Bid and Tender support | Bid Writing Specialists | Hudson Succeed https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tag/tender-support/ Bid Writing and Tender proposal experts Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:01:29 +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 Bid and Tender support | Bid Writing Specialists | Hudson Succeed https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tag/tender-support/ 32 32 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:

The post Tender VLE: Our Virtual Bid Learning Environment 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:

The post Public Sector Frameworks: Everything You Need to Know Before You Apply appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Tendering https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/dos-and-donts-of-tendering/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:00:19 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22626 The Do’s and Don’ts of Tendering The tendering process can be complicated at the best...

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Tendering

The tendering process can be complicated at the best of times and you may be wondering how to avoid all the potential pitfalls that can occur for those new to the world of tendering.

If this is you? Keep reading to find out our top do’s and don’ts for success!

First, let’s start with the basics…

 

What is tendering?

The tendering process is the process of submitting a bid in response to an invitation to tender (ITT) from the buyer. The bid is typically for the supply of goods and services to the buyer, and the process involves researching the project and preparing a submission, which is then presented to the buyer for evaluation.

The process typically involves drawing up a tender document, including technical and financial details, which is then sent to potential suppliers. The suppliers respond with their offers, and the buyer evaluates the offers and selects the most suitable supplier.

 

Why is the tendering process so complicated?

The tendering process can be complicated, simply because there are so many factors to consider depending on the industry you are tendering for. But that’s not to say that it has to be complicated!

At Hudson, we help at every stage of the tendering process — even if you only need another pair of eyes to check over your response, a review or an end-to-end writing and submission service, we can help!

 

Top 4 Do’s

  • Read and understand the tender – this is the moment when you need to decide whether your business can successfully meet the requirements of this contract.
  • Read the tender specification! – a successful tendering process relies heavily on whether you meet the buyer’s requirements in terms of information provided, and in the style needed. Answer all questions set in a clear and concise manner!
  • Clarification – answering questions when you aren’t 100% certain what they are asking, can result in a low score. Make sure you always factor in time for asking questions and direct those questions wherever specified in the tender documents.
  • Accuracy – the buyer is trusting you to submit information that is truthful and accurate as to what you can supply. You will also need to provide evidence of important documents such as CVs, financial status etc.

 

Top 4 Don’ts

  • Leaving your submission to the last minute! – Rushing to meet the deadline or late submissions will either result in your response being non-compliant, scoring low or completely disregarded. It is vital that you stick to both internal and external deadlines in order to give yourself the best possible outcome.
  • Never assume that all tenders are the same! – every buyer is different, therefore every tender specification you receive will be too! Make sure that you follow each tender’s requirements to a T, avoiding the generalisation of your responses. Always provide evidence and detail!
  • Never include irrelevant material! – If you feel like you can’t answer the questions set and want to add evidence even if it’s irrelevant, don’t do it! You won’t score highly or at all depending on relevance. If you are unsure, always ask for clarification or seek advice from expert tender writers.
  • Never get overwhelmed! – the tendering process can be both complex and time-consuming, particularly if you are new to it! Make sure to seek out help when you need it and take a look at 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 The Do’s and Don’ts of Tendering appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Professional Tender Writers https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/professional-tender-writers-2/ Mon, 13 Feb 2023 09:00:42 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22603 Professional Tender Writers   Where do I find professional tender writers? The best way to...

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Professional Tender Writers

 

Where do I find professional tender writers?

The best way to find professional tender writers near you is to search online. You can search for tender writers located in your area using search terms such as “professional tender writers near me” or “tender writers in [your city].” You can also search for tender writers in your industry or specialized areas of expertise.

Once you’ve identified a few writers, you can reach out to them for more information about their experience, pricing, and availability. At Hudson, we have 4 office locations in London, Manchester, Durham and Florida in the United States.

We boast a dedicated team of over 50 professional tender writers.

 

Do I need to recruit a professional tender writer near me?

That depends on the size and complexity of the tender you are writing. If you are writing a simple tender, you may be able to handle it on your own. However, if the tender is complex and requires in-depth knowledge of industry regulations, it may be best to enlist the help of a professional tender writer.

Professional tender writers have knowledge of the latest tender guidelines and can help you to ensure that your tender is written in a way that meets the requirements of the solicitation.

 

What are the benefits of using a remote-based professional tender writer?

Using a remote-based professional tender writer can provide a number of benefits. First, they can provide access to a wider pool of resources and expertise. They can also provide a more convenient and cost-effective way to get the job done.

Additionally, remote-based writers can often provide faster turnaround times, allowing you to submit your tender quickly and efficiently. Finally, working with a remote-based professional writer can provide more flexibility to the working process, allowing for easier collaboration and communication.

 

What constitutes a professional tender writer?

A professional tender writer is someone who has expertise in writing tenders and has a thorough understanding of industry regulations and guidelines. They should have knowledge of the language used in tenders and have the ability to work quickly and accurately.

Professional tender writers should also have excellent communication and collaboration skills, as they will often be working with a variety of stakeholders to ensure the highest quality results.

 

10 things to consider when recruiting a professional tender writer near you!

  1. Experience: Make sure the writer you choose has experience in the industry and with the type of tender you are writing.
  2. Location: Consider the proximity of the writer to your business, as this may affect the turnaround time of the tender.
  3. Price: Make sure you understand the cost of the writer before making any agreements.
  4. Expertise: Look for a writer who has a strong understanding of industry regulations and guidelines.
  5. Communication: Make sure the writer is able to effectively communicate with you and other stakeholders.
  6. Quality: Make sure the writer understands the importance of producing a high-quality tender.
  7. Feedback: Ensure the writer is willing to provide feedback on drafts and revisions.
  8. Timelines: Make sure the writer is able to meet your deadlines and timeline expectations.
  9. References: Ask for references from other clients to ensure the writer you are considering is reliable and effective.
  10. Agreement: Make sure you have a written agreement that clearly outlines the terms of the engagement.

