The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded a 90,000 euro contract to supply Spanish and European Union flags to embassies and other diplomatic representations around the world, according to a provision published yesterday in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
The contract was awarded to the company Imazu Publicidad SL, after studying the four proposals presented, after taking into account the composition, treatment and manufacture of the fabric, the price, the quality of the fabric and embroidery and the sustainability and care for the environment in the production.
Half of the supply of the flags, with their mast sets, will be made in 2024 and the other half in 2025. The flags, both exterior and interior, will be destined for Spain’s diplomatic and consular representations abroad, with the exception of the Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels.
The cost of the contract, which does not specify the total number of flags to be supplied, is 90,000 euros, which with VAT comes to 109,000 euros.
According to Europa Press, the technical specifications that accompanied the call for tender detailed the characteristics that the flags must have, in terms of composition and colour.
Thus, it specifies the type of fabric that the flags must have, which is different depending on their use and whether they are to be displayed outdoors, and also how they are to be made. In the case of flags that will be displayed outside diplomatic premises, they must last for at least one year, while those used indoors must last for at least five years.
The yellow and red of the flag, as well as the colours that make up the coat of arms, are clearly determined on the basis of the Royal Decree of 1981 that determines the colours of the national ensign for all the cases of the pieces that have to be manufactured. It also specifies the type of fabric to be used for each of the cases and how it must be machine embroidered in all cases, except for flags for outdoor use, which will be printed.
Indoor flags must have the appropriate opening to be inserted into the flagpoles, for which specific details are also given. These shall have their own base, be made of beech and varnished in mahogany colour with natural resins. They will be 2.05 metres long and their approximate weight, together with the stand, will be 5.5 kilos.
The contract also includes the supply of pennants for official vehicles as well as table flags.
“These items must have a high level of quality and be homogeneous, the same in all representations, given that their use is of a constitutional nature,” the tender document states.
“The flags and pennants must retain their colour fastness after washing, as well as guaranteeing the required measures in the pre- and post-washing, provided that this is done dry or by hand, without spin-drying, with neutral soap and with water temperatures not exceeding 40ºC,” it said.
