The tendering process can be quite difficult to navigate when you’re starting out, so our team of winning tender writers are sharing answers to some of the most common questions they get asked.
My deadline is in a week, can you help?
We offer limited support for last-minute tenders, but the level of assistance we can provide will depend on the complexity of the tender and how much of it is already completed. Typically, we suggest 4 weeks to work on your first tender for the best chance of success. In doing this it allows us to fully understand your business, and what makes you stand out. It also gives us time to talk to subject matter experts within your business to help create the strongest responses and ensure we all thoroughly understand the specifications and have time to ask clarifying questions if needs be. It’s better to start as early as possible, we want to be sure we have time to give your tender submission the best chance of success.
Can you do the pricing for me?
No, this is something we advise you work on with your accountant. Only you will understand what costs will be involved in fulfilling the contract. We can fully support you on the quality questions of your response.
Do you really need my accounts and policies?
Yes. Public sector buyers are risk averse so if they are entrusting you with a contract they need to be sure that you can deliver as per the specification. They are looking for you to demonstrate you are the right business for the work and with this you need to demonstrate credibility and build trust.
When it comes to your accounts, the buyers are looking for financial stability. Typically they would want to see your last two years of accounts and will be checking to determine whether you meet a minimum turnover threshold or other financial criteria. If you are unable to provide these, it may be possible to provide alternatives like a cash flow forecast or profit and loss statement, you can ask qualifying questions to confirm this.
The policies needed will vary from contract to contract but almost inevitably you will be expected to have a Health and Safety policy, Equality and Diversity policy, and more. Again, this goes down to demonstrating your credibility and showing that you are the right fit for the contract. If you don’t have all of the required policies at the time you are writing the response, you may still be able to submit a response as sometimes the buyers will be satisfied with a commitment from you that you will get these ahead of the contract starting. However, failure to do this will see the contract withdrawn.
How much involvement will you need from me?
Tender writing is a collaborative process - we bring the expertise in writing compelling responses and understanding what it is the buyer actually wants to know, but we need your input to ensure the submission truly reflects your business. Your involvement will include:
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Providing key information about your company, services, staff and experience.
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Supplying any required policies and supporting documents.
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Answering questions from the team about your solution to specific aspects of the tender.
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Reviewing and approving our drafts to ensure accuracy and alignment with your business.
We aim to make the process as smooth as possible, guiding you on what’s needed and when. The more engaged you can be, especially at the start, the stronger and more competitive your tender submission will be.
If you’re thinking about tendering but aren’t sure where to begin, take a look at our blogs or visit our YouTube channel, where you will find a wealth of information at your fingertips. When you are ready to start responding to opportunities, get in touch and we can discuss how our tender writing services can support you and your business to grow.
