Govt preparing Covid19 service awards

AUCKLAND: The Government is set to award as many as 120,000 badges and citations to New Zealanders who made a ‘‘significant and sustained’’ contribution to the Covid19 response.

Procurement documents viewed by The New Zealand

Herald have also revealed for the first time the proposed design of the yellow metallic lapel pin and citation — based on fish scales symbolising protection.

The Government had set aside just more than $5 million for the project, but the full amount allocated may not be used, a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) spokeswoman said.

The Covid19 service award was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in March, to be given first to the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) workforce.

It is understood the New Zealand Defence Force considered its own military medals for MIQ service but feedback suggested there was no great demand for medallic recognition from Covid response veterans.

The DPMC launched a request for proposals from potential suppliers in early September, today being the deadline for responses.

A DPMC report summarising the tender shows the department wants a supplier to produce a lapel pin, plus a citation for the uniformed services.

Potential suppliers must show a capacity to produce no less than 25,000 badges up to a maximum of 120,000, with four weeks’ notice, the report said.

‘‘This procurement is to appoint and to procure a provider who can manufacture up to 120,000 lapel badges and citations to enable the Government to award a tangible item of recognition to individuals who made a significant and sustained contribution to the Covid19 response,’’ the document said.

The DPMC expected manufacture and delivery to start in November and batches to be delivered periodically over about six months.

The first tranche of pins and citations would likely be in the order of 20,000 items, the report said.

‘‘It is important to DPMC that the badges and citations are not available for purchase by the public, including recipients who wish to purchase duplicate/multiple items.’’

Another document provided to potential suppliers showed the intended design for the metallic lapel pin and citation.

They are both based on an unaunahi — a fish scale carving design — original artwork produced for the Unite Against Covid19 campaign by Zoe

Morehu.

The MIQ workforce would be the first to be recognised, a DPMC spokeswoman said in a statement.

‘‘Other recipients will be identified by their agency or organisation based on the record of their service.’’

A Defence spokeswoman said recognition for military personnel involved in the Covid response would be ‘‘included as part of the Government’s response recognition programme’’. —