Tender Process Explained | Common Mistakes Made
Tender process explained
The tender process can be confusing, and it is easy to make mistakes. We’ve all been there. A timing oversight, a grammatical error, the mind-blowing frustration after realising a specific document wasn’t uploaded etc. etc.
No-one can tell you what actual mistake you will make on tenders, but here at Tender VLE, we can provide some detail about a few common mistakes that are made to help you avoid these going forward.
Timing
The typical UK professional bid writer writes on average 2,000 – 3,000 words in a working day. Make sure you give yourself more than enough time to do this.
There have been numerous times where we have seen clients come to us on Wednesday asking for support when their 40,000-word tender is due in on Friday. In order to score a high-quality and successful bid, make sure you give yourself enough time to do this. Get a plan going to ensure all roles and responsibilities are defined, helping you understand ALL that needs to be done in the timeframe you have.
Being a part of our tender opportunity platforms and daily bulletins provides you with the opportunity as soon as it’s released! Click here to find out more.
Clarification Questions
Always read the clarification questions! There could be 55 questions asked and due to the nature of some portals, you may NOT be notified of them. Give yourself plenty of time to check all clarifications (usually just past the clarification deadline) to make sure you are aware of any changes etc.
If you get marked down because you haven’t factored in a change to the works, then this shows a lack of attention to detail, which will, in turn, lack confidence with the evaluator, as well as obviously lower marks and hindering your chances of success.
Grammar
Probably the most important mistake you’ll make. As Jeffrey Gitomer once said, “Your grammar is a reflection of your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression. And like all impressions, you are in total control.” There is nothing better than getting a second or third pair of eyes over your written responses.
A lot of businesses who internally write their own tenders tend to miss both minor and crucial aspects of the tender process and/or specification. Procurement experts and professionals will see straight through this.
We offer a Tender Mentor provision, which offers a full guide and review service to clients, ensuring we walk with you through every element of the tender.
We can’t teach you to be organised – however, we can provide the tools to HELP YOU be organised. TENDER BANK is due to launch over the next 2-years. This is where common mistakes will be minimised, and the tender process becomes more structured and full of ease!
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