Our services include:

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 Professional Tender Writers appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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ITT meaning and how it works https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/itt-meaning-and-how-it-works/ Wed, 04 Jan 2023 09:00:24 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22567 ITT meaning and how it works   Invitation to Tender (ITT): Meaning ITT, or Invitation...

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ITT meaning and how it works

 

Invitation to Tender (ITT): Meaning

ITT, or Invitation to Tender, is a formal document issued by a buyer, inviting suppliers (vendors) to bid for the contract of works they are wanting to fulfil. This usually involves the supply of goods/services. For this reason, ITTs are the key to growing your business!

However, the pool of potential suppliers can be vast, therefore a step before the ITT is used. This is known as a PQQ or Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. A PQQ is an essential step for the ITT process because it weeds out suppliers who lack the desired experience/qualities needed for the job.

Note: ITTs come in many sizes and degrees of complexity. Also, the buyer may want answers to a formal set of questions (usually regarding a supplier’s experience), your price and the project type. Projects may be a one-off contract or a framework agreement.

 

Know the meaning of ITT? But what does it include?

The typical tender, based on Public Procurement Regulations and European best practice, provides the supplier with the following information. This is used heavily across the public sector and has been increasingly adopted within the private sector also:

A Cover/ITT Letter

  • For a ‘closed tender’, this is provided to all relevant suppliers when they have been invited to tender from the initial shortlisting stage (PQQ). If the buyer releases an ‘open tender’, then this is usually a generic-looking letter.

A Scope of Procurement

  • This provides the supplier with information regarding what exactly they are procuring and the dates involved in the contract:
  1. Start date
  2. Length
  3. Approximate value
  • This is usually based on sourcing the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT), where technical capability and price are majorly assessed.

Note: If it’s a framework agreement this should detail how many suppliers are sought for a multi-supplier contract.

 

Let’s get to the meat of the ITT…

Submission Terms

  • This explains how you submit the tender and when it should be submitted by. A timeline is usually provided here which details every time-bound step of the tender procedure.

A Buyer Profile

  • This is quite simply information about the buyer. This will outline their overall missions and objectives, as well as background and some context as to why they are procuring such services.

The Award Criteria

  • This is where the buyer will detail how the tender is assessed and evaluated. This is how ‘MEAT’ is assessed through quality and cost ratios (for example, quality may be marked at 60% and the cost is evaluated at 40% of the overall marks).

Specification

  • One of the most important aspects of the tender. This can be 1 page or 100 pages, depending on the services/goods being procured. Make sure you read this and highlight areas in which you can excel your response.

Note: If you have to use a specific ‘tool’, make sure this is noted, and you’re not writing about a different tool.

Separate Appendices

This can vary widely depending on how the tender has been put together. This can include:

  1. Pricing schedules
  2. Quality response template
  3. Terms and conditions
  4. Key performance indicators
  5. Other supplementary attachments

Note: These appendices enable transparency during the evaluation process.

Note: This list features only a handful of the data that constitutes an ITT.

 

Approaching the ITT

So, you know the meaning of ITT… Now, how do you approach the ITT?

Approaching the ITT can be daunting, especially if you have never encountered it before and you don’t have a dedicated team for responding to ITTs!

Let’s break it down into four easy steps:

Positive and Persuasion (2 Ps)

  • Your response must positively impact the buyer
  • Your response must be persuasive – the buyer must favour your business over your competitors!
  • Overall, you must demonstrate your competence through a detailed, yet concise response – our expert bid writers can help with this!

Evidence

  • Do you have at least three relevant case studies? Buyers like to assess your business’s competency. If you cannot provide this evidence, you will almost certainly lose out on the bid.
  • Case studies can provide evidence of your experience, how you overcame challenges, lessons learnt/improvements you have made and most importantly, your results!

Deadlines

  • Rushing to provide documents at the last minute is a recipe for failure. The ITT stage requires planning at every stage, a plan which must accommodate everyone involved. Therefore, setting internal deadlines before your final deadline is crucial to account for any internal/external problems which may arise!

Support

  • If you lack the means to tackle the ITT, then these other steps will not make much of a difference to the outcome. Producing a high-quality ITT response demands an expert team which many companies do not have in-house access to. Therefore, hiring a bid writer can ease any stress, offer support and ultimately, write your ITT!

 

When to tender?

There are at least five aspects to consider before deciding to tender… Ensure you can say yes to all five!

Experience

  • As previously mentioned, you must be able to provide examples of previous relevant successes

Enough money?

  • If the contract is worth more than half of your annual turnover, you are unlikely to win it.

Resources

  • Do you have the team to write a high-quality submission?

Time

Competition

  • You need to know your strengths and weaknesses, as well as that of your competitors. If you don’t you don’t stand much chance of winning. Our tender consultants can offer support with this!

 

How can we help?

Now you’re more familiar with an ITT’s meaning and how it works, you may be looking for some writing support. Outsourcing a bid to a bid writing specialist can help you secure that next contract.

Here at Hudson Succeed, we pride ourselves on being bid writing experts. We have an 87% success rate and over 60 years of collective bid writing experience. We offer four levels of bid writing support to suit every business need. You may not need the whole bid written for you; you may simply need it to be proofread before you submit it. We can help with that.

