Writing tenders can be daunting as they can take a lot of time and effort. This is especially the case when you are not familiar with the process. However, the outcome of a successful tender is worth the effort – it can provide guaranteed income for a defined period and be very beneficial to your business’s future.
The decision to write a tender can be difficult when you are weighing up your staff’s time versus potential income. However, there are other options; you may consider hiring a professional tender writer.
The skills, knowledge and experience of a professional tender writer can mean the difference between being successful or unsuccessful. However, they do cost money and no-one can guarantee the tender outcome. So how do you decide? The points below may help make the decision on whether to hire a tender writer a little easier.
Are you likely to submit a tender for similar services or projects in the future?
If so, a professional writer will prepare a base template that you can use for future tenders. Every tender is different and requires slightly different responses based on the requirements and weighting of the tender. However, you will be able to easily adapt the document from one tender to the next – cut and paste is your friend! This will save you time and money in the future, whilst ensuring you have a professional response to submit.
Do you have the time to produce a quality tender?
A significant amount of time goes into the preparation of a tender. You are required to gather information that supports why you are the best candidate for the job and what you will actually do as part of your proposed service. This includes company details, milestones or proposed schedules, budgets, as well as governance and management and details of previous similar contracts you have completed. This alone can be a time–consuming process and then you still need to write the actual document. You need to craft compelling responses to the qualitative criteria to ensure you score well. Many people underestimate how long it will take and rush to complete the tender, often missing vital bits of information or not highlighting important points.
A business or organisation can rarely give a tender their full and undivided attention as they still need to do their everyday job. A professional tender writer will have the time to dedicate their attention to complete the job whilst not impacting the day-to-day running of your business.
Are you confident that you understand the requirements and how to address the criteria?
If you do not understand what the requirements of the tender are, then you are unlikely to be successful. A tender can be confusing and has a series of questions around specifications, processes and compliance contained in the document. It can be difficult to understand what the requirements of completing a response are if you are not familiar with the process. Addressing the criteria is equally difficult. You need to understand how to actually demonstrate your ability/experience and not just make a claim or statement.
Professional tender writers have the experience, skills and knowledge necessary to know what the requirements of each tender are and how to paint your organisation in the best light through the criteria responses. If you find the process confusing, it is time to consider using a professional.
Can you be objective?
Being close to any project/proposal and knowing it inside and out is not always a good thing, especially when it comes to writing tenders and funding documents. At Whitney Consulting, we have seen numerous instances of someone so passionate about a project or organisation that they talk about how good their company is, addressing points that weren’t relevant to the question at all. And they did not answer the criteria, meaning their score would have been zero for that section, despite being an amazing company.
Professional tender writers will remain objective about your project and will ask the right questions to ensure only the relevant information pertaining to the success of the tender is included in the document.
Now – If you have just identified that you do in fact need a professional tender writer, I am sure your questions don’t stop there – how do you choose one?
Can they demonstrate their success in securing funding in the past?
Most professional tender writers will either have a website, or be on social media, typically Facebook or LinkedIn. Their website can be a minefield of information about previous successful bids and testimonials from past clients. However, if the information you are looking for isn’t there, don’t be afraid to ask! It is better to be informed then to still have questions before contracting anyone.
Do they have experience working with government?
‘Government speak’ is a thing! Government has a different focus and a different way of doing things compared to business. So, when applying for a government tender you really need someone who is proficient in their lingo and knows about their procurement processes and how they assess tenders. This information could be readily available on the tender writer’s website, alternatively you can ask them for their resume or past experience with government.
Someone who has been recommended.
Probably the most important one! Ask around – ask your friends, family, colleagues etc who they have used and if they would recommend this person. If someone you know, or trust is willing to vouch for this person, that is a good indication to go ahead.
If you can’t find a recommendation, don’t hesitate to ask a potential writer to provide you with referees…and then actually contact the referees! Ask them questions about the process of working with the writer, the quality of their work, the value for money and anything else you are curious about.
As you can see there is a lot to consider when it comes to hiring a tender writer. We hope that the information we have provided helps you make a well-informed decision. If you would like to discuss the ways in which we can assist you with your tender document, please contact us on 0422 228 162 or by email .
