Tender Writing Blog | Bid Writing Tips from Experts https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/category/tender-writing-consultants-blog/ Bid Writing and Tender proposal experts Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:29:09 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hudson-favicon-150x150.png Tender Writing Blog | Bid Writing Tips from Experts https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/category/tender-writing-consultants-blog/ 32 32 Global Perspectives: How Tendering Practices Differ Around the World – Our International bid writers compare https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/global-perspectives-how-tendering-practices-differ-around-the-world-our-international-bid-writers-compare/ Sun, 21 Jul 2024 14:03:58 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22799 Global Perspectives: How Tendering Practices Differ Around the World In this blog our international bid...

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Global Perspectives: How Tendering Practices Differ Around the World

In this blog our international bid writers discuss how tendering and bids differ in various countries and regions around the world.

In the ever-evolving arena of global commerce, tendering is shifting from an optional advantage to a critical lifeline. More and more buying authorities in a broadening range of industries are recognising and reaping the benefits, as are their suppliers. Why is this system so highly valued? The tendering process not only levels out the playing field, it elevates it.

It forces suppliers to be competitive with a tapestry of USPs, such as pricing, training, efficiency, quality and adaptability. And most of the time, it sniffs out the most economically advantageous solution, product or service. However, when it comes to tendering practices, what creates a splash in one part of the world can cause a drift in another. So how do these vary between countries, continents, cultures and economic systems? And how can you mobilise certain practices to your advantage?

Tendering Practices in the UK

Age: The UK tendering process is nine years old.

Regulatory Framework: In the UK, the public procurement process is governed by the Public Contracts Regulations, 2015. When the UK government enacted these regulations back in 2015, they were acutely aware of the benefits to tendering. Benefits that include transparency, fairness and ascending standards of quality for vital sectors such as healthcare and infrastructure. And it didn’t take long for the UK to push these advantages all the way to a competitive economy. As we speak, UK-based bid writing is propelling small businesses towards profit, expansion and intense market share growth.

The regulations themselves set out compulsory procedures that public bodies are obliged to follow when awarding contracts. For example, they must do what they can to make tendering opportunities equally accessible and transparent to all potential suppliers. One method is to advertise sub-threshold opportunities on Contracts Finder, a government portal for public procurement. Higher threshold contracts (above £139,688) on the other hand, have to be advertised on the Find a Tender service. Another alternative is to use region-specific procurement services such as Public Contracts Scotland or Sell2Wales.

The Process:

All the submissions received in response to the tender notice may lead to a selection stage, where credibility of the bidding suppliers is assessed using a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) or a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). Suppliers may be shortlisted based on the required qualifications and can then progress to the next stage, where they receive an Invitation to Tender or an ITT. The ITT provides an opportunity for the supplier to showcase their experience, credentials and offerings through a written response and pricing sheet, among other documents. The submitted bids are then evaluated by a Tender Evaluation Panel after which the winning bid is awarded the contract.

Government Expenditure: According to Public Spending Statistics, approximately £393 billion was spent in the UK for the public sector, in the year 2022/2023. This is up from £379 billion spent the previous year. Additionally, public procurement accounts for around a third of all public expenditure in the UK as well.

Tendering Practices in The US

Regulatory Framework:

The public procurement process in the US is heavily regulated by several statutes in the United States Code, with the 53-part Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) laying down the primary set of rules that regulate Government procurement in the United States, codified in Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). It includes contracts issued by the US Department of Defence (DoD) and NASA, as well as other civilian federal agencies. The promoted key principles of the practice are competition, transparency, non-discrimination.

The Process:

For contracts that are likely to exceed US$25,000, an abstract of the contract action has to be posted on a government-wide point of entry or GPE. The primary GPE used for government procurements is the System for Award Management (SAM) website.

Agencies must post a notice of the proposed contract action at least 15 days before the issuing of a solicitation for proposals. They also must provide a minimum response time of 30–45 days. Like the UK, there are two main types of bids, competitive (or “open”) sealed (“closed”). For sealed bids, the selected potential suppliers have to submit a bid in response to an Invitation for Bid (IFB), which is issued by the agency.

For competitive procurements, bidders must submit proposals in response to Request for Proposals (RFP) and the set evaluation criteria. After the suppliers submit proposals, agencies may choose to engage in exchanges with them to discuss, negotiate and sort out points in their proposals, or raise any concerns or potential weaknesses.

Government Expenditure: The U.S. Federal government spent a record $765 billion in awarding contracts, in the year of 2023, a 9.5% increase over the previous fiscal year; out of which $162.9 billion worth of contracts were given to the small business.

Tendering Practices in The Middle East

In the Middle East, the Request for Proposal (RFP) procedure varies based on the nation in question and its system of government. However, the majority of the typical procedures and factors apply to many countries in the area.

Variations By Country include:

• Saudi Arabia: The Government Tenders and Procurement Law (GTPL) outlines particular rules from the Saudi government. Electronic procurement is commonly conducted via the Etimad platform.

• United Arab Emirates (UAE): Each emirate in the UAE has its own protocols, and the UAE uses a variety of e-procurement technologies. Tejari, for example, is available in Dubai.

• Qatar: With certain rules and regulations, government procurement is supervised by the Central Tenders Committee (CTC).

• Kuwait: Tenders are managed by the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT), which adheres to stringent legal guidelines.

Further information is available in our Middle East bid writing guide.

