How to jazz up your tender submission for success

When it comes to winning tenders, content and price are both obviously critically important components.  But in a crowded marketplace you need to do more than just write a compelling tender response - you need to really stand out from your competitors.  

Here’s how to jazz up your tender submission for success!

When it comes to winning tenders, content and price are both obviously critically important components.  But in a crowded marketplace you need to do more than just write a compelling tender response - you need to really stand out from your competitors.  

Here’s how to jazz up your tender submission for success!

1. Use cover pages for your main submission and any appendices (see point 3 below).  I like to use Canva — it’s easy to use, doesn’t cost much, and comes loaded with heaps of existing templates, so if you’re a beginner with this creative stuff, you can start off by updating someone else’s design.  Pro tip: make sure you search for A4 templates, or you’ll end up with something that isn’t the right size for your tender submissions.

2. Add a cover letter. I always put this immediately after the cover page and use it to briefly outline the key aspects of the submission and why your business has the credentials and experience to deliver the tender requirements.

3. Add supporting information in Appendices. It is an excellent opportunity to include information such as evidence of qualifications, ISO certifications, your Capability Statement or resumes of your key staff. Always ensure that you reference everything in the main tender submission template, including the Appendix and the page numbers where the supporting information can be found. I usually have one Appendix for general supporting information and separate appendices for larger documents (such as your HSEQ Manual or sample Project Plan if requested).

4. Use headings to break up your text.  It’s a simple thing, but by introducing headings you’ll make your content easier to read and it will be vastly more visually appealing.

5. White space is a good thing. The team who sits on the tender evaluation panel reviewing your submission are all busy people and don’t have the time to read long boring chunks of text. So, for example, in a tender submission, along with headings,  keep your paragraphs short so you create plenty of white space, making it easier to digest the content.

6. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle through a few relevant images -  depending on your industry, think screenshots from your workflow management system, images of your vehicles, and photos of some of your projects or things you’ve delivered.

7. Celebrate your successes.  Most tenders I work on want to know about your approach and methodology to meet the tender requirements.  While you definitely need to go into detail about the process you’ll go through to deliver the services, I always try to add some real examples that showcase how well your operational expertise has resulted in positive outcomes for your clients (linking back as closely as possible to the tender requirements).

That’s it — simple but effective!  And if you don’t have the time or the inclination to jazz up your tender submissions yourself, that’s what I do all day long, so if you need a hand just give me a shout.  You can shoot me an email at pauline@tenderwise.com.au, call me on 0400 514 579 or contact me using this form right here.

Does the location of my tender writer matter?

It can be scary when faced with the prospect of parting with your hard-earned money and working with a total stranger on your tender response. So does the location of your tender writer matter? The answer is no — and yes.

NO - because relatability, experience, and proven ability should be your most important selection criteria when choosing one. YES - because it’s important that they are based in Australia (or at least have some solid knowledge of the Australian tender market and Government requirements).

TenderWise is a Queensland-based business, but I have clients spread across the country, and strangely enough, a relatively small percentage are in Queensland. Most of my clients are in WA and Victoria, so clearly, location is not an issue for them.

But there are certain requirements you must expect. My advice to all prospective new clients is to choose a bid tender writer who:

• Relates well to you

Right from your first conversation, you should feel that the tender consultant is engaged, interested in what you have to say, asks lots of questions, and is generous with their advice. If the writer doesn’t seem interested in you from the outset, it’s probably likely that the same attitude will prevail throughout your association.

• Is experienced 

Ask them what they’ve done, who they’ve done it for, their approach, and how they can help you. It doesn’t really matter if your tender bid writer doesn’t have much experience in your particular sector. However, a seasoned tender writing professional will have experience across various industries. Why isn’t it very important? Because you are the subject matter expert in your business - your tender writer doesn’t need to know the finer details, but they do need to know how to turn your story into a compelling tender submission.

• Has proven ability to perform and win

Every tender response writing business and all professional tender writers should be able to point you to testimonials (like these here) and put you in touch with existing clients who can tell you what the experience of working with them is like. It’s a good idea to ask how many of their clients are regulars so you can get a good feel for how much repeat business they have. Generally, a successful tender writing company won’t need to advertise their services since most of its business will come from existing clients and word-of-mouth referrals. Having said that, TenderWise does advertise (usually through Google Adwords) - but this is a pretty rare event, and my annual spend on paid leads is less than $300.

So, in a nutshell, location isn’t important, but relatability, experience, and proven ability are critical factors when hiring a tender writer. 

If you need a hand with your tender submission, TenderWise is here to help. Just give me (Pauline) a call for a chat on 0400 514579 or contact us here.