Securing electrical tenders can be the key to sustainable business growth for contractors and service providers. Whether you’re a small local electrician looking to expand into government work or a national player targeting multi-million-dollar contracts, winning a tender requires more than just competitive pricing. It demands strategy, compliance, clear communication, and a solid demonstration of capability.
In this blog, I’m breakiing down how to win an electrical tender, step by step - from identifying the right opportunities to submitting a winning response.
Know Where to Look
Before you can win a tender, you need to find it. In Australia, electrical tenders are commonly released through:
Government procurement portals such as AusTender, Tenders VIC, and state-specific platforms.
Local government websites – Councils regularly release maintenance, upgrade, and infrastructure-related tenders.
Private sector opportunities listed on platforms like EstimateOne and TenderLink.
You can find out more in this blog. Tip: Sign up for alerts and create profiles on key portals to ensure you’re notified when relevant tenders are published.
Understand the Requirements
Never skim a tender document. One of the most common reasons electrical contractors are disqualified is due to non-compliance with mandatory requirements.
Make sure you have a good understanding of:
The scope of works – what exactly needs to be delivered?
The mandatory criteria - licences, accreditations, or insurances.
The response format - Is there a specific template or structure to follow?
The evaluation criteria –-how will your tender be scored?
The deadline and lodgement process - late submissions are automatically excluded.
Tip: If there’s a briefing session (online or in-person), always attend. It’s often your only chance to ask clarifying questions directly.
Demonstrate Technical Competence
You need to show that you have the technical skills, workforce, and capacity to deliver the job. This is where many smaller businesses fall short - not due to a lack of experience, but because they don’t clearly explain it. Always include:
Details of past similar projects - mention clients, scope, outcomes, and value.
Key personnel - provide bios or CVs of electricians and supervisors.
Certifications and licences - electrical contractor licence, CEC accreditation (if relevant), ISO certifications, etc.
Specialist capabilities –- if you offer energy efficiency audits, hazardous area works, or data cabling, highlight this.
Tip: Use project case studies to bring your experience to life and align it with the tender scope.
Provide a Clear and Competitive Price
While price is important, tenders aren’t just about being the cheapest. You must demonstrate value, so it’s important to provide a transparent pricing structure that:
Breaks down materials, labour, and other costs
Accounts for GST and contingencies
Aligns with the deliverables in the scope
Also, explain how you will manage cost control throughout the project. Demonstrating strong cost management practices builds trust, particularly in government tenders where public money is involved.
Showcase Your WHS and Compliance Systems
Workplace health and safety (WHS) is non-negotiable in tenders, particularly for public infrastructure and institutional clients. Many tenders will want to see:
Your WHS policy and management system
Risk assessment and safe work procedures
Training records or induction processes
Insurance certificates (e.g., workers compensation, public liability)
You may also be asked for evidence of:
Quality management systems
Environmental management practices
Industrial relations history
Tip: Even if you're a smaller operator, having a documented system for safety, environmental and quality management - even if it's not certified to ISO - will boost your credibility.
Support Local and Social Procurement Objectives
Increasingly, Australian tenders - especially government ones - look for suppliers who can demonstrate:
Local economic impact (e.g., use of local suppliers, employing local electricians)
Support for Indigenous businesses or apprenticeships
Sustainable and ethical supply chains (e.g., no modern slavery)
If your business aligns with these goals, say so — and back it up with examples.
Write Clearly and Professionally
A technically skilled electrician might be great on the tools, but if your tender is poorly written, difficult to read, or littered with errors, it could cost you the job. Keep in mind:
Use headings, bullet points, and plain language
Answer every question in the order asked
Avoid waffle - keep it clear and concise
Tailor every response to the specific tender, not a generic template
Tip: Have someone else proofread your tender or hire a professional tender writer if needed.
Build a Bank of Reusable Content
Once you’ve prepared one good tender, you’ll find that much of the content, such as capability statements, staff profiles, policies , can be reused or adapted.
That’s why I always recommend maintaining a library of:
Project case studies
CVs and licences
WHS, environmental and quality policies
Insurance and compliance certificates
This will significantly reduce the time it takes to respond to future tenders.
Submit On Time and In Full
Missing a deadline - even by one minute - will disqualify your bid. So will forgetting to include mandatory forms or attachments.
Create a checklist of:
Required schedules and attachments
Declarations and signed forms
Pricing sheets or BoQs
Electronic submission details (file formats, portal login, etc.)
Aim to submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to allow for any technical hiccups.
Ask for Feedback to Keep Improving
If you’re unsuccessful, always request feedback. Some agencies will provide detailed scoring and commentary, while others may only offer general advice. Use this feedback to:
Refine your pricing
Improve how you describe your capability
Strengthen your compliance systems
Each submission builds your experience and gives you a better chance next time.
Final Thoughts
Winning an electrical tender isn’t just about being the cheapest - it’s about demonstrating reliability, safety, experience, and value. With the right preparation and a professional, well-structured submission, your business can open the door to lucrative and long-term work.
Whether you’re bidding for a local council maintenance contract or a large infrastructure upgrade, follow these steps - and don’t be afraid to seek help from tender professionals if you need support.
Need Help Writing your Tender?
At TenderWise, we help electrical contractors across the country craft compelling, compliant tender submissions that get results. Reach out to Pauline on 0400 514 579 today to see how we can support your next bid.
Happy tendering!
Pauline