When it comes to the importance of using clear, concise language in a tender submission, Fergal McGovern, CEO of Visible Thread, doesn’t pull any punches. Using wordy language peppered with clichés and trite phrases, he says, is the ‘easiest way to sabotage an otherwise strong bid’. Here’s a selection of those he suggests you avoid at all costs. Delighted to – This should go without saying. Use … Read more
What does the Tenderer really want? How to ask questions during the Tender process. Once you’ve read all the Request for Tender (RFT) documents supplied by the client, the chances are that you will have many questions! First, clients want the best possible responses to their RFTs. Sometimes they are open to potential tenderers making enquiries … Read more
When writing a tender to any level of Australian government – local, state or federal – you need to be 100 per cent sure your response is 100 per cent compliant if you want to even get a look in. John Sheridan is an Australian Government ICT senior executive who recently gave a presentation covering … Read more
What steps you can take to make sure you write your tender or proposal so it stands a chance? Preparation is vital Tendering is undoubtedly a big user of that rarest of commodities: time. You can make best use of your precious hoard of minutes by not wasting a single second being disorganised. Businesses serious … Read more
Not all stress is created equal when it comes to writing a tender to win or renew business. It’s true that a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial; a great opportunity is exciting, causing a rush of energy and enthusiasm that can be channelled into a winning proposal. More often than not, however, tender … Read more
The deadline is looming. You’re putting together an important tender, and you just can’t find the content you need. You know you’ve spent hours crafting a great response to a similar question a year or so ago – but which tender was it? Most people who’ve tendered for business will be familiar with this scenario. … Read more
Of the thousands of tenders submitted to all levels of Australian government each year, a shocking 60% fail to make the first cut. And the main reason? Non-conformance with specific tender requirements. Michael Lee, Principal Project Officer with the Queensland Government and Manager of the Industry Development Team can’t stress highly enough the need to … Read more
There may be many reasons why the tender submission you slaved over for weeks didn’t make it past the first cut. It’s frustrating because you gave it the worksfacts, figures, examples, pie charts and graphs. But impressive looking as your offering undoubtedly was, if it didn’t demonstrate your clear understanding of the buyer and what … Read more
When you’re next writing a tender or proposal, using positive language throughout your tender response will help ensure your bid makes maximum impact on the assessment panel. It gives your bid a sense of confidence and an air of authority; you want to win that contract, so remember: this is no time to be shy! … Read more
Capability statements are often first created as a proposal-style document when a business has an opportunity to present its ‘credentials’. But there are plenty of other ways in which they can help support your company and those who work for you. A well-written capability statement is an easily understandable synopsis of your business. It tells … Read more