 

Our services include:

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 own 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!

Simply 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). Also, the bid strategy will be managed by our Global Bid Director.

 

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 own 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 more contracts with a tender consultant https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/win-more-contracts-with-a-tender-consultant/ Wed, 17 Aug 2022 16:16:45 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22450 Improve your win rate with a tender consultant Are you looking to improve your win...

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Improve your win rate with a tender consultant

Are you looking to improve your win rate? The best thing you could do is work with a tender consultant. Keep reading to find out more!

What are tender consultants and how can they help you?

Tender consultants (also known as bid consultants), can help you and your business with your tendering processes. By working with a tender consultant, you can rest assured that the bid process will be smooth sailing. Tender consultants are trained professionals, whose sole purpose is to write bid proposals to achieve success. A tender consultant focuses solely on the tender process, whilst your focus can be divided across numerous business needs.

Here is a breakdown of why working with a tender consultant can be beneficial:

  1. A tender consultant has industry knowledge

A tender consultant works on ensuring they are familiar with their client’s industry. Meaning they know exactly what is expected when it comes to the bid proposal, offering expert advice. Here at Hudson Succeed, our team of Bid Writers have knowledge that spans multiple industries. Meaning they’re well-equipped to help with a range of bid proposals.

  1. Tender consultants are experts in their field of writing

Tender consultants’ expertise in writing is of the highest level. Our Bid Writers have written hundreds of bids. Therefore, they have perfected their writing skills to create high-quality proposals. So, you can rest assured you are getting nothing but the best.

  1. Communication is second to none

A tender consultant excels at all things verbal – making for excellent navigators in complex bid proposals. They clearly and effectively communicate why a client should be awarded the contract. Showcasing your business to the buyer.

  1. Tender consultants have controlled project management abilities

You’re probably familiar with how the tender process works, and how complex and long-winded it can be. A tender consultant consistently meets deadlines, without sacrificing quality. Managing their workload and ensuring they gather all the required information.

Want to find out more about how working with a tender consultant can be beneficial to you? Get in touch with our team today, to discuss this in more detail.

How can a government tender consultant help you?

Are you looking to specifically win government tenders? Then bringing in a tender consultant for support will help improve your win rate.

You may be thinking you don’t need the help. However, when it comes to government tenders, the better your response is, the more likely you are to see results. Here are three reasons why you should consider working with a government tender consultant:

  1. They understand the complexity a government contract can bring

Due to the nature of tenders, there is an added complexity as there are regulations and legalities that need to be considered and followed. Without adhering to certain regulations, you may not even make the shortlist. A government tender consultant has first-hand expert knowledge when dealing with government contracts. They understand what is needed and are dedicated to writing a winning response.

  1. A government tender consultant understands the importance of social value

Social value is a major component when it comes to government contracts. A government tender consultant understands this and ensures it is well established within the tender response. They will work with you and how you will effectively tackle economic, environmental, and social issues.

  1. A government tender consultant understands the MEAT

Government contracts are always awarded to suppliers who showcase the MEAT. This stands for the Most Economically Advantageous Tender. What this means is, the buyer is evaluating tender submissions based on those who provide the most value for money. Thus, rewarding them with the contract. Because of the nature of tenders, each can be different from the next. Working with a government tender consultant can be the difference between winning and losing a tender. A government tender consultant understands what the buyer is asking, what the specifications are and how to best respond. Increasing your chances of being successful.

Let’s Summarise

By now you will be more than familiar with how a tender consultant can help you. Let’s recap why working with a tender consultant can be beneficial for increasing your win rate.

4 things a tender consultant brings to the table:

  1. Industry knowledge
  2. Writing expertise
  3. Effective communication skills
  4. Project management abilities

Looking to bid on government contracts? – Here are three reasons why you should work with a government tender consultant:

  1. They understand the complexity a government contract can bring
  2. Have a thorough understanding of the importance of social value
  3. A government tender consultant understands the MEAT

Want to improve your win rate? – Enter Hudson Succeed

Our team of tender consultants are here to help you.

They have a thorough understanding of the tender process and government contracts, knowing exactly how to respond.

By outsourcing to professionals, you could improve your chances of winning contracts.

We have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re completely new to tendering or aren’t seeing results – we can help. There are four bid writing packages available:

  • Tender Writing 

Once you’ve found a tender you’d like to go for, send it over to us. One of our Bid Writers will write the tender response for you. We’ll provide a full Tender Writing breakdown and even submit the bid on your behalf.

  • Tender Mentor  

Tender Mentor can give your tender response a once-over before you submit it. Our Bid Writing Team will analyse your response, notifying you of any errors and opportunities for improvements prior to submission.

  • Tender Ready 

During the Tender Ready service, our team will create professional policies, procedures, and case studies in your company branding. If you already have this content, we will review everything carefully to ensure that nothing is missed. Once the programme is complete, you’ll have access to three days’ worth of bid consultancy. This can be used for bid writing, tender reviews, or general advice and guidance.

  • Tender Improvement  

The Tender Improvement package can help those who have tendered before but aren’t seeing results. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow.

Need help with searching for tenders?

There’s no shortage of websites offering multi-sector tendering opportunities and leads.

Ideally, you should be searching for a sector-specific site that posts all unique, public and private sector opportunities.

Our sister company, Hudson Discover, has 11 sector-specific tendering portals. One centralised and easy-to-navigate portal can help you save time, streamlining the process.

You’ll also get an email alert when new and relevant tenders are uploaded to your sector!

