Writing a tender proposal can be a tricky process, especially if this is your first time competing. And when a high-value contract is on the line, you should not risk making mistakes. In this article, we’re sharing the dos and don’t of writing a tender response. Let’s dive in.
To Do
Developing a Strategy
Developing a strategy before putting together a bid is a good practice. It allows you to ensure that all pieces are in place for smooth execution. From determining the cost of tender preparation to finding suitable talent for tender management, developing a strategy will help you stay on track.
Ask for a Debrief
Whether your bid was successful or not, it’s always helpful to request the evaluation panel for a debriefing. Without expert feedback, it becomes difficult to understand what went wrong. Feedback will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your current tendering process. It can be extremely useful for improving future proposals.
Following Formats & Templates
A buyer specifies a format or template for a reason. Usually, it makes evaluation faster and easier. That’s why you must follow any format or template provided by the buyer. Failure to do so may create a negative impression or even lead to rejection.
Don’ts
Skipping Research
You may be eager to jump into writing a tender response. But doing so without research can lead to a mediocre response. Lack of structure, incomplete answers, and non-compliance are just a few consequences of skipping research. Putting together a persuasive tender proposal takes time, don’t make the mistake of rushing the process.
Submitting Without Reviewing
Submitting your bid without reviewing it can jeopardise all your hard work. What if it is full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors? What if you forgot to attach important documents? A valuable opportunity is hard to come by. Make sure you thoroughly review your proposals before submitting them.
Lacking Writing Skills
You may be good at planning, but the success of a tender proposal majorly depends on writing skills. If you are unfamiliar with writing tenders, it would be best to let a professional writer take over. This is also a way to free up your time and focus on other important tasks.
Competing for Too Many Tenders
Whether competing for a state government tender or etendering NSW, don’t bite off more than you can chew. This means, pick the contracts you have a genuine chance of winning instead of competing for every tender.
Good luck..