Bid Management Services: A Winning Strategy For A Successful Bid

executivecompass.co.uk
A bid proposal is no ordinary document because so much of the companys future rests on this manuscript. As such, bid writing should not be taken lightly. Bid writers are often warned of the pitfalls in writing a proposal, and listed here are some of the things one should never do when creating a bid proposal.

Title Guarantee Your Companys Growth and Success With Bid Management Services Bid Writing Tips for Tender Writers Hire a Bid Writing Professional for Effective Bid Proposals Top Three Bid Writing Tips for Companies Three Advantages of Hiring a Bid Writing Specialist for Your Company Why Should You Hire a Professional Bid Writing Service? Highlighting Social Value in the Tender Management Framework How to Answer Your Pre-Qualification Questionnaire in the Most Compelling Way Top Lessons Learned in Tender Training Two Simple Things You Can Do to Create Bids and Tenders that Can Win Important Projects

Page 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

executivecompass.co.uk

Guarantee Your Companys Growth and Success With Bid Management Services

Setting up a successful business is one of the hardest things to accomplish; however, this is not nearly as hard as getting your company to expand and grow bigger. Most small business owners make it their goal to maintain operations at a comfortable level for a long time, focusing simply on maintaining product quality and making sure that the companys services will always have a receiving market. Of course, getting decent profits regularly is an understandable goal, but if you want to expand your business, then you have to take on bigger challenges such as supplying services to larger clients. But before you can even win a contract, you will have to apply for one and submit a bid proposal. This is where hiring experts in bid management can help you. Of course, you can try writing your own bid proposal. But no matter how good you might be at writing, chances are you wont be able to make a complete and thoroughly convincing proposal if you dont have the necessary training or experience in bid writing. A bid proposal should contain points on what you can offer the company whose contract you are applying for, as well as the goals you intend to achieve and how you can accomplish the objectives you are offering. You will also have to specify how the company will benefit from your services. These are just some of the things that have to be discussed convincingly in your bid proposal. Getting bid management services can ensure that your proposal is written well. A team of experienced bid managers can guide you through every step of the bid writing process, from assessing your companys strengths and making sure these are effectively delivered in the proposal to planning the layout and proofreading your document prior to submission.

executivecompass.co.uk

Of course, bid management doesnt end with writing the proposal. These experts will also submit your proposal for you, and keep track of its progress in the tender evaluation process. Providers of these services can also help you plan subsequent meetings related to the bid. In addition to assisting business owners in writing proposals and planning meetings, a bid management company can also provide special training sessions for you or your companys personnel. This is especially important if you have been invited to present your bid. Not all people in business have the necessary skills in bid presentation, and training by an expert in this field can help push your proposal forward and win you the contract. So, are you a small business owner? Do you wish to expand your companys horizons? Dont let other bigger business scare you off in the bidding arena hire professional bid management services and get your company noticed.

executivecompass.co.uk

Bid Writing Tips for Tender Writers

Writing a bid proposal is not an easy task. Such an endeavour requires a lot of time, research, and effort and most business owners are already swamped with responsibilities from running a company. Moreover, this lengthy document requires some skill in business writing, an ability that not all entrepreneurs and company personnel may possess. But no matter how much business owners might not enjoy writing proposals, it is one crucial part of running a company, and thus cannot be avoided altogether. This is especially true if you are in the service industry where offering your services to clients is your main source of bread and butter. Construction, custodian services, and food production are some of the industries where bid writing is part of the companys routine. Business owners seeking to expand their operations may also need to write bid proposals to win contracts from larger clients. The best course that a company may take when faced with the prospect of writing a bid proposal is to hire tender writers with ample skill and experience in creating such documents. For individuals who are drafting business proposals, listed below are some tips in writing an effective bid proposal. Place the clients needs at the top of the companys priorities: A bid proposal is simply a plan that gives information on the companys goals for the project as well as plans on how these objectives can be met. However, tender writers should keep in mind that all these goals and plans are meant to benefit the client first, and the company only second. It is thus very important to tailor the bid to fit the clients specifications, and it is also crucial to discuss how the companys services can benefit the client. Establish the companys identity: While it is important to keep the clients needs in mind while writing a bid proposal, this does not mean that the company should be set aside and given a less distinctive image. Quite the contrary, for a client to consider working with the company, they first have to get an idea of what the company is all about. After all, who wants to work executivecompass.co.uk
4