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

How to win a tender
Tender Compliance: What does it mean to be non-compliant?
What is a Bid Writer?
Writing winning bids
Bid Writing Consultants

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Tendering Process for Technology Contracts https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tendering-process-for-technology-contracts/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:58:07 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22688 Tendering Process for Technology Contracts  Winning technology contracts relies on a combination of experience in...

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Tendering Process for Technology Contracts 

Winning technology contracts relies on a combination of experience in writing technical responses and strong writing skills. At Hudson, our bid writers are trained to write for a variety of sectors, including technology.

In this blog, we will cover the tendering process, how the process is different for the technology sector, where you can find help with your technology contracts and some testimonials from our technology clients.

 

What is the tendering process?

The tendering process for a vendor (supplier) is typically a competitive bidding process to determine which vendor offers the best product or service for the best price. Generally, before the process starts, the purchaser will define the scope of work needed and establish the desired criteria for the bid process. An invitation to tender (ITT) is then issued to potential vendors, who will submit their bids according to the specification criteria laid out in the ITT. The buyer will review the bids and choose the vendor they feel can best meet their needs. Finally, a contract is drawn up that both parties agree to.

Note: this does not include all of the research and preparation that occurs prior to the tendering process. If you are unsure of how to prepare to tender, or would like to outsource this service, contact us!

 

Tendering Process for the Technology Sector

Writing for the technology sector requires a deep understanding of the industry and an ability to communicate complex concepts clearly. When writing a tender response, it is important to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the area, as well as to highlight any innovative solutions you may have to offer.

Your proposal should focus on the specific needs of the technology sector, emphasising how your solution can address those needs in a unique and compelling way. Additionally, you must demonstrate your understanding of the current and emerging trends within the industry, as well as your ability to adapt to the evolving landscape.

 

5 Tips for Writing a Tender Response in the Technology Sector

  1. Research the Client: Each technology sector customer will have specific requirements and preferences. It is essential to understand the customer’s desired outcomes from the tender and tailor responses accordingly.
  2. Employ the Right Technology: Demonstrate understanding of the customer’s needs by outlining the latest technology and tools that will be employed.
  3. Propose a Project Plan: Outline the project timeline, detailing the tasks, milestones, deliverables and team structure. Make sure you are managing the tender process throughout—minimising mistakes or overlooked aspects of the bid.
  4. Highlight Your Expertise: Provide examples of relevant projects you and your team have successfully completed.
  5. Offer Competitive Pricing: Be sure to put your best foot forward by offering competitive pricing that is in line with the quality and expertise of your services.

 

Technology Sector Testimonials

Here are some recent testimonials from our technology clients!

“From our first contact, Hudson were brilliant. After a short conversation, they quickly grasped the basics of our business and sector in which we operate. Jonny and the team took the stress and hassle away from us and we are very happy to say that we were awarded the first contract that we collaborated on. We would highly recommend Hudson and look forward to future endeavours together.”

Nick Sheehan, Sales Director – iLine Technologies

“A massive thank you to you and your team for being magicians and helping us submit our first tender! This has been a big learning curve for the company and we could not have got to this point without you. It was by chance that I came across Hudson Procurement Group online after sleepless nights wondering how I would get the tender application together by myself! I could not have asked for a better team to work with. I felt supported throughout and beyond relieved that the quality of work is as high as it is. If we could take you all out for lunch we would! For now, this will have to wait until Covid restrictions are over! Many thanks for your hard work and dedication to help us get this submission over the line.”

Anoop Panesar, Project Lead – Aspiring Panda

“I want to thank the Hudson team of Zoe, Daniel, and Kathryn for the amazing job they did with our RFP response. We had a short timeframe and a weekend in between – however I can assure the response was not short on content, quality and design. I highly recommend Hudson!”

Ken Taylor, CEO of Integrated Management Solution

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Find Technology Tenders!

We can also help you find tenders in the technology sector via our portal—Technology Tenders.

We are an opportunity tracking platform, we source tenders from thousands of buyers across the UK and upload them to one central portal. We also send a daily bulletin to our clients consisting of newly published tenders, relevant to their service offering. You can filter your search using keywords, location, budget and more.

We house tenders from a variety of Technology sectors including:

  • IT Support
  • IT Systems
  • Software and Hardware
  • Network and Communications
  • Security Systems

Book a free demonstration of our portal!

 

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

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Win Tenders in the Hospitality Sector: Laundry, Catering and more! https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/win-tenders-in-the-hospitality-sector/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:47:28 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22678 Win Tenders in the Hospitality Sector: Laundry, Catering and more! Winning hospitality tenders relies on...

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Win Tenders in the Hospitality Sector: Laundry, Catering and more!

Winning hospitality tenders relies on a combination of experience and skill — both of which are needed in professional bid writers. At Hudson, we have an 87% success rate which means that we are highly skilled at winning tenders.

Many businesses, regardless of size, find that they simply do not have the time or ability to dedicate resources to train an in-house bid writing team. At Hudson, we have an expert bid team who are well-equipped to take on hospitality tenders.

So, if your business is based in the hospitality sector, we have some top tips for you!

 

Hospitality Sectors

As you may know, hospitality can be divided up into several sub-sectors. So, if your business falls under one or more of the following, rest assured that this blog is for you!

