Governments and other institutions release tenders to invite bids for a project from different suppliers and contractors. Often these bids are fair game for all kinds of suppliers. So even if your business is fairly new to the industry, tenders give you the opportunity to win high-value contracts.
Though tenders level the playing field, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are easy to win. Writing a tender has its own set of unique requirements and challenges. Considering the benefit tenders hold for your business, it’s crucial to take every precaution to write a persuasive response. If you’re new to writing tenders, here are a few important things to keep in mind. Take a look.
Table of Contents
Understand the Requirements
Whether you’re competing for NSW e tendering or any other public tender, the first step should be understanding the requirements. Ensure that your tender proposal includes a response to every question imposed by the prospective client. Misunderstanding requirements can decrease your chances of winning.
Follow the Template
Often, tenders come with a template that suppliers are required to fill. The template includes different sections with word limits. A template makes evaluations easier for prospective clients. Therefore, you should follow the template provided by the client. While you can use a different format, it’s better to leave that to experienced tender writers.
Focus on Clarity
There is a time and place for flowery language and tender response is not that. You should focus on writing a clear and easy-to-understand document with plain English. Try to keep it to the point and well-organized. Rely on your USP, product and services to persuade the client.
Establish Structure
The different concepts and ideas introduced in your response should make sense on their own and in conjunction. Therefore, it’s crucial to establish a logical structure before writing a tender response. Plan a rough outline and refer to it when writing the document.
Keep it Succinct
A longer document isn’t necessarily better. Resist the urge to include too many insignificant details in order to impress the prospective. The evaluators shouldn’t have to search the document for relevant details. Your goal is to keep it succinct and omit any irrelevant details.
Make it Engaging
While a tender response isn’t a creative piece of fiction, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Instead of a passive voice, use active wise to keep your readers engaged. Command their attention and make them stay interested in your document.
Avoid Jargon
Rather than supporting the document, using too much jargon can actually backfire. While you are an expert in your field, the prospective client may not be. This means that all the technical terms and industry lingo will make your response difficult to comprehend. Try to keep jargon to a minimum.
Pay Attention to Presentation
In addition to the actual content, the presentation of the document also plays an essential role in enhancing the comprehensibility. Use the right font size, style, and color. Make use of different formatting and editing tools to highlight important sections.
Recheck & Edit
A grammatical error may seem negligible to you, but it can create a poor impression on prospective clients. Before sending out the response, make sure you check it several times. Make use of editing tools to discover any spelling mistakes or errors that you might have missed. You can also ask your team members to recheck it.
Timely Submission
All your hard work will go to waste if you fail to submit it on time. There is no coming back from a missed deadline as late submission are usually rejected. So give yourself enough time to draft and submit a compelling response.
For more information on tender writing reach out to a professional.
