10 Tips to Help Your Tender Stand Out from the Competition
1. Keep it Relevant
Take your time when first reading through the tender document requirements. It helps to take notes and look carefully at what the project is before starting. Define what the contracting authority is looking for and only include relevant projects, work experience on CVs, and content throughout. Do not include irrelevant content to in order to fill up empty spaces.
2. Keep it on Schedule
It might seem like a simple idea but drawing up a schedule can help keep you on track and gives you realistic deadlines to stick to. This planning phase should include deadlines for:
- Gathering Existing Content
- Writing New / Missing Content (this should also document who is working on what sections)
- Creating Consistency of Information Presented on all CVs, Project Sheets and Organisational Charts
- Proof Reading and Amends
- Design of Binder, Dividers and Labels
- Print Production of Binder, Dividers and Labels
- Layout of Entire Document
- Final Proof Reading and Amends
- Print Production of Entire Document
- Production of CDs
- Sourcing a Suitable Box
- Travel Time For Delivery of Tender
3. Keep it Branded
The most important rule of all is to keep everything in your tender consistently branded. Use the same style fonts, colours, images and layout throughout, helping to reinforce your brand and make you stand out from your competitors. Don’t leave any element separate – even labels stuck on the outside of envelopes can have your branding on them. This consistency reinforces your attention to detail, while also projecting a memorable image of your company into the mind of the contracting authority.
4. Keep it Unique
Don’t play it safe by using blank ring binders with your name scribbled on the front. Be bold and make a statement with custom branded ring binder folders that really stand out. By investing a little more into the project you can create a tender that really stands out on a table full of your competitors. This demonstrates to the contracting authority that you are willing to go the extra mile in completing a job.
5. Keep it Simple
Don’t overcomplicate or clutter the page with too much content. Create a hierarchy for the eye to follow – try making headings stand out through the use of size, colour and space around it. Never use more than two fonts and keep them simple and clean for so it’s easy for the contracting authority to read through. Don’t overload the page with text, and try where you can to break it up into smaller paragraphs or bullets.
6. Keep it Clear
Clearly break up every section with a divider, including the section name and number on it, and ensure that it stands out from the rest of the content. This will help the contracting authority to navigate from section to section effortlessly. Avoid using handwritten tabs as they may be illegible and the pen may get smudged in transit.
7. Keep it Correct
Double and triple proof the text to avoid typos and obvious grammatical errors. Spelling mistakes reflect badly on your company so take the time to print it out and go through the text thoroughly. Always get a second person, who is uninvolved in the project, to read through it too. Remember the two golden rules: a) It’s easier to miss a mistake if you are reading it off a screen b) You are familiar with the document and may miss errors that someone with fresh eyes will spot immediately. If you get this right then it shows your keen eye for detail and quality management.
8. Keep it Compact
Cut down on paper usage by printing your tender double sided. This not only reduces the physical size of the tender, making it more inviting for the contracting authority to read, but it also reflects on your company’s awareness of protecting the environment.
9. Keep it Together
Box it all up and label it clearly on the outside – it’s that simple. Gather your ring binders, drawings, envelopes, CDs and any other content for your tender and place it neatly in a durable box. For that extra-professional look that will help you to stand out don’t use those old photocopier paper boxes, make the effort to buy a hardwearing box from any good DIY store. This will reflect well on your company’s organisational skills and attention to detail.
10. Keep the High Standard
You may be on a tight deadline but never compromise on quality. You want the finished tender to be of a high standard from both a content and visual perspective. You should always put the same care into the tender presentation as you would the job you could win from it. This will show your company’s dedication to high quality standards in your work.
High quality creative design and on time delivery are the critical factors in any Tender Submission. Our in-house team has over 16 years of experience and can give your company that all important WOW FACTOR to set you apart from the competition. Our team of graphic designers can work closely with you to create a high quality tender pack. We can help you with all aspects of your tender including:
- Works / Design Proposal
- Design & Build Tenders
- Ring binder folders
- Set of tabbed dividers
- Title sheets before dividers
- Team CVs with photos
- Current & Completed Project datasheets with photos
- Other Pre Qualification content such as Health & Safety, Quality Statements, etc.
- A1 / A0 folded drawings (Boxed in a file box with dividers)
- Box or set of boxes with labels to hold all the above