 

10 Top Tips for Winning Hospitality Tenders

  1. Understand the tender requirements: Always check the details of the tender and ensure that you understand the full scope of the requirements. When responding to a brief, it is important to ensure that you have a full understanding of the scope and the expected response.
  2. Research the competition: Always research the competition and familiarise yourself with the existing supply market. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and make sure that you have an edge when responding to the tender.
  3. Offer a unique solution: A tender is an opportunity to demonstrate your unique offering, so make sure that this is apparent in your response. Identify any unique advantages that you may have and emphasise how these can add value to the tender.
  4. Tailor your response: Always tailor your response to the tender, ensuring that you fully address the requirements. Avoid generic responses and personalise your response to demonstrate how you can add value.
  5. Response deadline: Ensure that you submit your response before the deadline to demonstrate your professionalism and commitment. Deadlines are important and if you do not respond on time you risk missing out on the opportunity.
  6. Check referrals: Ask for copies of recent references as part of the tender process. Validate the authenticity of theses referrals as part of your due diligence process.
  7. Adhere to the instructions: Always follow the instructions provided and provide the information in the specific format asked for. Do not deviate from the structure given as this suggests a lack of understanding and an inability to adhere to instructions.
  8. Emphasise compliance: Demonstrate that you can meet all relevant legislation and compliance regulations. Having a solid track record of completing projects and adhering to the law is essential when submitting tenders.
  9. Show a clear understanding of the issue: Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of the tender specification in your response. A clear understanding of the issue helps to demonstrate your ability to meet the needs and provide the needed services.
  10. Consider costs: Ensure that your tender shows that your services are competitively priced and offer good value for money. Showcase any cost savings, tax breaks, or services that you are able to offer.

 

Where do I find hospitality tenders?

If you are looking for hospitality tenders that are relevant to your organisation, without wasting time, visit Hospitality Tenders. Hospitality Tenders is our tendering portal where you can find opportunities to grow your business.

Your subscription entitles you to 24/7 access to our online portal. The portal can easily be filtered by keyword, sector, location, and budget to save you and your team valuable time.

You will also receive a daily bulletin, listing all the tenders that we have uploaded each day. This means that you don’t have to log into the portal every day to find new business opportunities – they land straight in your inbox.

As part of your subscription, you are also entitled to 20 minutes of free tendering advice, once a month, via our Hudson Helpline.

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

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Tender VLE: Our Virtual Bid Learning Environment https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tender-vle/ Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:41:33 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22674 Tender VLE It’s simple — to win contracts, you must have the necessary skills of...

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Tender VLE

It’s simple — to win contracts, you must have the necessary skills of a bid writer. Mastering the art of writing tender responses comes from strong written communication skills and experience. At Hudson, our bid writers are professionals and they have built up their skills over time. But if you are a start-up or an SME, you may have never bid before.

This is where Tender VLE comes in!

 

What is Tender VLE?

Tender VLE is the UK’s first virtual learning environment dedicated to bid writing. With five experience levels to choose from, you can take our free and paid tender courses so you can become an expert!

We will help you grow your tendering knowledge in an easy-to-follow dynamic of videos and worksheets, alongside being supported by our experts.

Good news! Our training is suitable for a variety of learners including businesses, freelancers, and aspiring Bid Writers.

 

When is Tender VLE live?

Our platform is almost ready to go live. After perfecting our development stages, we are making some final tweaks to our learning environment so it is the best platform for our clients. Please bear with us and keep an eye out for when our site goes live!

Sign up to be notified when we go live!

 

What Can I Expect from Tender VLE?

There is something for everyone!

From our free beginners’ courses to our expert courses, we cater to all tendering experience levels. Whether you want to kick-start your career as a bid writer, develop your skills as a freelancer or polish up on some areas missing in your expert bid knowledge, Tender VLE can help.

We will cover everything!

Our experts have been meticulous in their research for what to include on our learning platform. In short, we will cover all stages of the tendering process (PQQs, ITTs etc), break down questions, tender planning, management, writing skills, proofing, and branding your response.

 

How Can Tender VLE Benefit My Business?

This is the most important question — with Tender VLE you will gain the experience to help you win contracts!

Our remote learning experience is designed to suit your needs, wherever you are. This will be your learning journey, which means that you can also tailor your experience to suit your lifestyle. You won’t need to take the focus off running your business – learn as much as you need!

 

Why Tender for Work?

  • Guaranteed pay – the suppliers are guaranteed payment when they win a contract.
  • Goals to spend with SMEs – The UK government aims to spend £1 in £3 with SMEs.
  • Gain experience – Securing contracts means you gain experience to use for case studies to help you secure further contracts.
  • Make contacts – Securing contracts means you can increase your contacts and build relationships. This may lead to further work in the future.
  • Sustainability – Some contracts last for several years so they are a great way of sustaining your business.

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

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How to Win Healthcare Tenders: Our 10 Top Tips! https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/win-healthcare-tenders-2/ Tue, 23 May 2023 11:54:56 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22672 How to Win Healthcare Tenders: Our 10 Top Tips! Winning healthcare tenders is a skill...

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How to Win Healthcare Tenders: Our 10 Top Tips!

Winning healthcare tenders is a skill that our team at Hudson have successfully crafted over the years. We specialise in a variety of sectors, however many healthcare companies in both the UK and US come to us for help because we are good at what we do. Whether you are an SME, start-up, or large organisation, we can help you win healthcare tenders!

 

What are healthcare tenders?

Healthcare tenders are public offers for healthcare services or supplies that are made available by healthcare providers or government agencies.

They are generally used as a way for healthcare providers to acquire goods and services at competitive prices. These tenders may involve both public and private sector entities, as well as local and international providers.