A subscription to one of our industry-specific portals will include:  

  • Unlimited portal access. You can browse your industry’s portal to your heart’s content. See all the opportunities that are available, intuitively categorised, and easily accessible.
  • A daily email bulletin. When we upload new tenders, we will send you an email alert.
  • A free 20-minute phone consultation with a Bid Writer. Our expert Bid Consultants will chat with you about anything tender related.

 What opportunities can I expect from a tender search on a Hudson Discover portal?

Hudson Discover hosts all kinds of tenders in both the public and private sectors. These are inclusive of, but aren’t limited to:

Discover Elite

If you want to streamline the process even further, you can sign up to Discover Elite via your chosen portal. With this service, a dedicated Account Manager will find live bids on your behalf. They’ll speak with you weekly to discuss opportunities that may interest you. This is especially helpful for those with little time to spare.

Vocal

Our support doesn’t end there! Our creative content agency, Vocal, are on hand to help.

At Vocal, we are not afraid to stand up and make ourselves heard. And we make sure our clients aren’t either! From small, micro-businesses to large organisations, we are vocal about the things that make your business unique.

Our creative service is dedicated to using striking and thought-provoking content to help to grow your business. We’ll take your bid and give it a complete makeover. With professionally designed tender documents, you’re sure to make an impression on the buyer!

Our team specialise in six areas, including:

If you’d like to know more about what we can do for your business, introduce yourself to the team!

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

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Strategic Bid Management: Everything You NEED to Know to Succeed! https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/strategic-bid-management/ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 08:00:23 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22423 Here’s what you should know about strategic bid management Got questions about strategic bid management?...

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Here’s what you should know about strategic bid management

Got questions about strategic bid management? You’re in the right place! Here at Hudson Succeed, we thrive off teaching you anything and everything about the tendering process. Part of that process is strategic bid management. So, do you want to know what it is and how to conduct it successfully? Keep reading and you’ll learn our secrets!

What is strategic bid management?

Strategic bid management is a way of staying organised and on track when you embark on a bid. Producing a bid proposal is no easy task. There is a lot of work involved. This includes a lot of different stages and processes that can easily become overwhelming. Those that don’t value strategic bid management are likely to struggle during their tender writing process.

Tips from our experts for strategic bid management

We sat down with several of our Bid Writers to see what goes into bid management and planning for success.

1.     Check you are eligible for the opportunities you source

One of the first stages of strategic bid management is checking you are eligible for opportunities. You would be surprised how many businesses ignore this factor. Read ALL of the tender documents thoroughly. Note down any key details that stand out.

If the buyer states they want the supplier to have a certain qualification, then pay attention to this. If you don’t, but you bid anyway, you’re very unlikely to win. You’ll be wasting both yours and the buyer’s time, and this won’t leave a great reputation on your part.

2.     Consider exactly what the buyer requires

When you read the buyer’s documents, you need to show you have a grasp of what they’re asking. Plan out your answers to their questions. This way, you can ensure you don’t ramble and go off topic. If you do this, the buyer will grow bored and believe you can’t focus on what’s important.

3.     How to create your strategic bid management plan

When you are creating your strategic bid management plan, you should consider the following:

  • Who will be responsible for developing responses?
  • How is the work to be submitted? Some buyers require physical submissions as well as online.
  • What format do they require your responses in?
  • What do you need to attach for each question?
  • Where is the response to be submitted and with what deadlines?
  • How long will each individual question take?
  • Do you need to create case studies for responses?

Having the answers to these questions ensures you are as prepared as possible. This also means you’ll complete the bid on time and have enough time for proofreading and reviewing. Remember: it is essential to have your bid in on time. If it is late by even a minute, you’ll lose your chance of being considered. So, create your strategic bid management plan and you’ll be set to win tenders!

Summary

Here’s a summary of what we covered:

What is strategic bid management?

To ensure your bid process runs smoothly, you need to be prepared. Bid management is the key to ensuring this. You’ll be able to stay organised and no small but essential details will go unacknowledged.

Tips from our experts for strategic bid management

  1. Check you are eligible for the opportunities you source
  2. Consider exactly what the buyer requires
  3. How to create your strategic bid management plan
    • Who will be responsible for developing responses?
    • How is the work to be submitted? Some buyers require physical submissions as well as online.
    • What format do they require your responses in?
    • What do you need to attach for each question?
    • Where is the response to be submitted and with what deadlines?
    • How long will each individual question take?
    • Do you need to create case studiesfor responses?

Want to learn more about strategic bid management? Contact us to speak with our experts and we will answer your questions!

Need help searching for tenders?

You may be wondering where you can find a tender for your business. There’s no shortage of websites offering multi-sector tendering opportunities and leads. Ideally, you should be searching for a sector-specific site that posts all unique, public and private sector opportunities.

Our sister company, Hudson Discover, has 11 sector-specific tendering portals.  One centralised and easy-to-navigate portal can help you save time, streamlining the process.

Once signed up, you’ll have access to your own dedicated Account Manager. They’ll be able to answer any questions you may have about public sector contracts. You’ll also get an email alert when new and relevant tenders are uploaded to your sector.

A subscription to one of our industry-specific portals will include: 

  • Unlimited portal access. You can browse your industry’s portal to your heart’s content. See the hundreds of opportunities that are available, intuitively categorised, and easily accessible.
  • A daily email bulletin. When you sign up to a portal, you’ll receive an email alert when new tenders are uploaded.
  • A dedicated Account Manager. They’ll handle any questions or queries you may have about the portal.
  • A free 20-minute phone consultation with a Bid Writer. Our expert Bid Consultants will chat with you about anything tender related.

