framework - UK Bid Writer

You Couldn’t Make It Up!

Or rather, you shouldn't. Another important aspect of bid writing that – done well – will help you get the best out of your bid writer.

When I’m asked what exactly it is I do for a living, one of the best ways I've found to describe bids and tenders is ‘a bit like writing a job application but for a whole company’. It’s not entirely accurate; there are obviously many differences, but it’s similar enough to get my point across. I’d like to address one of those similarities today, because understanding it is crucial to success in tendering and because it’s something that I frequently find myself explaining to new or potential clients.

PQQ & ITT – Residential Building Security

This client had completed the PQQ themselves but felt that a review of the documentation prior to submission would highlight any weak areas, which could then be resolved to make a stronger submission. However, at this point there was only 3 hours to go until the deadline!

PQQ & ITT – Disabled Adaptations

This micro business had been successfully providing services to a council for over two decades via referrals and requests by satisfied residents. A shake-up within the council’s procurement department meant the company now had to tender for all future work through a framework agreement.

PQQ – Grounds Maintenance

A well-established, local company had several contracts coming up for renewal over the course of the year and needed some assistance in becoming ‘tender ready’.

ITT – Agency Nurses & Social Care Workers

This exceptionally complex ITT comprised of several ‘lots’, with detailed pricing and discount structures and a mountain of evidential information required. It was a highly competitive tender with at least 300 other bidders vying for a limited number of contracts per lot.

PQQ – NHS Patient Transport Services

This taxi service's long term contract was up for renewal. Over the years, they had helped the trust develop and strengthen its own policies and processes to ensure safer and more efficient transport for their patients and they were determined not to lose this vital part of their revenue.

Are your policies ‘tender ready’?

You can be pretty sure that most PQQs will require you to provide copies of your policies and overviews of your working practices. Having your policies and procedures up to date and ready to go can save you a lot of time when you're busy working to a tender deadline. If you'd like a review of your current policies and a quote for bringing them up to date, get in touch.

SMEs Vs Public Sector Procurement

Building.co.uk highlights a new report by the National Federation of Builders about how current public sector procurement practices affect SMEs. I haven’t read through it all yet (I’m saving it for my Friday night entertainment), but the headline stats are pretty grim: ‘SMEs slam poor government procurement practices’ – article on building.co.uk The full report […]

Download Business Link’s entire guide to public sector tendering in one handy PDF!

More useful stuff related to public sector tendering, in the form of a handy PDF, which contains all the relevant guidance and advice Business Link provide relating to tendering in one document. Download it here.

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