Baby bundles is a Welsh Government initiative to provide a 'welcome to the world' gift, comprising of a range of products for the child's first months. The bundle will be provided free of charge to all new and expectant parents residing in core Flying Start areas within Wales.
The contract will have the potential for a requirement of around 8,000 bundles per year. It is important to note the projected number of baby bundles is subject to change. The estimated spend over 5 years is in the region of £11.25m inclusive of VAT.
A draft list of items which may be required for the bundles has been included:
Baby clothes Newborn:
- Cotton hat
0-3 months:
- Jersey trousers x 2
- Socks x 2 pairs
- Long sleeved body suit x 2
- Short sleeved body suit x 2
- Long sleeved sleep suit
3-6 months:
- All in one daysuit
- Jersey trousers x 2
- Long sleeved sleep suit
- Socks x 2 pairs
- Short sleeved body suit x 2
Maternal care items - Maternity pads - box of 12
- Reusable breast pads - box of 24
Baby care items - Thermometer wand
- Bath and room thermometer
Sleep items - Cellular blanket x 2
Other - Hooded bath towel
- Teether
- Bib x 2
- Muslin cloths x 3
- Play mat
- Book/s
The Welsh Government will be seeking to contract with a single organisation/consortium to provide (or sub-contract to provide) the following likely elements of the baby bundles initiative. (Please note this is early thinking and a detailed specification of full requirements will be provided at the time of issuing the Tender Notice):
1. Co-ordination of the registration, order processing and acknowledgements process - this will include the production and distribution of awareness raising / promotional material and the registration documents at specified times pre-birth.
2. Development of an online registration system which will allow customers to register for the baby bundle.
3. Sourcing the contents for inclusion and the packaging for the bundles, supplying and then assembling the bundles. Suppliers must be able to source all items, and each item must meet the specified industry safety and EC standards and accreditations.
4. Delivery - responsible for scheduling and confirming deliveries. The co-ordination of delivery in an environmentally friendly way.
5. Demonstrating existing, well developed supply chains, established freight and border arrangements.
6. Storage of all items and the bundles including holding sufficient stock.
7. Having the facility (or can sub-contract) to ensure items and/or packaging feature particular designs.
8. To determine how the bundle will be presented e.g. the outer packaging. It is desirable that the packaging be environmentally friendly.
9. Ensure that aftercare is in place, including a bilingual customer contact point/helpline to ensure enquiries, customer support, and/or cancellations of bundles are dealt with in the language of preference (English/Welsh).
This contract is intended to be for five years, with a break clause at the end of years two, three and four. We require the successful supplier to be ready to distribute the bundles from November 2025.