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How AI & Technology Are Changing the Construction Tendering Process

Posted on by John Hudson

Introduction

The construction industry has long relied on traditional tendering methods, involving manual processes, paperwork, and time-consuming evaluations. However, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are revolutionizing the way businesses approach construction tenders. From automating bid tracking to enhancing decision-making, AI-driven solutions are making tendering more efficient, accurate, and competitive.

In a highly competitive industry, staying ahead requires leveraging cutting-edge technologies that streamline tender identification, submission, and management. A construction bid tracking system equipped with AI capabilities can help businesses stay informed about upcoming tenders, assess eligibility, and improve their chances of securing contracts.

This blog explores how AI and technology are transforming the construction tendering process and why businesses must embrace digital solutions to remain competitive.

The Challenges of Traditional Construction Tendering

Before delving into how AI is reshaping construction tendering, it’s essential to understand the limitations of traditional methods. Some of the most common challenges include:

  • Time-Consuming Processes: Manually searching for tenders, reviewing documents, and preparing submissions can take weeks, delaying business growth opportunities.
  • Human Errors: Misinterpretation of tender requirements, missing deadlines, or incorrect cost estimations can result in bid rejections.
  • Lack of Data-Driven Insights: Many companies rely on intuition rather than data analytics to determine which tenders to pursue, leading to inefficient resource allocation.
  • Inefficiencies in Collaboration: Traditional tendering involves multiple stakeholders working across departments, often leading to miscommunication and delays.

AI and technology address these challenges by streamlining the entire process, enhancing accuracy, and providing valuable insights for better decision-making.

How AI & Technology Are Transforming Construction Tendering

1. AI-Powered Tender Discovery and Bid Tracking

One of the biggest challenges in construction tendering is identifying relevant opportunities before competitors do. AI-driven bid tracking systems:

  • Scan thousands of tender databases to identify relevant projects based on location, expertise, and budget.
  • Provide real-time alerts about new tenders, ensuring businesses never miss an opportunity.
  • Analyze past tender data to predict future bidding trends and provide strategic recommendations.

Using a bid tracking system eliminates the need for manual tender searches, allowing businesses to focus on preparing winning bids instead.

2. Automated Prequalification and Compliance Checks

AI ensures businesses only bid for tenders where they meet eligibility criteria. Through automated compliance checks, technology can:

  • Verify certifications, licenses, and financial stability.
  • Match company experience with tender requirements.
  • Identify red flags that may indicate potential risks.

This reduces the chances of bidding on unsuitable tenders and increases the probability of success.

3. AI-Driven Bid Writing Assistance

Writing a compelling bid proposal is critical to winning contracts. AI-powered tools assist in:

  • Generating well-structured bid responses by analyzing successful past proposals.
  • Ensuring alignment with evaluation criteria, improving compliance and scoring.
  • Identifying key value propositions that set a company apart from competitors.

AI-assisted bid writing improves the quality of submissions, making them more persuasive and tailored to client needs.

4. Enhanced Cost Estimation and Risk Assessment

Accurate cost estimation is crucial in construction tenders to avoid financial losses. AI-driven cost analysis tools help by:

  • Analyzing historical project data to provide precise pricing models.
  • Identifying potential cost overruns based on risk assessment algorithms.
  • Offering insights on competitor pricing strategies, helping businesses remain competitive.

By leveraging AI for cost estimation, businesses can create more competitive yet profitable bids.

5. Blockchain for Transparency and Security

Blockchain technology is emerging as a game-changer in construction tendering by ensuring:

  • Tamper-proof documentation to prevent fraud.
  • Transparent bidding processes, reducing corruption and favoritism.
  • Smart contracts that automate contract execution once bid conditions are met.

With blockchain, both buyers and suppliers benefit from increased trust and security in the tendering process.

6. Digital Collaboration and Cloud-Based Bid Management

AI-powered cloud platforms allow seamless collaboration between different teams working on a tender submission. Benefits include:

  • Real-time document sharing to ensure all stakeholders access the latest versions.
  • Task automation for bid proposal preparation, reducing manual workload.
  • Centralized dashboards to track progress and deadlines, minimizing the risk of missed submissions.

With cloud-based solutions, teams can work more efficiently, ensuring timely and high-quality bid submissions.

7. Predictive Analytics for Strategic Decision-Making

Predictive analytics enables businesses to make data-driven bidding decisions by analyzing:

  • Success rates of past bids to determine factors that contribute to winning tenders.
  • Market trends to identify emerging opportunities in construction.
  • Competitor activity to refine bidding strategies.

By leveraging AI-driven analytics, businesses can focus on tenders with the highest probability of success.

The Benefits of AI & Technology in Construction Tendering

1. Increased Efficiency

AI automates repetitive tasks such as tender searches, document reviews, and compliance checks, significantly reducing the time required for bid preparation.

2. Improved Accuracy

AI minimizes human errors by ensuring compliance with tender requirements, accurate cost estimation, and well-structured bid proposals.

3. Competitive Advantage

With AI-driven insights, businesses can make strategic decisions, improve bid quality, and outmaneuver competitors.