What opportunities can I expect from a tender search on a Hudson Discover portal? 

We host all kinds of tenders in both the public and private sectors. These are inclusive of, but aren’t limited to:

What we can do for you

We have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re completely new to tendering or aren’t seeing results – they can help. There are four bid writing packages available:

Once you’ve found a tender you’d like to go for, send it over to us. One of our professional Bid Writers will write the tender response for you. They’ll provide a full Tender Writing breakdown and even submit it on your behalf.

Tender Mentor can give your tender response a once over before you submit. The Bid Writing Team will analyse your response, notifying you of any errors and opportunities for improvements prior to submission.

During the Tender Ready service, our team will create professional policies, procedures, and case studies in your company branding. If you already have this content, we will review everything carefully to ensure that nothing is missed. This service also helps businesses who are new to tendering with terminology and industry knowledge.

The Tender Improvement package can help those who have tendered before but aren’t seeing results. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow.

Vocal

Our support doesn’t end there! Our creative content agency, Vocal, are on hand to help.

The Vocal Team are not afraid to stand up and be heard. And we make sure our clients aren’t either! From small, micro businesses to large organisations, we are vocal about the things that make your business unique.

Our creative service is dedicated to growing your business through striking and thought-provoking content. Our team specialise in six areas, including:

If you’d like to know more about what we can do for your business, introduce yourself to the team!

Contact us today to find out more.

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

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8 Tips for Submitting Electronic Tenders https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tips-for-electronic-tendering/ Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:40:38 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22409 Electronic tenders: 8 tips from bid writing experts Electronic tenders have become standard practice in...

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Electronic tenders: 8 tips from bid writing experts

Electronic tenders have become standard practice in the procurement industry, with more buyers adopting online processes.

It is not only buyers who yield benefits from this technology, but suppliers too. This online process presents easier access to tendering opportunities and a clear, structured procedure to follow. Here we run through the e-tendering process, along with some core benefits for suppliers.

The digital transformation towards electronic tendering

As technology continues to evolve, e-tendering processes now dominate the procurement industry. With this move to online processes, the question is no longer “is e-tendering right for my company?”. Suppliers must now adapt to the digital transformation of procurement.

Software solutions are now no longer exclusive to larger, more resourceful companies. Small to Medium Enterprises are now able to access these electronic procurement solutions and reap its benefits. This transformation typically aims towards goals such as cost savings, greater efficiency, and improved strategic and competitive decision-making.

Like all digital transformations, electronic tendering also has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Despite its cons, it is rapidly taking over paper-based solutions. It is important for suppliers to not only understand the benefits this yields, but how to successfully navigate them.

The e-tendering platform

There are a number of online portals that are used for submitting your tender online. These portals provide a secure online platform that improve the speed and efficiency of submissions. Such portals include but are not limited to: ProContract (Proactis), YORtender, DELTA eSourcing, and Oracle iSupplier.

Once you are registered on one of these portals, there are multiple utilities at your disposal. You can:

What are the key advantages for suppliers?

The electronic tendering process provides a structured approach to submitting bids. While each portal may have different formats, they often abide by a sequential process. For example, when taking you through the tendering process you will often be required to complete parts before moving on. This mitigates the potential for error, such as accidentally missing out important parts of the proposal.

Depending on the tender portal used, there are also the following structural benefits:

  • Formatted text fields

Not all online portals require you to submit your bid in the form of Word documents. Portals such as ProActis provide text boxes for question responses. This removes the burden of formatting from the supplier, putting all of the focus onto the content. This also means that no bidder can be at an advantage due to unique formatting or design.

  • Clarifications and post-clarifications

Electronic tendering systems have processes in place to allow both buyers and suppliers to seek clarification from each other. If a requirement in the specification is unclear, the buyer would be able to clarify this in a timely manner. Buyers often get in touch with suppliers for clarifications post-submission. This reduces the chances of the submission quality being marked down automatically due to error. Additionally, all communications are within a clear, legally binding trail.

  • Easy-to-use interface

While the online procurement process can take some time to adjust to, most interfaces are user-friendly. This greatly simplifies the submission and information acquisition process for suppliers. Not only is the paper-based alternative more costly, but it is also more tedious in general. Using this interface, it is also easier to manage documents for submissions and make edits where necessary. This is something that would be far more tedious with the paper-based option!

  • Fool-proofing

As touched upon previously, the e-tendering process is usually fool-proofed to reduce error. This is achieved by dividing the proposal up into mandatory sections, requiring you to complete each section. Using an e-tendering portal also means that it is much easier to pick up where you left off. This is typically done with a completion tracker or visual cues indicating which fields still require responses.

8 tips for submitting electronic tenders

Electronic tendering improves access to opportunities with a structured format. However, it is still worth noting these e-tendering tips:

  1. Don’t wait too long to submit clarifications

There is typically a deadline for submitting clarifications to the buyer before the official submission deadline. By getting your clarifications resolved early, the sooner you can submit your bid. You should aim to be clear about which part of the tender you are referring to. Taking too long to seek clarifications also means there is less time to make the amendments in question. It would be ideal to get these sooner rather than later.

  1. Try not to submit your tender at the last minute

Leaving the submission of your bid to the last minute can run you into problems. If there is something wrong with the portal or the submission, you may not have time to resolve this. It is always good to submit the tender a decent length of time before the deadline. When it comes to the submission, if you do run into problems, it is important to evidence this. This can be done in the form of screenshots relayed to the buyer or portal administrator. It might also be worth submitting different parts of the tender when they are completed – instead of in one go.