Healthcare tenders come in many different sectors:

  • Domiciliary Care
  • Home Care
  • Social Care
  • Dentistry
  • Nursing
  • Medical PPE
  • Medical Equipment

And more!

 

What are frameworks?

Frameworks ask one or multiple supplier(s) to deliver goods/services across potentially multiple locations. In the public-funded care sector, frameworks are key to any healthcare business.
Frameworks such as ones by the NHS Supply Chain, NHS Procurement Hubs and local government (Council) give SME’s and start-ups invaluable opportunities for growth. While frameworks differ between Single Provider and Multi-provider Framework Agreements, the opportunity to showcase your involvement with large contract values will only strengthen your company’s reputation.

 

What is a DPS?

A DPS or Dynamic Purchasing System, are very similar to frameworks and some will even use the terms interchangeably. However, there are some subtle differences.

Ultimately, DPS’ are more accessible than generic frameworks. You can apply for, and leave, the DPS at any point while its running. It is also an entirely electronic process which makes it more accessible in our modern technologically advanced age.

 

What do I need to bid on healthcare tenders?

If you are looking to bid on a healthcare tender, you need to know these 6 steps:

1. Understand your business’s capabilities: Before bidding on any healthcare tender, it is important to understand the capabilities of your business and ensure that it is able to deliver the services outlined in the tender.

2. Analyse the risk: Healthcare tenders require attention to detail and an understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with the opportunity. Before bidding, carefully review the tender documents and understand what is expected of you and your business. This should include assessing risk factors such as financial, expectational and the dedication of resources (including time) to bid.

3. Know the regulations? Healthcare tenders usually have specific regulations that must be followed. Are you CQC registered? Do you meet the financial threshold, number of years in business etc?

4. Consider the budget constraints: Budgets are an important part of any tender, as they will determine the success or failure of the contract. Make sure you understand the budget constraints outlined in the tender and calculate the associated costs beforehand. Your own pricing is something you have to take control of yourself.

5. Prepare your bid: Take the time to prepare a comprehensive tender response that covers all the specified requirements. Include detailed information and be sure to adhere to all deadlines set during the tender process (this includes your own internal deadlines for your bid writing team).

6. Follow the instructions carefully: Make sure you follow all the instructions exactly as laid out in the tender documents. Any errors or omissions may result in the disqualification or failure of your bid.

 

Where to find healthcare tenders!

Even if you haven’t found the right healthcare tender for you, we can help you find them! On our portal — Healthcare Tenders!

We house tenders from across the UK and upload new healthcare tenders daily from all sectors including domiciliary care, social care, dentistry, medical equipment and nursing etc. If you want to know if we have any tenders available in your chosen location and sector, contact us!

Alternatively, check out our website where you can see what we do, book a free demo with us and join Healthcare Tenders.

 

Where to Find Tender Experts!

At Hudson, there is no shortage of tender experts! All of our tender writers are experts and write for a variety of sectors. If you need assistance with your tender, whether it involves writing, reviewing, submission, improvement, or a full end-to-end service, we can help!

Check out our services below!

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

The post How to Win Healthcare Tenders: Our 10 Top Tips! appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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How to Become a Tender Expert https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/how-to-become-a-tender-expert/ Wed, 10 May 2023 08:00:46 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22667 How to Become a Tender Expert Becoming a tender expert is a surefire way to...

The post How to Become a Tender Expert appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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How to Become a Tender Expert

Becoming a tender expert is a surefire way to win contracts! However, it takes time and resources to develop this skill. Whether you want to outsource your tender writing needs to our experts or become an expert yourself, we can help you.

In this blog, we will cover what a tender expert is, the skills required, their benefits, how to become one and how to find them.

 

What is a Tender Expert?

A tender expert is a professional tender writer with vast experience and knowledge in the tendering process. All tender writers will have varying levels of experience; however, the most effective and successful tender writers will have experience spanning many sectors.

 

Tender Expert Skills

Becoming a tender expert means you must have a particular skill set than just strong written communication skills (though that is important!):

  1. Adaptability: The tendering process is always unpredictable. No tender is the same, meaning the same planning process will not apply, nor will the content of your work. Also, there are bound to be hurdles during the writing process, so being able to adapt to any challenges that may come your way is vital.
  2. Teamwork: Tender responses are rarely written by one writer alone. They are very collaborative, which means that you must be able to provide the best work you can individually, and deliver as a team — providing a seamless, unified response.
  3. Understanding Client Needs: This is the most crucial aspect of the tendering process as without knowing what your client wants from their tender response, you won’t be showing their business in the best possible light. Open communication between the tender expert and the client is vital for keeping up-to-date with client requirements.
  4. Time Management: It goes without saying that you must meet all internal and external deadlines. If you are new to tendering, you may just want to dive right into the tender writing and forget to plan. However, this is a vital part of the process which involves everything from client meetings, research, developing a timeline and planning your responses. Manage your time accordingly so you give yourself ample time to plan!
  5. Compliance: Every tender expert needs a strong understanding of government procurement processes, industry regulations and the ability to meet requirements as stated in the tender specification in order to produce a fully compliant tender. Failure to comply with the specification can get your tender disqualified and failure to comply with laws and regulations can lead to fines and criminal prosecution.