with a stranger? This does not mean, however, that tender writers should use lengthy, overly descriptive passages to establish the companys identity. Rather, succinct statements are better at creating a good impression on the clients minds. Keep your statements real: A bid proposal is somewhat like a companys request for a client to accept their services. As such, it is tempting to add details that may entice a client to accept, or exaggerate some information to make the company look better. However, this is a major no-no in bid writing, and tender writers should avoid fabricating anything in the document. It is best to leave clients to choose companies based on their own merits, rather than create nonexistent achievements that can only lead to damaged reputations and lawsuits.

executivecompass.co.uk

Hire a Bid Writing Professional for Effective Bid Proposals

A bid proposal is a document where a company details their plans and methods for a project that they want to secure from a client. Of course, not all businesses will experience writing bid proposals; business owners whose main goal is maintaining their operations at a comfortable level may not find it necessary to write such a document and apply for contracts from other companies. However, there are certain industries where writing bid proposals is part of every new project, and a few notable examples include the construction business, janitorial or custodian services, and the food supply industry. Business owners who also wish to expand their company may also need to write such proposals, since a company can only grow from taking on more challenging tasks from a bigger client. If you are an entrepreneur in the fields mentioned or if you want your business to grow further, you will find that hiring a bid writing professional can be extremely beneficial for your company, since this gives a guarantee that your bid proposal will not go unnoticed.

Of course, anyone who has basic writing skills can write a bid proposal for you, but this doesnt mean they will be able to produce one that can effectively deliver what you are offering and convince a client to hire your company. It takes a certain expertise and training in business as well as in the field of bid writing to draft a proposal that will catch a clients eye, and this business know-how is something that most ordinary writers do not possess.

executivecompass.co.uk

More often than not, companies competing for a contract will submit similar documents, with only the proposed project cost as the only differentiating factor. If you want your proposal to stand out, then hiring a bid writing professional is your best option. Entrepreneurs who own a fledgling company that is only venturing into the contract bidding arena for the first time may also have the disadvantage of competing against other companies that have been established much longer and thus have a solid reputation in the business. If this is one of the problems you are facing whenever you bid for contracts, then you really need a proposal that will get a client hooked. A bid writing professional can definitely give companies an edge in bidding wars by helping business owners in writing an effective business proposal. Its always best to trust experts in writing these documents, especially since these are not simply about stating your companys plans for a project; they should be written in a subtle yet convincing tone that only a professional bid writer can provide.

executivecompass.co.uk

Top Three Bid Writing Tips for Companies

Writing a bid proposal is something that most company owners shy away from, and for good reason. First of all, it can be time-consuming, distracting you and some of your personnel from other important duties that have to be attended to immediately. In addition, writing a bid can be an overwhelming task, especially since a bid proposal requires details on many important matters, including the project, the companys objectives, as well as the proposed methods for achieving the companys goals. On top of all this, an effective bid proposal must have a convincing tone that is not blatant, a writing style that can only be provided by bid writing professionals. A bid proposal is no ordinary document because so much of the companys future rests on this manuscript. As such, bid writing should not be taken lightly. Bid writers are often warned of the pitfalls in writing a proposal, and listed here are some of the things one should never do when creating a bid proposal.

Do not write a non-compliant bid: Client companies whose contract your company is
trying to win will issue a set of requirements in their request for proposal (RFP). This request will typically ask for more than just the prices and services that your company offers; the RFP may also require a company to submit basic information about the business and its history, as well as details on financial status, technical capabilities, and the companys proposed plans for the project. However, other details such as word count and font type may be specified by the client as well. While it is crucial to comply with the content that the client specifies, it is also important to follow basic requirements in format and style as it gives a good impression about the company. After all, if these minor details cannot be followed, how can the client be sure that the major objectives stated in the bid can be delivered effectively?

Do not fabricate anything in the bid: It might be tempting to exaggerate the companys
credentials to entice a client to accept the offer, but this can have dire consequences on the companys reputation when these falsifications are discovered. Moreover, youll be risking executivecompass.co.uk
8

lawsuits, and such things are not desirable for any business owner. In bid writing, its best to stick to the facts and deliver realistic plans.

