Many small and medium sized contractors look on with envy at how larger companies always seem to be on the invitation list for both Public and private sector projects. In a lot of cases a smaller contractor can offer a much better and indeed a more cost-effective service.
Even if they are aware of a particular tender many contractors struggle with a lack of confidence and experience in submitting effective applications. More to the point they cannot always find sufficient time to prepare the paperwork and submit a creative proposal. Many contractors find themselves spending hours preparing and submitting pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) but are never invited to proceed to the next stage of the process.
Therefore many contractors reluctantly shy away from these profitable and indeed essential projects. It goes without saying that just one successful bid could transform a company and offer security and stability for the future. Indeed winning such tenders can then offer numerous opportunities to progress to even more success.
Unlike the private sector Public sector opportunities are easier to source but can be more demanding in their requirements. However if you are able to produce a professional and competitive tender for the Public sector you are in a good position to achieve success with, in some cases less demanding, private sector tender invitations.
Public sector tenders are widely advertised and are freely open to any organisation who has the ability to carry out the work, whatever their size. That said there are over 6,000 UK Public sector bodies and Organisations that publish well over 70,000 tenders every year on more than 2,200 online portals. This is where the larger National contractors have an advantage over smaller contractors because they have the resources and in some cases whole departments that deal with sourcing these opportunities.
A number of online companies have inevitably shot up in recent years that will scour these many websites electronically and send email alerts when they become available. However many contractors complain about these unfiltered and at times unsuitable emails that increasingly fill their inboxes. The biggest complaint however is the high cost and long term commitment of these subscription services for information that is free.
Sellective has many years experience with obtaining this information and will help you through the maze of Government and local authority portals and websites. We will work closely with you to capture tender invitations relevant to your companies capabilities and without the need to commit to a tender capture subscription service and its high costs.
Once you have identified a suitable tender opportunity then the complexity of tendering for the project begins. Sellective offers a unique bespoke bid management service working with you to complete every stage of the process.
Sellective are proud to be associated with Bernard Crouch MBIFM who not only has many years of experience with tender applications relating to Facilities Management and the Building Services Industry but advises organisations both in the Public and private sector on procurement methods. This means that Bernard understands both sides of the process and his advice and experience is invaluable.
One of the biggest hurdles during any tender process is making sure your business is in a position to actually move from an intention to apply, or even the pre-qualification stage, to being considered as a serious candidate for the project. Many contractors fall at this first hurdle because they do not have the correct policies, accreditations, or internal procedures in place. It could simply be that you do not have a purchasing policy, suitable green credentials or you are not accredited to the correct organisation. Sellective are specialists in producing all manner of policy statements and understand the complexities of compliance and accreditation.
Health and Safety legislation changes regularly, and this is reflected in tender opportunities when they are posted, from working with Asbestos Method Statements to Working at Height Risk Assessments. Sellective works closely with an experienced and qualified expert to also offer our contractors compliance advise in all areas of H&S and the implications when applying for tender opportunities.
The final stage, and it has to be said the most challenging, is the actual invitation to tender documentation (ITT). Within these documents will be your bid proposal and the opportunity to make your business stand out from the other contractors. This is where experience and creativity is needed and where our team will be able to project your company as a serious candidate. These documents and your proposal are the key to your bid and we will work closely with you to make sure that your pricing and overall ability to compete is competitive.
Our service doesn’t finish there because Sellective will manage and monitor the whole process and should you be unsuccessful we will enquire as to what areas you failed in and work with you to change these for future opportunities. You may discover more about your strengths and weaknesses from lost tenders than from those you win!