Parent Seeks Resolution to Monopoly on School Uniforms in Plovdiv

A parent of a third-grade student filed a complaint about a supposed monopoly in the manufacture of school uniforms for schools in Plovdiv. According to him, in case of damage or loss of the clothing, the lead time for fulfilling the order can reach up to 40 days. In a shared case via Plovdiv24.bg he describes how one of Plovdiv’s large schools suffered a flood on September 8, and the child’s uniforms were destroyed. He notes that his child managed to save only one short-sleeved shirt for the start of the school year on September 15. According to him, on-site it turned out that uniforms are sold only in one shop – the Pen Silhouette company – and that there are no stock, with orders taking up to 40 days. He adds that the company supplies uniforms to more than 20 schools in Plovdiv and asks how it is possible for so many educational institutions to depend on a single private supplier, with no alternative and with such lead times. The text raises the question of what parents do whose children have grown out of, lost, or damaged their uniforms during the school year.

According to the author, the topic affects many families and deserves attention: how the supplier is chosen, whether there is a competitive procedure, and who bears responsibility when the company cannot supply the uniforms.

Information is also provided about the process of selecting a seamstress for uniforms in Plovdiv. In the publications it is claimed that the uniforms are sewn by three companies – “Forest School” (Forrest School), “Pen Silhouette” and “Rima Sport.” The school’s Public Council together with the administration determines what the attire should be, after which a public procurement is announced for selecting a manufacturer. The procedure is conducted under the Public Procurement Act, with bidders competing with price proposals, and a school commission selects the contractor.

Also cited is the position of Penka Raycheva from “Pen Silhouette,” who states that the procedures are heavy and transparent due to public interest. According to her, in force majeure circumstances the company responds quickly and it is possible to offer a new uniform even within 2 hours or the next day after the order. According to her, the production time in the absence of stock varies between 1 and 40 days for online orders or on-site requests, with the maximum specified lead time being indicative.

Source: Plovdiv24.bg