 

Benefits of Hiring a Tender Expert

  1. Save Time: Hiring a tender expert can save you time and hassle when preparing a tender response. They can take care of all the research and paperwork involved in the process, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.
  2. Maximise Your Chances of Winning: A tender expert will have experience and knowledge of what makes a successful tender and how to present your business in the best light. They can also help you to create a winning tender that stands out from the competition.
  3. Improve Your Quality and Professionalism: Tender experts have the skills and knowledge to craft high-quality, professional, and persuasive tender documents. This can help to give you an edge over your competitors and increase your chances of winning the contract.
  4. Provide Insights into Winning Strategies: Tender experts have a wealth of experience in writing and submitting tenders. They can provide you with insights into winning strategies and provide advice on how to improve your chances of success.
  5. Meet Deadlines: Tender experts understand the importance of meeting deadlines. They can help you to stay on track and ensure that your tender is submitted on time and according to the requirements of the tender.

 

How to Become a Tender Expert!

Now you know what a tender expert is and the skills you need to become one, let’s take a look at how we can help you become an expert yourself!

Our online virtual learning environment Tender VLE houses our first of many tender training courses. Take our FREE introductory tender course on June 1st, 2023.

 

Where to Find Tender Experts!

At Hudson, there is no shortage of tender experts! All of our tender writers are experts and write for a variety of sectors. If you need assistance with your tender, whether it involves writing, reviewing, submission, improvement, or a full end-to-end service, we can help!

Check out our services below!

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Discover Elite

Upgrading to Discover Elite can optimise your tendering efforts!

Our two new time-saving tools can improve competitor awareness and success rate when bidding for a contract:

The Ultimate Time Save Package (for those on the go!)

  • Five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Annual subscription to two sector-specific portals.
  • Dedicated account manager.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package

  • All of the above.
  • Seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager (minimum five years experience). Our Global Bid Director will manage the bid strategy.

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

The post How to Become a Tender Expert appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Top 10 Tendering Secrets https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/top-10-tendering-secrets/ Wed, 03 May 2023 08:00:11 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22659 Top 10 Tendering Secrets It is no secret that the tendering process can be complex...

The post Top 10 Tendering Secrets appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Top 10 Tendering Secrets

It is no secret that the tendering process can be complex and requires planning, the dedication of time and resources and experience to complete a tender successfully. However, there may be a few things which you are unfamiliar with in the world of tendering. Get to know these top 10 tendering secrets and upgrade your tender response!

 

What is a tender?

A tender is a formal document for procuring goods/services from a supplier. Tenders are used in public procurement and private transactions for a variety of goods and services. They are normally submitted in response to an invitation to tender (ITT) issued by the buyer, who is seeking to purchase a particular service or product. Tenders typically involve the submission of detailed proposals from potential suppliers and involve a competitive bidding process. The successful bidder is usually the supplier who offers the best quality and most cost-effective solution.

 

How does the tendering process work?

The tendering process can vary between sectors; however, the process typically involves the following steps:

1. Preparation

Suppliers must prepare their bid documents carefully, including technical specifications, delivery terms, and pricing.

2. Proposal Submission

Suppliers must submit their proposal documents to the buyer.

3. Evaluation

The buyer evaluates the proposals, taking into consideration factors such as price, quality, delivery time, and other specific requirements.

4. Selection

The buyer selects the most suitable supplier based on the evaluation.

5. Contract Award & Signing

The buyer awards the contract to the chosen supplier and they sign a contract for the supply of goods or services.

6. Delivery & Payment

The supplier delivers the goods or services as stipulated in the contract and receives payment from the buyer.

 

Top 10 Tendering Secrets!

Below are our top 10 tendering secrets you should know if you want to start your journey to becoming a tender expert:

1. Selection

The evaluation and selection process for tenders is usually based on objective criteria, such as the most competitive price, quality, and delivery times.

2. The Buyer

Tendering is not just about submitting a proposal and waiting for a response; it involves engaging with the buyer, understanding their needs and objectives, and building a strong relationship.

3. Quality Matters

Ensure your tender is well-written and free from errors. Consider having it reviewed by a professional for any potential errors.

4. Time-Consuming

Tendering can be a long process. Depending on the contract and the complexity of the project, the tendering process can take several months to complete.

5. Presentation is Key

Your tender should be professional and well-presented. Use a clear layout and include visuals if appropriate to make your proposal stand out from the competition.

6. SMEs

Tenders are not just for big companies and governments. Small businesses and individuals can also submit tenders for projects or services.

7. Jargon

You may be tempted to over-saturate your tender response with technical jargon to show the buyer how knowledgeable you are. However, if the buyer is unfamiliar with your area of expertise, they will be put off by the readability of your response. It goes without saying that if the buyer cannot understand what you are saying, they are far less likely to award you the contract!

8. Plan, plan, plan

The planning process is just as important as what you write in your response. The old saying ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’ rings true, especially in tendering! Whether you write the response yourself or outsource to a professional, a plan must always be in place to ensure you include all the content you need, cover every detail in the specification and meet that all-important deadline.

9. Location

Different countries have different rules and regulations for tender processes. So, always make sure you are aware of the relevant regulations that will affect you.

10. Communication

Good communication with all parties involved is essential for success when tendering. This includes the buyer, stakeholders and your tender writing team.

 

How can I apply for a tender contract?

1. Research the tender

Read the tender documents for the contract, including the invitation to tender, specifications and terms and conditions. Understand what the contract entails and whether it is suitable for your business.

2. Assess your abilities

Assess if you have the necessary skills, resources, and capacity to successfully deliver the contract.

3. Check the eligibility criteria

Check the eligibility criteria carefully to ensure that you are eligible to apply for the tender contract.