  1. Don’t forget your login details

While it may be obvious, losing access to your account can cause you to miss looming deadlines. Some electronic tendering systems will put a lock on your account after too many incorrect attempts. If you anticipate going on leave, it would also be worth passing these details over to colleagues. Losing access to your portal account would also mean any opportunities curated need to be found again. Avoid the unnecessary stress by keeping your login details handy!

  1. Monitor your system notifications

Online portals will send you system notifications for various reasons. You will receive notifications when clarifications are responded to, or the buyer has relayed an update. You will also receive responses to clarifications made by other bidders for fairness reasons. It is important to keep on top of these so you don’t miss any crucial information. If you miss a notification about amendments to specification criteria, you may then be at risk of rejection.

  1. Check grammar before you submit

Consider drafting your responses up in MS Word before pasting them into the text boxes. This yields the advantage of a visible word count, and a spellchecker. This will also ensure you have access to your proposal drafts should a problem occur with the portal. Have a look at our Tender VLE video for information on the editing process and proofreading tips!

  1. Be careful of timeouts

Most electronic tendering systems have an automatic timeout system. This logs the user out after a period of inactivity (typically 10-20 minutes). While many portals have an auto-save feature, you should ensure your progress is saved before leaving it for this long.

  1. Double-check portal submissions

Before you click that “submit response” button, it is definitely worth checking over your response to ensure accuracy. It may also be worth handing over to another team member to check over with a fresh pair of eyes. This reduces the chances of something being missed or completed incorrectly. Take note of the submission requirements in line with the documents you have attached. If something is out of line with the specified requirements, this can result in automatic rejection.

  1. Opt-in to notifications for relevant opportunities

Many online tender portals boast a feature that automatically presents you with opportunities in your industry of choice. This is typically based on inaccurate CPV codes, and it is not always sector-specific. If you’d like more help finding tenders that are right for you, get in touch with the Hudson Discover Team.

Developing technologies in e-tendering

At Hudson Outsourcing, our goal is to help every business we engage with grow. We aim to propagate this by using innovative procurement technologies and smarter methods of working.

Currently in development is our Procure Smart software. This is a prospective technology and compliance solution that uses Artificial Intelligence to bolster procurement efficiency. Procure Smart will use this AI to not only improve the procurement process, but keep in adherence with regulations. The end-goal is to equalise the procurement process and make it more accessible for both suppliers and commissioners.

Need help with electronic tendering?

Many of the mentioned tender portals can be difficult to understand at first. It can take some time to get used navigating them comfortably without detrimental mistakes.

For help and support with the electronic tendering process and writing persuasive bids, contact our Bid Writers at Hudson Succeed.

We have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re completely new to tendering or aren’t seeing results – they can help. There are four bid writing packages available:

Once you’ve found a tender you’d like to go for, send it over to us. One of our Bid Writers will write the tender response for you. They’ll provide a full Tender Writing breakdown and even submit it on your behalf.

Tender Mentor can give your tender response a once over before you submit. The Bid Writing Team will analyse your response, notifying you of any errors and opportunities for improvements prior to submission.

During the Tender Ready service, our team will create professional policies, procedures, and case studies in your company branding. If you already have this content, we will review everything carefully to ensure that nothing is missed. This service also helps businesses who are new to tendering with terminology and industry knowledge.

The Tender Improvement package can help those who have tendered before but aren’t seeing results. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow.

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

The post 8 Tips for Submitting Electronic Tenders appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Bid and Tender Writing Services: The Secrets to Success! https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/bid-and-tender-writing-services/ Wed, 06 Jul 2022 05:00:46 +0000 https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/?p=22401 How can bid and tender writing services benefit your business? Got questions about bid and...

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How can bid and tender writing services benefit your business?

Got questions about bid and tender writing services? We have the answers! We know that bidding for a contract can be a stressful process, especially for those with little to no experience. So, we put together this blog to help people learn how bid and tender writing services can help them. So, keep reading to learn more about the services available to you and how they could be your best option.

What are bid and tender writing services?

If you are completely new to the tendering process, then you may wonder what bid and tender writing services are. Bid and tender writing services are a form of support you can receive from Tender Writing Consultants.

Bid writing can take up a lot of time and resources. So, bid and tender writing services are often chosen for this reason. In short, these experts will handle the process for you. Read our next section to learn the benefits of bid and tender writing services!

How can bid and tender writing services benefit your business?

Now that you know what bid and tender writing services are, you may wonder what the benefits are. Well, there are several. Here are some of the main benefits:

1.     Increased chance of success

By relying on a professional Bid Writer, you can rest assured that you’ve increased your chances of success. These experts know what it takes to win. They’ve made mistakes and learnt throughout their career. This means if you are new to tendering, you won’t need to go through this learning curve. They’ve already done it and therefore can apply their expertise to give you the best chance of winning.

2.     Takes the pressure off your shoulders

One of the best benefits of bid and tender writing services is that it takes the stress out of the process. You can sit back and relax as the experts do the work on your behalf. They can even submit it for you!

This is certainly a benefit if you are already incredibly busy trying to run a business. The chances are you have little to no time to dedicate to writing a bid. By using bid and tender writing services, you don’t have to sacrifice your time to the bid. You can continue with your usual responsibilities and there is no disruption to your business.

3.     Saves you resources

Running on from our last point, by using bid and tender writing services, you are saving yourself resources. You could always hire an inhouse Bid Writer. However, you’d have to be using them constantly for it to be a worthy investment. Plus, the hiring process can take a lot of time. By using bid and tender writing services, you can get instant support. It saves you money and resources in the long run.