Do not use generic descriptions for the company: The goal of bid writing is to create a
proposal that can convince a client to accept your companys services. This wont be easy if the client has no idea what your company is about. Establishing your companys identity can leave a good impression on the clients mind, and these goals can be achieved by an effective bid proposal.

executivecompass.co.uk

Three Advantages of Hiring a Bid Writing Specialist for Your Company

Bid writing is a task that most business owners are not too enthusiastic to undertake, and for understandable reasons: first, writing a bid proposal can take lots of time, and the intensive research and effort it takes to create one can just add to the long list of responsibilities that a business owner must fulfil; and secondly, it takes a certain skill in business writing to create an effective and convincing proposal, something that most entrepreneurs lack. For these reasons, a lot of companies choose to hire a bid writing specialist for all their tender writing needs. There are numerous advantages that come with hiring professional bid writers, and listed below are some of the most compelling reasons for hiring one:

Expertise in the field: This is, by far, the most important and most obvious reason why
companies should leave tender writing to a bid writing specialist. These professionals have all the necessary skills in business writing, as well as knowledge of the most effective methods to make a bid proposal more attractive. Besides the writing skills, professional bid writers have the skill to respond accurately to pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) as well as other documents like a request for proposal (RFP) and invitation to tender (ITT). Having the right responses to such documents can help a company get qualified for a certain bid, a step that is just as important as bid writing itself.

Give an outside perspective: One of the main

drawbacks that business owners face is having limited ability to see how their company communicates its business to outsiders. As such, the companys owner and its employees cannot easily determine what is lacking in their proposal. A bid writing specialist, on the other hand, having no biases or association with company can give an impartial evaluation of the companys image and help correct whatever flaws there may be in the proposal. In addition, an outside perspective can help company owners find factors that executivecompass.co.uk
10

differentiate them from their competitors. These aspects of the business can be exploited in the proposal to give companies an added edge over other contenders for the contract.

Save company resources: Saving resources is perhaps the most appealing reason why
businesses should hire a well-trained bid writing specialist rather than let the companys own employees create the bid proposal themselves. Delegating this task to personnel with little or no experience in bid writing can just distract them from their duties and leave companies with second-rate bid proposals that have no chance of getting noticed. This will simply cause wastage of time and resources, something that professional services can prevent.

executivecompass.co.uk

11

Why Should You Hire a Professional Bid Writing Service?

Bidding for contracts is an exercise that most business owners have to face, whether its a routine step for every new project, as in the construction industry, or as part of the companys efforts to expand the scope of their business. However, no matter how customary it is for companies to create bid proposals, most business owners shrink from this task. Its no surprise actually, given how much time and effort drafting this document requires. In addition, an effective bid proposal necessitates skill in business writing, an ability that can only be acquired from extensive training and experience in the field. For this reason, most companies often choose to let a professional bid writing service handle this delicate and all-important task. This is especially important for new businesses that are just about to bid for contracts for the first time. Having a bid proposal that is written by an experienced writer can help set a new company apart and establish a good presence amidst competitors that may have stronger reputations in the business. It is crucial to give the client a good idea of the companys identity as this can help make the proposal more attractive to them. After all, no one wants to work with someone they dont know. Establishing ones corporate identity in a bid proposal seems like something that most ordinary writers can do. However, this is not true. Imagine leaving such a task with a writer who is not trained in business writing, and you might find lengthy passages with some portions that are too descriptive it borders on being false. This is something that a professional bid writing service knows not to do; instead, well-trained bid writers can help create a distinctive image for a company without resorting to flowery, superfluous statements. Such writers are aware that while creating a good identity is important, delivering it in a concise and factual way is also crucial.

executivecompass.co.uk

12

Business owners may also choose to have their own employees create the companys bid proposal. However, this may turn out to be an unwise decision for the following reasons: first, company personnel may not have the necessary skills in business writing; second, writing a proposal entails hours or days of research, writing, proofreading, and editing, and such tasks may distract employees from their responsibilities; and third, having a second-rate bid proposal and a distracted team of personnel will just lead to wasted time and money. All the drawbacks mentioned above can be alleviated by hiring a professional bid writing service. Bid writers have the necessary skills and they can deliver a top quality proposal in much less time than untrained employees, saving a company time and resources, while increasing the companys chances of winning the contract they were bidding for.