4. Cost Savings

Automation reduces labor costs, and accurate pricing models prevent underbidding or overbidding, ensuring financial sustainability.

5. Greater Transparency

Blockchain and AI improve the fairness and security of the tendering process, promoting ethical bidding practices.

How a Construction Bid Tracking System Enhances AI Adoption

To fully leverage AI and technology in construction tendering, businesses need a reliable bid tracking system. A modern construction bid tracking system:

  • Uses AI to scan thousands of tenders daily and deliver relevant opportunities.
  • Provides automated alerts on new projects that match your business profile.
  • Integrates predictive analytics to help businesses decide which tenders to prioritize.
  • Ensures document compliance to reduce errors and improve bid success rates.

By adopting a construction bid tracking system, businesses can streamline tendering, reduce workload, and improve their chances of winning high-value contracts.

Conclusion

AI and technology are transforming the construction tendering process, making it more efficient, accurate, and competitive. From AI-powered bid tracking to blockchain security, digital innovations are helping businesses secure contracts faster and with greater precision.

Embracing AI-driven solutions is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for companies looking to thrive in the evolving construction industry. With a construction bid tracking system, businesses can leverage technology to find the best tenders, automate bid management, and gain a strategic edge over competitors.

As the construction sector continues to evolve, companies that invest in AI and bid tracking tools will be best positioned to secure profitable contracts and achieve long-term success.

Upcoming Construction Tenders: Where to Find the Best Opportunities

Posted on by John Hudson

Introduction

Securing construction contracts is crucial for the growth and sustainability of businesses in the industry. However, finding the right opportunities can be challenging, given the competitive nature of the sector. With new projects emerging regularly, it’s essential to stay informed about upcoming construction tenders to maximize your chances of winning bids.

A reliable construction bid tracking system can help businesses identify tenders that match their expertise, ensuring they never miss an opportunity. This guide explores where to find the best construction tenders and how bid tracking can streamline the process.

Why Finding the Right Tenders Matters

Success in construction tendering isn’t just about submitting bids—it’s about finding the right tenders that align with your capabilities, experience, and business goals. Choosing the wrong opportunities can lead to wasted resources, unsuccessful bids, and financial strain. By focusing on suitable tenders, businesses can:

  • Improve their success rate in winning contracts.
  • Optimize resource allocation and project planning.
  • Strengthen their reputation in the industry.

Where to Find the Best Construction Tenders

1. Government Procurement Portals

Public sector construction tenders offer significant opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Government projects are often published on official procurement websites, making it easy to access a wide range of tenders. These portals typically provide:

  • Local, regional, and national government construction projects.
  • Framework agreements and term contracts.
  • Transparent evaluation criteria and fair competition opportunities.

Monitoring these portals regularly ensures you never miss a public-sector construction tender that fits your expertise.

2. Private Sector Tender Portals

Unlike government contracts, private sector tenders may not always be publicly advertised. However, many major developers, corporations, and real estate firms publish tenders through specialized construction tender portals. These platforms:

  • List projects from private companies, property developers, and infrastructure firms.
  • Provide direct access to high-value and long-term contracts.
  • Offer opportunities for subcontracting on larger projects.

Engaging with these portals increases visibility and access to exclusive private sector projects.

3. Local Authority and Council Websites

Many construction projects are commissioned by local councils, offering smaller-scale but lucrative contracts. These tenders are ideal for businesses looking to:

  • Work on public infrastructure projects such as roads, schools, and community centers.
  • Build long-term relationships with local government bodies.
  • Gain credibility and experience in the public sector.

Regularly checking local authority websites can help businesses find upcoming construction tenders within their region.

4. Networking and Industry Events

Attending industry events, trade shows, and networking meetups can open doors to upcoming tenders. Many construction companies and developers announce new projects at events or seek potential contractors through professional networks. Benefits of networking include:

  • Gaining early insights into upcoming tenders before they are publicly advertised.
  • Building relationships with key decision-makers and procurement officers.
  • Discovering subcontracting opportunities with larger firms.

Being proactive in industry networking can give businesses a competitive edge when bidding for contracts.

5. Trade Associations and Membership Organizations

Joining industry associations such as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) or the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) provides access to exclusive tenders. These organizations:

  • Publish construction tender listings for members.
  • Provide training and certification to enhance bid credibility.
  • Offer insights into emerging trends and upcoming opportunities.

Membership in such organizations can enhance a business’s visibility and credibility within the construction sector.

6. Direct Contact with Developers and Contractors

Sometimes, the best way to find construction tenders is through direct engagement. Reaching out to property developers, housing associations, and general contractors can uncover upcoming projects. This approach helps businesses:

  • Identify potential projects before they are officially advertised.
  • Develop partnerships with firms seeking subcontractors.
  • Gain insights into buyer requirements and expectations.

By maintaining strong relationships with industry stakeholders, businesses can position themselves for future tender opportunities.

7. Using a Construction Bid Tracking System

A construction bid tracking service simplifies the process of finding the right tenders by providing:

  • Real-time alerts on new tenders that match your business’s capabilities.
  • Detailed tender breakdowns, including contract value, scope, and requirements.
  • Competitor insights to help refine your bidding strategy.