4.     Bid Writers understand documents

One of the most difficult parts of bidding for work is the number of lengthy tender documents to go through. If you aren’t well versed in these, you’ll likely find them overwhelming. You may also miss key details. Experts know exactly what they are looking for and what needs to be prioritised.

Summary

Now that we have discussed bid and tender writing services, let’s recap so nothing is forgotten!

What are bid and tender writing services?

Bid and tender writing services are available from industry professionals. If you are new to or inexperienced with bidding, they can support you. If you aren’t seeing the success you want, they can also help.

How can bid and tender writing services benefit your business?

1.     Increased chance of success

2.     Takes the pressure off your shoulders

3.     Saves you resources

4.     Bid Writers understand tender documents.

Need help searching for tenders?

You may be wondering where you can find a tender for your business. There’s no shortage of websites offering multi-sector tendering opportunities and leads. Ideally, you should be searching for a sector-specific site that posts all unique, public and private sector opportunities.

Our sister company, Hudson Discover, has 11 sector-specific tendering portals.  One centralised and easy-to-navigate portal can help you save time, streamlining the process.

Once signed up, you’ll have access to your own dedicated Account Manager. They’ll be able to answer any questions you may have about public sector contracts. You’ll also get an email alert when new and relevant tenders are uploaded to your sector.

A subscription to one of our industry-specific portals will include:

  • Unlimited portal access. You can browse your industry’s portal to your heart’s content. See the hundreds of opportunities that are available, intuitively categorised, and easily accessible.
  • A daily email bulletin. When you sign up to a portal, you’ll receive an email alert when new tenders are uploaded.
  • A dedicated Account Manager. They’ll handle any questions or queries you may have about the portal.
  • A free 20-minute phone consultation with a Bid Writer. Our expert Bid Consultants will chat with you about anything tender related.

What opportunities can I expect from a tender search on a Hudson Discover portal?

We host all kinds of tenders in both the public and private sectors. These are inclusive of, but aren’t limited to:

What we can do for you

We have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re completely new to tendering or aren’t seeing results – they can help. There are four bid writing packages available:

Once you’ve found a tender you’d like to go for, send it over to us. One of our Bid Writers will write the tender response for you. They’ll provide a full Tender Writing breakdown and even submit it on your behalf.

Tender Mentor can give your tender response a once over before you submit. The Bid Writing Team will analyse your response, notifying you of any errors and opportunities for improvements prior to submission.

During the Tender Ready service, our team will create professional policies, procedures, and case studies in your company branding. If you already have this content, we will review everything carefully to ensure that nothing is missed. This service also helps businesses who are new to tendering with terminology and industry knowledge.

The Tender Improvement package can help those who have tendered before but aren’t seeing results. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow.

Vocal

Our support doesn’t end there! Our creative content agency, Vocal, are on hand to help.

The Vocal Team are not afraid to stand up and be heard. And we make sure our clients aren’t either! From small, micro businesses to large organisations, we are vocal about the things that make your business unique.

Our creative service is dedicated to growing your business through striking and thought-provoking content. Our team specialise in six areas, including:

If you’d like to know more about what we can do for your business, introduce yourself to the team!

Contact us today to find out more.

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

The post Bid and Tender Writing Services: The Secrets to Success! appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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Tender Writing Tips: 7 of the Best FREE Tips from Professional Bid Writers https://www.tenderconsultants.co.uk/tender-writing-tips/ Wed, 22 Jun 2022 06:00:48 +0000 https://tenderconsult.wpengine.com/?p=22381 Here’s 7 tender writing tips from professional Bid Writers! Looking for free tender writing tips?...

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Here’s 7 tender writing tips from professional Bid Writers!

Looking for free tender writing tips? Have you ever wanted to sit down with a bid writing professional and see what it takes to win? Well, at Hudson Succeed, our experts are more than happy to offer support. In this blog, we will cover seven of the most important tender writing tips. Keep reading to see how you can increase your chances of success!

1.    Use writing and communication to your advantage

Here’s our first tip: make sure you have a great grasp on writing and communication skills. You can use these to your advantage when writing a tender. As you may have guessed, writing skills are important for writing tenders. This isn’t just about spelling and grammar, although these are incredibly important. Writing a good tender means using writing skills to communicate with the buyer. You should clearly express your skills, experience, concepts, and more, in the best way. Your tone should be persuasive. Afterall, you are trying to convince them that you are the best option for the contract.

Essentially, you want to use writing and communication to make yourself memorable. That doesn’t mean you should go to any extremes, as you should remain professional. But executing these abilities and showcasing them in the best light will give you an edge over competitors.

2.    Don’t use technical jargon

Following on from our first point, next on our list of tender writing tips is to not use technical jargon. Since your bid should be clear and easy to read, adding technical jargon will work against this. There is a very high chance the buyer has little to no knowledge of your industry. So, using words they won’t understand will instantly make it a chore to read your bid. They’ll be confused and may have to research what something means (if they have the time, which is unlikely).

Ultimately, if your bid becomes difficult to read, you’ll leave the buyer with a bad impression. In turn, they will likely avoid awarding you the contract as they won’t fully understand your tender.

3.    Proofread your work before submission

Even the best writers will make mistakes in their first draft, no matter how small they are. Our next tender writing tip is the importance of proofreading and editing your bid proposal. You should never submit a first draft when tendering! There’s almost certainly going to be mistakes, even minor ones you might not notice at first. The issue is that the buyer likely will notice them, as it is their first time reading the document. Plus, they are reviewing it thoroughly.

