Addressing Common Faults When Submitting Public Tenders
Introduction
Now that you at least know the process of a public tender submission, I need to share with you some of the common mistakes we make when we submit a public tender.
We tend not to read and check the bid documents in detail. By not reading the document in detail, we make these most common mistakes. The following areas are common fault areas which result in us being unsuccessful in the tender process:
1. Check briefing Session date and time
Make sure that you attend and that you sign the register in the briefing session. Non-attendance could result in you being excluded from tender process.
2. Check closing date and time
Ensure that you have sufficient time to complete the proposal. Not meeting the exact deadline in terms of date and time, will definitely exclude you from the tender.
3. Check the requirement for compulsory documentation and pre-qualification criteria
If you do not have the required documentation or if you do not meet the criteria, it is unlikely that you will be successful. Therefore it is essential that you must check this area carefully before embarking on the tender submission and prior to final submission. Non-submission of compulsory documentation and information will definitely result in you being disqualified from the tender process – no matter how good your technical proposal may be.
4. Check scope of work and scoring criteria
Ensure that you read and understand the scope of work required and this is in alignment with your service/goods offered. Further always align technical proposal to scoring/evaluation criteria. Ensure that you provide a proposal that, at least, meets or exceeds the requirements of the scope. Failure to do so, will result in you not meeting the technical threshold.
5. Always sign all documents as required
Ensure that every page and all required documents are signed. Failure to sign all documents could result in a disqualified tender.
6. Final Pack
Always mark and consolidate the final pack so that it is clear and concise for the evaluators to find all necessary information. Remember evaluators don’t know your pedigree and can only evaluate you on the documentation/information submitted. If the information submitted is not clearly marked/identified, it could result in lower marks. Never take anything for granted. Always be clear and concise with the pack submitted.
Conclusion
While the above are not the only mistakes made, these are the most common. Taking care of these small areas will go a long way in assisting you in getting your submission considered in public tender process. We hope that we helped you in a small way today to take a new step forward when it comes to a public procurement process.