers. Organised by the British Fashion Council, London Fashion Week is a trade event, which first took place in 1984 and currently ranks alongside New York, Paris and Milan as one of the 'BigFour' fashion weeks. The event is funded by patrons, sponsors and funders, including European Re- gional Development Fund, Mayor of London and UK Trade & Investment. Over 5,000 visitors attend including press, buyers, photographers, broadcasters and bloggers and it is estimated that orders of over £100m are placed during LFW each season. The British Fashion Council organises the official LFW schedule by listing the designers showing their latest collection via a catwalk show or presentation.February 2017 will be the first time that LFW will be housed in the new venue at 180. Further information is available at:

Based on 80 – 100 exhibitors, and our previous requirements at LFW, we estimate our requirements to be the following,however tenderers should include pricing estimates should our requirements change:

FURNITURE / QUANTITY
LARGE DISPLAY RAILS / 85
SHORT DISPLAY RAILS / 30
JEWELLERY CABINETS / 30
STORAGE MIRRORS / 5
TALL LARGE RAIL / 10
TALL SMALL RAIL / 5
MEDIUM PLINTH (0.4 x 0.4 x 0.75) / 40
LARGE PLINTH (0.4 x 0.4 x 1.0) / 55
EXTRA SMALL PLINTH (0.4 X 0.4 X 0.4) / 10
LARGE PLINTH WITH DOOR / 10
LARGE CONSOLE TABLE / 20
SMALL CONSOLE TABLE / 10
MINI CONSOLE TABLE / 5
SMALL PLINTH (0.4 X 0.4 X 0.6) / 10
LIT RACKS / 5

  1. LONDON FASHION WEEK FESTIVAL

London Fashion Week Festival is the ultimate fashion experience giving consumers exclusive access to catwalk shows; a curated talks schedule; designer shopping; and trend presentations. Currently taking place at the Saatchi Gallery over four days in September 2016, the event allows consumers to experience the atmosphere of London Fashion Week and gain an insight into the fashion industry. It also gives designer brands the opportunity to meet and build direct relationships with new customers with over 15,000 people attending over the four-day period. Further information can be found at:

Based on 80 – 100 exhibitors, and our previous requirements at LFWF, we estimate our requirements to be the following, however tenderers should include pricing estimates should our requirements change:

FURNITURE / QUANTITY
LARGE DISPLAY RAIL / 135
SMALL DISPLAY RAIL / 45
CHANGING ROOM / 30
STORAGE/A LINE MIRROR / 35
TABLE / 65
SHELF UNIT / 15
TALL LARGE RAIL / 15
TALL SMALL RAIL / 5
SMALL WOODEN PLINTH (0.4 x 0.4 x 0.6) / 5
MEDIUM PLINTH (0.4 x 0.4 x 0.7%) / 25
LARGE WOODEN PLINTH (0.4 x 0.4 x 1.0) / 20
LARGE PLINTH WITH DOOR / 10
SMALL CONSOLE TABLE / 10
LARGE CONSOLE TABLE / 15
PERSPEX CHAIR / 35
SQUARE TABLE / 5
LOCKABLE COUNTER / 15
BLANKET BOX / 1
SQUARE TABLE / 5
LIT RACKS / 5
HIGH BLACK CHAIRS / 35

The above sets out the BFC’s current requirements, however these may be subject to change, therefore we ask that tenderer’s provide pricing structure for additional requirements.

TENDER PROCESS

Please submit a full tender response to the above brief. Submissions at a minimum should include the following:

  • Detailed Budget, including pricing structures should our requirements change, this should include delivery, installation and collection of the furniture
  • Overview of company
  • Examples of previous work
  • Overview of team and resources
  • Your response to the above brief and methodology, including suggested aesthetic

The procurement of this contract will be via a one-stage invitation to tender process (with no pre-qualification questionnaire stage). However, tenders received will be tested against minimum essential selection criteria on a pass or fail basis. Those that pass will then be scored against the award criteria set out below. The selection will be based on:

  • Your capabilities to deliver on this brief, including staffing, contacts with sub-contractors
  • Examples/testimonials from previous work
  • Previous experience in and understanding of the fashion industry

Tenders that pass the selection process will be considered against the following award criteria:

Award criteria / Maximum score / Weighting
Your understanding of the aims of the brief, including demonstrating how you will deliver the brief and grasp of event aesthetics / 5 / 30%
Value for money – please submit a full budget / 5 / 30%
Methodology and critical path to deliver required activities, detailed within budget / 5 / 20%
Overall quality of proposal, creativity and quality of response / 5 / 20%
Total score / 20 / 100%

Maximum total score = 20

Weighting: 1 = Poor - 5 = Excellent

The highest scoring tender will be awarded the contract. Interviews may be required; tenderers will be informed of this after we have reviewed tenders.

All submissions must be received by 5pm Thursday 24th November 2016.Responses received after this deadline will not be accepted.

Responses should be emailed to Natasha David,

Please note that in order to maintain fairness in the tendering procedure we are unable to answer any questions relating to this ITT.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has been awarded funding through the European Regional Development Fund, subject to contract negotiations, to support promoting London’s creative fashion design talent to key international audiences.
ERDF funding is being used to support London Fashion Week, a biannual showcase of brands and businesses to support them to increase their international sales. Further information about London Fashion Week can be found at

The BFC aims to ensure that the purchase of goods/services/works using public (ERDF) funds is fair, open, transparent, objective and non-discriminatory, in order that taxpayers’ money is utilised properly. Opening opportunities to competition promotes efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public funds, whilst ensuring that value for money is achieved not just by looking at price, but also other criteria such as quality and innovation.

The process applied to the award of this contract will:

  • Include processes to manage potential conflicts of interest
  • Impartially assess each tender against the criteria outlined in this invitation to tender
  • Select the winning bidder on merit and in accordance with the procedure laid down at the outset
  • Provide feedback to all bidders on the outcome of the process
  • In accordance with best practice, ensure a standstill period before issuing contracts

All complaints will be handled in a fair and transparent manner, in accordance with the BFC’s Complaints Policy.

Tenderers should note that their responses will be retained and may be inspected under audit by officers from ERDF and DCLG.