Ensuring your tender submission is compliant is crucial - not only for being considered for the contract but also for establishing credibility with the tender issuer. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making sure your tender is compliant.
1. Understand the Tender Requirements
Read the tender documentation thoroughly, including the fine print, and highlight anything that is listed as mandatory. The Conditions of Tender will usually provide detailed instructions on what you need to include. Understanding every requirement is critical to compliance. Make sure you attend any pre-tender briefings, as these are often mandatory. Even if the briefing session is optional, it’s a great way to gain additional insights and clarify doubts, which is essential for preparing a compliant proposal.
2. Organise Your Documentation
Create a checklist of all required documents in the tender. response. This can include financial records, resumes, insurances , and health and safety, quality and environmental documentation.
3. Align Your Proposal with Tender Specifications
Tailor your submission to directly address the specifications listed in the tender document. You could also use techniques such as mirroring the language and structure of the tender documentation to make the alignment more evident. Support your response by providing clear evidence of your capability to meet the requirements, such as past project examples, references, and relevant certifications.
4. Review and Double-Check
It’s always important to review and double-check everything before submission. This could involve different individuals within your business to ensure that every aspect of the tender is covered and compliant. Alternatively, you might want to engage an external consultant who can conduct a final review of the tender to ensure it meets all legal and procedural requirements.
5. Submission Logistics
Always follow the exact guidelines for submission, including the format, labelling of supporting information, document type (some tenders specify all documents must be returned as PDFs while others prefer Word), and delivery method. Also, make sure you allow sufficient time to lodge your tender well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.
Wrapping Up
Focus, diligence, and thorough preparation are required to submit a compliant tender. I also encourage you to embrace continuous improvement and learn from each submission, regardless of the outcome.
If you need a hand with your next tender to ensure it’s not only compliant but compelling too, then I can help. A chat costs you nothing so if you’d like to find out more, just give me a call on 0400 514 579 or shoot an email to pauline@tenderwise.com.au
As always, happy tendering!
Pauline