executivecompass.co.uk

13

Highlighting Social Value in the Tender Management Framework

When the topic at hand is about contract procurement, stakeholders will almost automatically think of the deal in terms of monetary value: How much will the contract cost? Which bidders offer the most affordable prices? Do they offer discounts? What are the payment terms? How much will the company earn? How can the deal be more profitable for the firm? All these questions mainly focus on financially related concerns. The most often used phrases for wisely weighing competing contracts are those that encourage choosing the company that offers more value for your money, and a contract that is cost-effective and suitable for your budget. While it is the nature of business organisations to seek profit from every endeavour, a new approach to tender management suggests that the best contracts offer not just financial gains for the company, but can benefit the immediate community, the environment, and the society at large. This principle can be rooted from the concept of corporate social responsibility, and made more widespread due to raising concerns about protecting the environment and natural resources. Within this framework, the concept of social value is highlighted as an important criterion for choosing the winning business proposal. Echoing this socially relevant framework, lawmakers recently passed the Public Services (Social Value) Act of 2012. The act legally requires government agencies and institutions to prioritise proposals that highlight best practices that promote environmental sustainability and community benefits. The act is exclusively targeted for the procurement process in public offices, which are said to be the largest buyer of goods and services in the country at 236 billion spent on procurement every year. However, more and more private firms are also aligning their selection criteria on the Social Value Act as it is a great guideline for making sure no environmental laws and peoples rights are desecrated under their projects. Social Enterprise UK defines social value as the additional benefit to the community from a commissioning/procurement process over and above the direct purchasing of goods, services executivecompass.co.uk
14

and outcomes. Interpreted loosely, it generally means the project, right from the procurement process itself, should be able to improve social, environmental and economic well-being. With this in mind, winning tender management writing now dedicates a huge portion for identifying the social and community benefits of a project. Contracts that create jobs for the unemployed, provide solutions to youth and women issues, or help alleviate poverty are typical examples of a socially relevant project. Tender writing that highlights social value assures a company will be a compelling candidate in any bidding process. With or without the newly enacted Social Value Act of 2012, winning proposals will always be the ones that offer benefits on a grander and more encompassing scale.

executivecompass.co.uk

15

How to Answer Your Pre-Qualification Questionnaire in the Most Compelling Way

The pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) is one of the most critical documents in your bidding process. Several businesses make the mistake of treating the PQQ as mere a formality or simply a way to gauge if your company meets the minimum requirements of the contract. On the contrary, a huge percentage of your proposal can be scored based on the form and content of your PQQ answers. In fact, insider information states that a lot of bidding processes, especially in the government sector, even use this document as a tie-breaker to set the winning bid among companies that fared similarly well in all other areas. The PQQ is admittedly a lengthy document, as it touches on a comprehensive range of components of your business. In general, the questionnaire will ask you to provide detailed information on the following areas: organisation status, finances, quality verifications, environmental sustainability and awareness, health and safety practices, equal opportunities policies, proof of ability to deliver (such as technical expertise), and more. You will also be required to provide documents, references, and other evidence as proof of your declarations. Due to the highly thorough scope and meticulous paperwork involved in completing the pre-qualification questionnaire, some businesses take the easy way out by merely ticking off boxes without further explanation, or answering Refer to attachment to some questions. However, bear in mind that your PQQ is being scanned along with a dozen or possible hundreds of other candidates that the reviewers may not have time to go over various other documents just to determine your answer. The most serious bidders pay much time and attention to completing and submitting this questionnaire, with a majority even hiring PQQ specialists to help them answer every question in the most transparent, effective, and persuasive way possible, without overselling the company. Aside from coming up with the most compelling content for the questionnaire, a PQQ team will also focus on making the document easily readable. Presentation is as important as substance, and seemingly small details such as neat typefaces, page numbers, index pages, and other executivecompass.co.uk
16

additions that can promote easy navigation and understanding of your document can reflect on your firms professionalism and competency. Consider the pre-qualification questionnaire as a marketing tool, and think about getting a writing team specialising in tenders and bid management to help you present your organisations skills and resources in the best possible light. Once you get the attention of reviewers through this document, your chances of being invited to the final steps of the procurement process is ensured.

