How to win construction contracts
With the evaluation criteria detailed above, you now know what is involved in making procurement decisions, but may be left wondering ‘How do I achieve high scores?’ If we were to offer you a guaranteed formula for how to tender for construction contracts and win, we would be lying. Sometimes there will be companies who can offer a better service or price, but in the instances where you deserve to win the work - we can offer you are some useful tips to really make your submissions stand out.
Be pragmatic
Consider the evaluation criteria above, what you can offer, the level of work you can take on, and your overall ability to deliver the work.
Have a pricing strategy
A price should only be decided once you know what your offering will be, and not the other way around. Your price needs to be competitive while also ensuring there is scope to make suitable returns – which is not possible if don’t give your pricing the time and contemplation it deserves.
Pay Attention to detail
One of the main causes of negative feedback from buyers is not answering the questions correctly or providing everything that was required. You need to fully understand what is being asked of you, and then ensure that everything the buyer has asked for and needs, is covered clearly within your proposal.
Manage your time effectively
IIf you rush your bid, you cannot effectively pay attention to detail, and the overall quality of your bid will suffer. Set deadlines and always ensure you have a realisitic amount of time available.
Leave time to review
Having time dedicated to reviewing spelling, checking all documents are included, and that all requirements have been addressed, can help you catch mistakes that would otherwise cost you the contract.
Plan your responses first
All of this advice is only useful if you have a clear plan for how you plan to approach your bids. If you don’t have a plan, how can you track your time, monitor progress, or ensure you have the resources required for on time completion. You can find a basic structure for creating bid plans in ‘Planning Your Winning Tender Submission’.