Preparations for London's 2012 Summer Olympic Games are heating up and there is still more than $1 billion in contracts to be awarded. Find out what they are and how you can get in on the action.
Companies that gained Olympic experience supplying goods and services to the Vancouver Games should be well-placed to succeed in London, say Canadian trade officials. The London Organizing Committee (LOCOG) regularly updates its procurement opportunities schedule.
"Although the main Olympic infrastructure suppliers were selected some time ago, many contracts will be awarded over the upcoming two years," says Jennifer Daubeny, Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in London.
Opportunities fall into the following eight categories:
- artists, performance and events;
- security services;
- sports equipment;
- facilities management and catering;
- technology;
- transportation and logistics; and
- venues and infrastructure.
Invitations to tender for the February to June 2010 period include products and services such as production of the torch relay, protective clothing, uniforms, signage, non-motorized vehicles and translation services.
Daubeny says the "Compete For" portal, the website chosen by London 2012 for the publication of Games-related contract opportunities, is an indispensible tool for LOCOG procurement. It lists opportunities to supply the 2012 Games, and also serves as an online marketplace. Upon registration, companies receive e-mail alerts as opportunities arise in their areas of expertise.
Senior LOCOG procurement officers listed the following principles as underlying their "value for money" approach:
- ability to deliver the right quality products on time and to dispose of goods appropriately after the games;
- competitive pricing;
- sustainability, including regard for environmental, social and ethical considerations; and
- diversity and inclusion.
For information on these principles, companies should consult London 2012 website.
"The most promising way for Canadian companies to get Olympic-related work is to access the supply chain opportunities of successful bidders," says Daubeny. She says that bidders who obtain LOCOG contracts are encouraged to use the Compete For site to identify suppliers of products and services needed to fulfil their contracts.
Organizers are also billing the London Games as the "Digital Games." According to Think London, a public-private partnership which aims to attract foreign companies to London, digital media suppliers are needed across 30 product streams, including:
- back-end technology;
- information architecture;
- front-end design;
- language and translation services;
- mapping; and
- e-commerce technology, including e-ticketing and e-merchandising.
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is keen to work with Canadian companies on the 2012 Games. The Canadian High Commission in London can help companies navigate the 2012 Olympic procurement process and may be able to help identify potential supply chain opportunities.
For more information, visit the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service website.