executivecompass.co.uk

17

Top Lessons Learned in Tender Training

If youre a young, upstart and highly ambitious company, winning lucrative contracts that will help you earn profit and build your reputation as a highly competent firm is a the best way to make your name known to potential clients, stakeholders, and the industry in general. Going under tender training can equip your team with the practical and theoretical knowledge of how to submit winning bids for your company. Expertise in tendering is important if you want to be prepared to play against the bigger corporations in the business. The bidding process is not for the faint-hearted; it can be a highly drawn-out, tension-filled period in which every inch of your business proficiency, patience, and organisational skills are required to see you through the end. You may be confident of your teams talent and expertise and you may have invested in the right technical and operational machineries to ensure the success of each project. However, without the right tender management solutions that include a winning proposal and a compelling strategy, your chances of standing out from the competition are very low.

Tendering requires a special set of writing, marketing, and pitching skills, as well as a detailed and up-to-date knowledge of the process for every industry. The intensive task of tendering leaves a serious contender with two options: hire tender specialists to assist you every step of the way, or get your most trusted staff to enrol in tender training courses so you can have resident tender specialists within the organisation. Tender writing and management courses can be one-day workshops or an on-going class. Depending on the skill and knowledge level of the participants, you can sign up for a training executivecompass.co.uk
18

course from a highly reputable tender management services company. A sample curriculum may include a comprehensive scope that highlights the following lessons:

How to choose which bids to apply for. Tender documents can be considered legal and
binding. Its not advisable to apply only for the experience of it; you have to go through the process with open eyes and sufficient commitment that you will be able to deliver what the application asks for. Not being able to continue the rigorous process because you were not prepared or enthusiastic enough can earn you a bad reputation in the industry.

How to sell yourself without exaggerating. Impressive tender writing involves stating all
your strengths and assets without hyper-marketing the company. Make sure the content is compelling enough by providing provable facts on how getting your supplies and services is the best solution to a firms operational needs.

How to follow the rules. Tendering is a highly bureaucratic process; you will need to know
and follow every required step to get to the next level. With the right tender training course, youll know how to collate and present facts, documents, ISO certifications, reference materials, and legal attachments according to the latest recommended process. Meeting not just the minimum requirements, but rising above expectations, is the best way to make your business shine through your next contract application.

executivecompass.co.uk

19

Two Simple Things You Can Do to Create Bids and Tenders that Can Win Important Projects
Its been said time and again that bidding for projects is cutthroat. Companies who have been invited to tender are usually the best in the league so for your company to receive an invitation is already an important indicator that your business is generating buzz within the community it belongs to. To further establish your company in the league of strong players, scoring the most coveted bid project should be your goal. This is no easy feat because competition is fierce and they probably have more experience and have even won major projects before so its imperative that you and your team go the extra distance in creating bids and tenders that will be both impressive and persuasive. However, if your company is handling the bid for the first time and youre uncertain if your best efforts are at par with what the competition will dish out, there are two simple things that you can do to ensure that your company has a greater chance of snagging the bid project even if its just your first try. Hiring a bid management specialist is the first thing. A specialist knows all the unwritten tricks of the trade and has the advantage of experience. He can direct your teams efforts in the most organised manner, lessening mistakes, providing advice on how to go about certain tasks in a highly efficient way. A bid management specialist also knows how to spot the important details that can set the tender apart; he can take a step back and evaluate the different components of the business that the team may be too involved in to notice. The second thing to do is hire a bid writing specialist. The art of writing compliant and persuasive bids and tenders is not something that any person who shows some potential in writing can learn in a short span of time. Going with someone who already has a record of wins can surely provide your company the advantage; the other members of the team can just concentrate their efforts on their specific assignments because the bid writing specialist already executivecompass.co.uk
20

knows the process, and can state the companys intended system to best accomplish the goals of the bid project, in a manner that will have the evaluators favouring your company. Its a great tactic to learn the strategies of experts that can ensure a victorious outcome and once the other players find out that you have the best people assisting you in your bid, they will recognise that your company is truly a force to be reckoned with. Hiring experts for your first bidding effort can change the course of your business because there will certainly be more profitable opportunities awaiting your company after a successful first try.

executivecompass.co.uk

21