4. Prepare your tender response

Prepare a comprehensive response to the tender that meets the requirements set out in the invitation to tender.

5. Submit your tender

Submit your tender response in accordance with the instructions in the tender documents.

 

How we can help!

Now you know the top 10 tendering secrets, you may be wondering how we can help you. Below is a list of our services from tender writing, review, preparation and improvement. Not to mention our portals to help you find tenders and our in-house design team who can transform your tender responses with eye-catching designs.

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Discover Elite

Upgrading to Discover Elite can optimise your tendering efforts!

Our two new time-saving tools can improve competitor awareness and success rate when bidding for a contract:

The Ultimate Time Save Package (for those on the go!)

  • Five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Annual subscription to two sector-specific portals.
  • Dedicated account manager.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package

  • All of the above.
  • Seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager (minimum five years experience). Our Global Bid Director will manage the bid strategy.

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

The post Top 10 Tendering Secrets appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Easy Tendering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tendering-mistakes-to-avoid/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:00:19 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22657 Easy Tendering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them The tendering process can be daunting, particularly...

The post Easy Tendering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Easy Tendering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The tendering process can be daunting, particularly if you have never tendered for contracts before, or for SMEs who may lack the necessary in-house resources to complete the tendering process. However, outsourcing the process to a professional tender writer can take away that stress and help you produce a successful tender response.

In this blog, we will cover the tendering process, the easy-to-make mistakes that can be avoided, how to correct these mistakes and where to find tender help.

 

What is tendering?

Simply, the tendering process is a formal process that involves the selection of a contractor to provide goods or services to a company. It involves the company issuing a tender document outlining their requirements and the criteria they will use to evaluate potential suppliers. Companies then tender for the work and are evaluated based on the criteria set out in the tender document. The winning tender is then awarded the contract.

The process can also involve a number of stages, including pre-qualification, submission of the tender, evaluation of the tender and the contract award. The aim of the tendering process is to ensure that contracts are awarded in a fair and transparent manner.

 

Common Tendering Mistakes

  1. Not reading the tender documents carefully: Before submitting a tender response, it is important to thoroughly read and understand the tender documents. If you don’t take the time to properly review the documents, this can result in the submission of an incomplete or inaccurate tender.
  2. Not addressing the selection criteria: Most tenders include a list of selection criteria that must be addressed in the tender response. Failing to address all of the criteria can lead to the tender being disqualified.
  3. Not providing detailed information: Tenders should provide detailed information about the organisation, the goods or services being offered, and the prices being charged. Vague or incomplete information can lead to misunderstandings and disqualification.
  4. Not following the rules: Tenders must be submitted in the correct format, on the correct date, and with the correct paperwork as stipulated in the specification. Failing to comply with the rules can lead to disqualification.
  5. Not being realistic about pricing: Tenders should provide a realistic price that is competitive and provides good value for the customer. Tender responses that show goods/services being too high or low priced can lead to disqualification or a lost contract.
  6. Not seeking advice: Tenders can be complex documents and it is important to seek professional advice when necessary to ensure the tender is completed correctly.

 

How to Improve Your Tender Response

Follow these 7 top tips to save your tendering mistakes and submit a successful tender response!

  1. Research the Tendering Process: Research the tendering process and familiarise yourself with the requirements of each stage. This will help you to submit a more competitive and compelling offer.
  2. Understand the Buyer: Understand the needs and objectives of the buyer. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the buyer’s requirements, and tailor your response accordingly.
  3. Highlight Your Strengths: Highlight your strengths and differentiate your offering from competitors. Focus on the benefits that your offering will bring to the buyer.
  4. Demonstrate Your Value: Demonstrate the value that your offering will bring to the buyer. Show how it will help them to achieve their objectives and how it is the right solution for them.
  5. Provide Supportive Evidence: Provide evidence to back up your claims. This could be customer testimonials, case studies, or other forms of proof that demonstrate the effectiveness of your solution.
  6. Use Clear Language: Use clear language and terminology that is easy to understand. Keep your writing concise and make sure that it is free from spelling and grammar errors.
  7. Use Visuals: Use visuals to bring your response to life. Graphics, diagrams, and images can help. Also, investing in bid design can help your tender response stand out from your competitors who may also be submitting professionally designed tender responses.

 

How we can help!

Avoid tendering mistakes by outsourcing the process to an expert tender writer!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Discover Elite

Upgrading to Discover Elite can optimise your tendering efforts!

Our two new time-saving tools can improve competitor awareness and success rate when bidding for a contract:

The Ultimate Time Save Package (for those on the go!)

  • Five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Annual subscription to two sector-specific portals.
  • Dedicated account manager.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package

  • All of the above.
  • Seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager (minimum five years experience). Our Global Bid Director will manage the bid strategy.

 

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

The post Easy Tendering Mistakes and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Tendering in the Creative Sector https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tendering-in-the-creative-sector/ Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:00:49 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22656 Tendering in the Creative Sector The tendering process in the creative sector is similar to...

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Tendering in the Creative Sector

The tendering process in the creative sector is similar to tendering for any other sector, however, the expectations of the buyer are slightly different. In your tender response, it is your opportunity to show your creativity, and depending on the tender, your artistic flair.

In this blog, we’ll talk about the tendering process, creative sector tenders, how to show your creativity and where to find creative sector tenders!

 

What are Creative Sector Tenders?

