Top tips for tendering

Rate this page

Rating statistics for this page

3.1 out of 5 from 59 votes

Breakdown

15 votes

10 votes

9 votes

13 votes

12 votes

Top tips for tendering

• Ensure the service being delivered fits the aims and objectives of your organisation.
• Ensure the service is deliverable within the terms of the contract.
• Consider how delivering the service will affect your organisation’s impartiality and ability to be an advocate for your beneficiaries. Will being reliant on income from a public body limit your ability to criticise its services?
• Be sure that you understand how delivery will be judged.
• Apply 'full cost recovery rules to contracts – including the costs of preparing tenders.
• Check out the tax and VAT implications.
• Check employment law if new work involves taking on staff from another employer. Staff are often protected by TUPE –  transfer of undertakings –  rules that protect their jobs.

Common errors made when tendering

These are some of the errors people commonly make when tendering:

• missing the call to tender
• failing to express interest and therefore not receiving the documents
• failing to submit a pre-qualification questionnaire which debars you from the tender award phase of the process
• not providing the information required
• not answering the questions but providing information which can be regarded as 'marketing'
• basing the responses on unsupported assertions rather than evidenced claims
• not including the key documentation
• failing to adequately demonstrate effective management of risk
• missing submission deadlines.

Have your say

What are your top tips for successful tendering? Let us know on the Commissioning and procurement forum.