Posted on 22-11-2010 at 01:00
Green Tender writing and Grounds Maintenance
With the silly season for grounds maintenance tenders almost complete, now could be a good time to reflect on how to improve your processes and ideas for the next tender.
It’s all very well leaving the things you need to write a good tender until next year but you should do it now, while everything is still fresh in your mind.
Create a library of common items requested in the recent round of tenders. All your policies, certificates and financials need to be in one place and backed up!
Which tender or PQQ questions caused you the most problems?
Was it continual improvement, partnering, innovation, resident involvement or something else? Whatever it was in the tender that created the biggest problem start to think about how you can strengthen those answers for next year.
What about the tenders you lost? Have you asked for and received feedback? If not, you need to ask for feedback on your tender as a matter of urgency. Find out which particular elements your tender scored badly on, and which were scored highly. Once you know this you can begin to improve your tender writing responses and hopefully win more work through the tendering process.
Have you decided on a layout and design? Have you got a logo you can include? Have you made a mental note to take all those photographs in the summer that you wish you had had for this year’s tender writing? Images are really powerful in tenders. Take some good ones this summer and have them ready for the next round of tenders.
Did you have to rush through some tenders because you received them late? Make sure you know when all of the grounds maintenance tenders for your area are due to be issued. Do not leave it to chance.
Were your tender submissions proof read? You did it yourself? If you did it yourself I can guarantee that it will have been littered with mistakes. Good proof readers do not cost a huge amount but can really make a difference to your grounds maintenance tender submission. Why ruin your chances of winning the tender for the sake of a few hundred pounds? Use a professional and your tender will be much more likely to be successful.
Finally, did you source a good printing company for your tender? Was your tender bound and presented well. If not, start planning now and identify a good printer who can present your tender in the best possible way.
Tender writing
It’s all very well leaving the things you need to write a good tender until next year but you should do it now, while everything is still fresh in your mind.
Create a library of common items requested in the recent round of tenders. All your policies, certificates and financials need to be in one place and backed up!
Which tender or PQQ questions caused you the most problems?
Was it continual improvement, partnering, innovation, resident involvement or something else? Whatever it was in the tender that created the biggest problem start to think about how you can strengthen those answers for next year.
What about the tenders you lost? Have you asked for and received feedback? If not, you need to ask for feedback on your tender as a matter of urgency. Find out which particular elements your tender scored badly on, and which were scored highly. Once you know this you can begin to improve your tender writing responses and hopefully win more work through the tendering process.
Have you decided on a layout and design? Have you got a logo you can include? Have you made a mental note to take all those photographs in the summer that you wish you had had for this year’s tender writing? Images are really powerful in tenders. Take some good ones this summer and have them ready for the next round of tenders.
Did you have to rush through some tenders because you received them late? Make sure you know when all of the grounds maintenance tenders for your area are due to be issued. Do not leave it to chance.
Were your tender submissions proof read? You did it yourself? If you did it yourself I can guarantee that it will have been littered with mistakes. Good proof readers do not cost a huge amount but can really make a difference to your grounds maintenance tender submission. Why ruin your chances of winning the tender for the sake of a few hundred pounds? Use a professional and your tender will be much more likely to be successful.
Finally, did you source a good printing company for your tender? Was your tender bound and presented well. If not, start planning now and identify a good printer who can present your tender in the best possible way.
Tender writing