Creative sector tenders are specific types of tenders related to the creative sector, such as:

  • Graphic design
  • Creative writing (Marketing)
  • Digital media production
  • Website design and development
  • Video production
  • Photography
  • Music production
  • Creative consultancy
  • Branding
  • Event management and production
  • Advertising
  • Animation
  • Interactive media
  • Visual arts
  • Cultural activities

 

How do Creative Sector Tenders Differ from Other Sector Tenders?

Creative sector tenders are different from other sector tenders in that they typically focus on the creative, innovative, and artistic elements of a project. The tenders may include criteria such as the aesthetic qualities of the proposed solution, the originality of the concept, the use of new technology, and the ability to create a unique user experience. Additionally, creative sector tenders often consider the impact of the project on the local community, such as the potential to create new employment opportunities and increase access to the arts.

 

Creative Sector Tendering Process

  1. Research the Tender: Before submitting a bid, take the time to research the tender and understand the client’s needs and requirements. The more information you have about the project, the better your chances of success.
  2. Demonstrate Expertise: Be sure to highlight your experience and expertise in the industry. Showcase your previous work, providing industry-specific case studies, and share examples of how you have helped other clients succeed.
  3. Showcase Your Team: Be sure to showcase the team that will be working on the project. Do this by including details on the qualifications of the team members, as well as any awards or recognition they have received.
  4. Outline Your Process: Explain your creative process and how you plan to deliver the project. Be sure to include a timeline and any other key steps in the process.
  5. Be Reasonable: Make sure you are submitting a bid that is reasonable for both parties. Do not overcharge for the project or under-price your services.
  6. Show your creativity: As you are applying for a creative tender, this is the perfect time to showcase your creativity through design. Show buyers what your brand is all about with bid design and stand out from your competitors!

 

Where to find Creative Sector Tenders? 

A subscription to Creative Tenders provides you with:

  • Access to all new public and private sector digital marketing contracts across the UK.
  • A daily email bulletin is sent straight to your inbox when new marketing opportunities are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed (our bid writing division).
  • 20 minutes of free consultancy with one of our Bid Management Consultants each month.

Here are some examples of the sectors we source opportunities for:

Book a free live demo with Creative Tenders to see how we can help your business grow.

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Discover Elite

Upgrading to Discover Elite can optimise your tendering efforts!

Our two new time-saving tools can improve competitor awareness and success rate when bidding for a contract:

The Ultimate Time Save Package (for those on the go!)

  • Five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Annual subscription to two sector-specific portals.
  • Dedicated account manager.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package

  • All of the above.
  • Seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager (minimum five years experience). Our Global Bid Director will manage the bid strategy.

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

 

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

The post Tendering in the Creative Sector appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Public Sector Frameworks: Everything You Need to Know Before You Apply https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/applying-for-public-sector-frameworks/ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:00:01 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22653 Applying for Public Sector Frameworks Applying for public sector framework contracts can become a complex...

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Applying for Public Sector Frameworks

Applying for public sector framework contracts can become a complex business, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the process or lack the expertise to execute your tender response effectively.

In this blog, we will guide you through what you need to do in order to prepare your business. We will also cover the importance of contract compliance, pricing accordingly and finally, the benefits and drawbacks of public sector framework agreements.

 

How to prepare your business to bid for public sector frameworks:

  1. Research the framework landscape: Familiarise yourself with the public sector frameworks that are currently available and the ones that may be coming up. Make sure that your business is eligible to bid for the framework and that it meets the requirements outlined.
  2. Develop a bidding strategy: Analyse the framework requirements and create a comprehensive bidding strategy that outlines how your business can provide the services or products required.
  3. Utilise the right resources: Utilise the resources available through the framework to ensure that you have the right information to make an informed bid.
  4. Create a compliant bid: Ensure your bid is compliant with all relevant regulations and standards, and that it meets the framework’s requirements.
  5. Follow bidding guidelines: Familiarise yourself with the bidding guidelines in the specification and follow them exactly.
  6. Establish relationships: Develop relationships with the relevant public sector bodies and other bidders to increase your chances of success.
  7. Monitor the process: Monitor the process closely to ensure that your bid is progressing as expected and that you have the best chance of being successful.

 

What resources do I need to bid for a public sector framework contract?

  1. Knowledge of the public sector framework: You will need to understand the terms and conditions of the framework, the requirements of the customer, and the evaluation criteria.
  2. Knowledge of the customer’s needs: You will need to understand the customer’s requirements and how they align with the framework. Most importantly, you must make sure that you can provide the solution to their exact requirements.
  3. Experience in the sector: Understanding the sector the customer operates in and the competition they face will help you to tailor your bid.
  4. A track record of success: Demonstrating previous success in bidding for public sector contracts will strengthen your bid — you will need evidence, usually in the form of relevant case studies!
  5. Access to resources: It is advised that you have access to resources such as legal expertise, financial advice, and project management expertise before choosing to bid.
  6. An understanding of procurement processes: It is important to understand the procurement process and the different stages involved, so you can get a greater understanding of the process from the buyer’s perspective.
  7. A compelling submission: You will need to present a compelling and well-structured submission that meets the customer’s requirements.