Our Bid Writing Consultants suggest that you thoroughly proofread your bid several times. It can be beneficial to take breaks and then read it, as you are more likely to notice errors. You should also read it aloud, or have your device read it aloud to you. This makes it easier to notice anything that doesn’t sound quite right. If you have the team members, you could ask other people to read it too. The more it is proofed, the higher the quality. If you submit a bid full of errors and mistakes, the buyer won’t take you seriously. They will get the impression that you are lazy and unprofessional. So, they certainly won’t want to award you the contract.

4.    Read all the documents before you start

One of our most important tender writing tips is to read all the buyer’s tender documents before you start. This way, you can prepare your bid and make sure you cover all the important details. The last thing you want is to complete an excellent bid, only to find you missed an important part. This will result in your bid being a complete waste of time and effort.

5.    Use bid management skills to stay on track

One of the best ways of staying organised is through bid management. Here are a few things to consider for effective bid management:

  • How long will each individual question take?
  • Do you need to create case studies for responses?
  • What do you need to attach for each question?
  • Where is the response to be submitted and with what deadlines?
  • How is the work to be submitted? Some buyers require physical submissions as well as online.
  • What format do they require your responses in?
  • Who will be responsible for developing responses?

The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to have made mistakes. If mistakes happen, you’ll also be prepared to deal with them efficiently and effectively. This ensures time isn’t wasted and the bid is submitted on time and of the highest standard.

6.    Ensure you use relevant case studies

Next on our list of tender writing tips is the importance of case studies. These should be showcased in your bid proposal as it is evidence of your skills and experience. The buyer wants to feel assured they can trust you with their contract. So, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to put their faith in your abilities.

It is also important that your case studies are relevant to the bid you are going for. Irrelevant case studies do more harm than good. This is because it shows you don’t have relevant experience, firstly. Then, it shows you haven’t bothered to check whether it’s relevant.

It is an added bonus to be able to include testimonials for the case studies you showcase. We wrote a blog for more tender writing tips for case studies.

7.    Be compliant with the instructions

For the last of our tender writing tips, we will discuss the importance of compliance. You may be surprised to know that there are those that don’t follow the buyer’s instructions. This massively impacts your chances of success. Why would the buyer award you the contract if you can’t follow instructions for the bid?

When the buyer gives a specific word count for your answer, stick to it. For example, if they want 1000 words, get as close to that as possible. If your answer is only 500 words, it shows two distinct issues. One is that you can’t follow instructions. Secondly, is that you don’t know enough about your business to answer the question fully. Both are detrimental to your chances of success.

Summary

So, now that we have come to an end on our blog of tender writing tips, let’s recap!

Here are the seven tender writing tips we explored:

  1. Use writing and communication to your advantage
  2. Don’t use technical jargon
  3. Proofread your work before submission
  4. Read all the documents before you start
  5. Use bid management skills to stay on track
  6. Ensure you use relevant case studies
  7. Be compliant with the instructions.

Do you have questions about our tender writing tips, or something else? Feel free to contact us, as we are always happy to help!

Need help searching for tenders?

You may be wondering where you can find a tender for your business. There’s no shortage of websites offering multi-sector tendering opportunities and leads. Ideally, you should be searching for a sector-specific site that posts all unique, public and private sector opportunities.

Our sister company, Hudson Discover, has 11 sector-specific tendering portals.  One centralised and easy-to-navigate portal can help you save time, streamlining the process.

Once signed up, you’ll have access to your own dedicated Account Manager. They’ll be able to answer any questions you may have about public sector contracts. You’ll also get an email alert when new and relevant tenders are uploaded to your sector.

A subscription to one of our industry-specific portals will include:

  • Unlimited portal access. You can browse your industry’s portal to your heart’s content. See the hundreds of opportunities that are available, intuitively categorised, and easily accessible.
  • A daily email bulletin. When you sign up to a portal, you’ll receive an email alert when new tenders are uploaded.
  • A dedicated Account Manager. They’ll handle any questions or queries you may have about the portal.
  • A free 20-minute phone consultation with a Bid Writer. Our expert bid consultants will chat with you about anything tender related.

What opportunities can I expect from a tender search on a Hudson Discover portal?

 We host all kinds of tenders in both the public and private sectors. These are inclusive of, but aren’t limited to:

What we can do for you

We have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re completely new to tendering or aren’t seeing results – they can help. There are four bid writing packages available:

Once you’ve found a tender you’d like to go for, send it over to us. One of our Bid Writers will write the tender response for you. They’ll provide a full Tender Writing breakdown and even submit it on your behalf.

Tender Mentor can give your tender response a once over before you submit. The Bid Writing Team will analyse your response, notifying you of any errors and opportunities for improvements prior to submission.

During the Tender Ready service, our team will create professional policies, procedures, and case studies in your company branding. If you already have this content, we will review everything carefully to ensure that nothing is missed. This service also helps businesses who are new to tendering with terminology and industry knowledge.

The Tender Improvement package can help those who have tendered before but aren’t seeing results. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow.

Vocal

Our support doesn’t end there! Our creative content agency, Vocal, are on hand to help.

The Vocal Team are not afraid to stand up and be heard. And we make sure our clients aren’t either! From small, micro businesses to large organisations, we are vocal about the things that make your business unique.

Our creative service is dedicated to growing your business through striking and thought-provoking content. Our team specialise in six areas, including:

If you’d like to know more about what we can do for your business, introduce yourself to the team!

Contact us today to find out more.

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

The post Tender Writing Tips: 7 of the Best FREE Tips from Professional Bid Writers appeared first on Tender Consultants.

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