Best Practice What are we looking for?

Our Aims Transparent and fair processes Value for Money Good Quality Services that meet local needs Support for the local economy Inclusion of Social Value

Your First Step Set up a matrix to determine the type of contract you would like to bid for Consider: Type of Contract Value Location Contract duration

Do some work up front Register on the portals to receive alerts Ensure you have your policies written and accessible Prepare case studies Prepare references – ensure they will respond to requests

Evaluation Criteria Before beginning to respond check the evaluation criteria Some are scored and some are pass/fail Can you provide the evidence to back up your response

Criteria can cover… Credit Rating/Financials (Inc. minimum turnover) Previous experience Policies and Procedures Environmental considerations Industry specific detail Staff/Personnel

Schedule your time Do not underestimate how long each stage of the process will take Consider who needs to be available and when Give yourself plenty of time to upload your bid prior to the deadline

Process variations Not all tenders will be the same. Understand the process for each tender Check: Word limit Presentation Procedure and deadline for asking questions

Provide all information requested Use a checklist to ensure all referenced documents are returned Read questions carefully and ensure all bullet points are covered Do not make assumptions

Avoid Making hollow statements: We have competitive prices We are the best in the market We offer the best service Only make a statement if you can provide evidence to back it up

Feedback Incorporate any learnings from the feedback you received into your tender response process.

Your response should include: Pricing Details of the service you can provide Examples of your ability to deliver Added value – the “WOW” factor