 

Compliance with the Framework:

Below is a checklist you should follow to make sure you can comply with the framework requirements:

  1. Make sure that you are aware of the eligibility requirements for the framework and that your business meets them.
  2. Ensure that your business is properly registered and has all the necessary licenses and permits.
  3. Develop a clear understanding of the bid process and timeline.
  4. Prepare all documents required for the bid, such as business plans, financial statements, and any other supporting documents.
  5. Create a detailed pricing structure and service offering that meets the requirements outlined in the framework.
  6. Identify key contacts and stakeholders within the public sector framework and create a plan to build relationships and secure support.
  7. Identify any risks associated with the framework and develop strategies and processes to mitigate them.
  8. Prepare a detailed response to the framework’s evaluation criteria and ensure that it meets the requirements.
  9. Develop a clear statement of work and contract that outlines the services, deliverables, and payment terms.

 

Consequences of non-compliance with the framework:

  1. Loss of reputation: Non-compliance with public sector framework contracts can result in damage to the reputation of the company. As a result, government agencies and other public sector entities will be less likely to do business with a company that has failed to comply with the rules stipulated in framework contracts.
  2. Financial penalties: Companies that fail to comply with public sector framework contracts may be subject to financial penalties, including fines, damages, and other punitive measures.
  3. Disqualification from future contracts: Companies that are found to be non-compliant may be disqualified from future public sector framework contracts, thus limiting the company’s ability to do business within the public sector.
  4. Criminal prosecution: In some cases, companies that fail to comply with public sector framework contracts may also face criminal prosecution.

 

How to price accordingly and competitively for public sector framework contracts:

When pricing for a public sector framework contract, it is important to consider a variety of factors such as the current market rate for similar services, the quality of services offered, the cost of materials if any, the amount of time required to complete the project, and any additional costs associated with the project.

Additionally, research should be done to ensure your pricing is competitive with other suppliers offering the same services. It is also important to consider the cost of compliance with applicable laws and regulations (this varies sector by sector), as well as any additional costs associated with the framework.

Finally, it is important to consider the long-term cost savings that may be achieved by entering into a framework contract.

 

What are the benefits of securing public sector framework contracts?

  1. Access to a larger pool of customers: Public sector frameworks, such as government-managed contracts, allow businesses to bid on and win contracts from a much larger customer base than the private sector.
  2. More stability and predictability: Public sector frameworks offer more stability and predictability than private sector contracts, as they are often long-term contracts and the terms are fixed and predictable.
  3. Easier to access: Public sector frameworks are also typically easier to access than private sector contracts, as they often require fewer qualifications and certifications.
  4. Faster payment process: Public sector contracts typically have a faster payment process than private sector contracts, as the government is legally bound to pay on time and in full.
  5. Increased visibility: By bidding for public sector frameworks, businesses can increase their visibility to potential customers, as government-managed contracts are often highly publicised and well-known.

 

What are the drawbacks of public sector framework contracts?

  1. Lack of competition: Public sector framework contracts typically involve a limited number of suppliers, meaning that there can be little competition or incentive to offer the most competitive rates or services.
  2. Lack of innovation: Framework contracts can limit the ability of public sector bodies to access the most innovative solutions or services.
  3. Limited capacity: Public sector framework contracts can limit the capacity of public sector bodies to respond to changing needs or requirements.
  4. Risk of corruption: Public sector framework contracts can often involve complex processes and procedures, leaving them open to abuse and corruption.

Hint: If you want to read more about public and private sector contracts, we have a blog on common misconceptions here!

 

How we can help!

Tender Writing

Once you’ve found the perfect bid for your business, send it our way. Our Bid Writers can take care of the whole thing for you they’ll even submit it on your behalf. They’ll let you know what they need from you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready 4-week programme is perfect for businesses that have never tendered before. A Bid Writer will work with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. Tender Ready offers your business:

  • A 12-month subscription to one Hudson Discover
  • Access to Global Bid Directors and Senior Bidding Professionals.
  • An Organisation-wide Bid library, including 3 case studies, 5 CVs and policies.
  • Additional flexible benefits. 

Tender Improvement

If you’ve been tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts, our Tender Improvement package can help. Our Bid Team will assess your previous responses and tender documents. They will work with you to improve for future submissions. This package includes a 12-month subscription to a Hudson Discover portal and additional tendering development services. 

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your tender response and need it double-checked for errors, Tender Mentor can help. A Bid Writer will proofread your work for any inconsistencies, grammar, or spelling mistakes. They will also ensure it’s in line with the specification before you submit it. This is a great way of improving your skills and understanding of how to polish your tender.

 

Contact us:

Contact us to find out how we can help your business SUCCEED!

 

Additional support:

Do you only require assistance with PQQs or SQs? We can help!

Submit the relevant information regarding the work you need, and we will provide a quote for the work agreed upon.

We provide support at all levels of the bid writing process, so if you simply need it proofread before you submit it, we can also help with that!

 

Discover Elite

Upgrading to Discover Elite can optimise your tendering efforts!

Our two new time-saving tools can improve competitor awareness and success rate when bidding for a contract:

The Ultimate Time Save Package (for those on the go!)

  • Five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Annual subscription to two sector-specific portals.
  • Dedicated account manager.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package

  • All of the above.
  • Seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager (minimum five years experience). Our Global Bid Director will manage the bid strategy.

  

Our other divisions:

Vocal

Wanting to impress a buyer? Our creative content agency Vocal is always on hand to help!

Our Vocal team are never afraid to be heard – we’re a loud bunch!

From micro-businesses to large organisations, we provide ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. We can transform your bid into a professionally designed tender document!

Vocal specialises in:

 

Alpha

Our online virtual learning environment for Education, Enterprise and Home Learners is currently being used to power our platforms – Tender VLE and Procure VLE (Coming soon).

We believe in learning at your own pace, wherever you are!

 

Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:

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