Top Tips on how to Tender Successfully

Suppliers may find the tips below useful in relation to doing business with the Council.

DO

• Ensure that you supply ALL the details asked for, if you cannot provide some of the information for whatever reason, ask for advice. 
• Ensure that your submission reaches us by the deadline and make sure anything requiring a signature is signed - we are unable to accept tenders that arrive late even if they were posted before the deadline. 
• Study the entire tender document carefully and ensure that you meet all the requirements and that you understand what's required. 
• Give thought to what you can do or provide which adds value to the offer. 
• Use the pre-formatted tender documents we send you, rather than your own as it helps us in our analysis. 
• Contact the buyer if you have any queries about any aspects of the tender process. 
• Cross-reference tender answers or responses where relevant to the questions in the invitation to tender as it will make your tender easier to evaluate. 
• Be clear on your pricing model and state any assumptions that you have made eg any additional resources required by you and/or the Council, timetables etc. 
• Respond promptly to any requests for further information. 
• Look at the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for tender advertisements. 
• Request a debriefing if you are unsuccessful. 
• Keep an eye on the Council's website for any future opportunities. 

DON'T

• Leave it until the last minute to post applications or tenders. 
• Be put off by the tender documentation, you can always ask for help. 
• Forget your tender is legally binding - you cannot alter your submission once received by the Council. 
• Include publicity material with your submission unless specifically asked to do so. 
• Expect special treatment - we treat all tenders equally. 
• Forget to ask for a debriefing if your bid is unsuccessful. 
• Place identifying marks on your tender envelope. 
• Alter the tender documentation. 
• Expect the Council to vary its standard contract terms (the way the Council does its business)