With a bid tracking system, businesses can avoid missing out on crucial opportunities and focus on preparing high-quality proposals.

How to Maximize Your Success in Winning Tenders

Finding the best opportunities is only half the battle—winning them requires a strategic approach. Here are key steps to improve your tendering success:

1. Prequalify for Tenders

Some tenders require prequalification, where businesses must demonstrate:

  • Financial stability and capability to complete projects.
  • Relevant experience and case studies of similar work.
  • Compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.

By ensuring your business is prequalified, you improve your chances of being invited to bid on high-value projects.

2. Tailor Each Bid to Buyer Requirements

Submitting a generic proposal won’t win tenders. Customize each bid by:

  • Carefully reviewing tender documents and understanding evaluation criteria.
  • Highlighting relevant experience and successful project completions.
  • Demonstrating value-added services such as cost savings, sustainability, or innovation.

A well-tailored bid increases your chances of being shortlisted and selected.

3. Offer Competitive but Realistic Pricing

Price is a critical factor in tender evaluation, but underbidding can harm credibility. Ensure your pricing is:

  • Competitive while maintaining profitability.
  • Clearly justified with a breakdown of costs.
  • Aligned with market rates and industry standards.

Transparent and fair pricing reassures buyers that your business can deliver quality work without financial risks.

4. Leverage Past Performance and Case Studies

Even if your business is new, you can still strengthen your bid by showcasing:

  • Successful projects with detailed case studies.
  • Testimonials from satisfied clients and partners.
  • Relevant experience from subcontracting or working on smaller projects.

Buyers want assurance that contractors can meet their expectations, so strong case studies can make a significant impact.

5. Stay Organized and Meet Deadlines

Late submissions can result in automatic disqualification. Keep track of deadlines by:

  • Using a bid tracking system to monitor tender timelines.
  • Preparing required documents in advance.
  • Ensuring compliance with all submission requirements.

Proper organization improves efficiency and ensures you never miss a critical opportunity.

Conclusion

Finding and winning construction tenders requires a strategic approach, from identifying the right opportunities to preparing competitive bids. Whether you’re targeting public or private sector contracts, leveraging industry networks, or using a construction bid tracking system, staying proactive is key.

A bid tracking service provides a competitive advantage by streamlining the tender search process, alerting businesses to new opportunities, and helping them focus on high-potential contracts. By continuously improving your tendering strategy and maintaining strong industry relationships, your business can secure valuable construction contracts and grow sustainably in the sector.

Framework Agreements vs. One-Off Tenders: What’s Best for You?

Posted on by John Hudson

Introduction

In the construction industry, businesses seeking contract opportunities often encounter two primary procurement methods: framework agreements and one-off tenders. Both offer unique advantages and challenges, and selecting the right approach depends on factors such as business size, resources, and long-term growth strategy.

Understanding these procurement methods is essential for construction firms looking to secure contracts effectively. Using a construction bid tracking service can provide valuable insights into upcoming opportunities, helping businesses make informed decisions about whether to pursue framework agreements or one-off tenders.

What Is a Framework Agreement?

A framework agreement is a long-term procurement arrangement between a buyer (such as a government entity, local authority, or private company) and multiple suppliers. It establishes the terms, conditions, and pricing for potential future contracts over a set period, typically lasting from two to five years.

Instead of awarding a single contract outright, framework agreements pre-qualify suppliers who can later be invited to bid for specific projects within the framework. These agreements streamline procurement by reducing repetitive tendering processes and ensuring that only approved suppliers are invited to compete for work.

Benefits of Framework Agreements

1. Consistent Work Opportunities

Securing a place on a framework provides contractors with a steady stream of potential projects. Although inclusion does not guarantee work, it offers a competitive edge over firms outside the framework.

2. Reduced Competition

Since only pre-approved suppliers can bid for projects within the framework, the competition is significantly lower compared to open-market tenders.

3. Streamlined Procurement Process

Framework agreements reduce the administrative burden associated with repeatedly submitting full tender documents. Once pre-qualified, businesses can focus on delivering projects efficiently rather than continuously preparing new bids.

4. Stronger Buyer-Supplier Relationships

Long-term agreements foster trust between buyers and contractors, leading to potential direct awards and a higher likelihood of securing additional contracts.

Challenges of Framework Agreements

1. No Guaranteed Work

Being included in a framework does not automatically result in contract awards. Suppliers must still compete for projects within the framework, and there is no certainty about the volume of work available.

2. High Entry Requirements

Framework agreements often have strict pre-qualification criteria, requiring businesses to demonstrate financial stability, technical capabilities, and compliance with industry standards.

3. Long-Term Commitment

Frameworks typically last several years, limiting a company’s ability to seek alternative opportunities outside the framework during the agreement period.

What Is a One-Off Tender?

A one-off tender (or standalone tender) is a procurement process in which a contract is awarded for a single project. Unlike frameworks, one-off tenders involve an open bidding process where any qualified supplier can submit a proposal.

Benefits of One-Off Tenders

1. Open to More Contractors

Unlike frameworks, which restrict participation to pre-approved suppliers, one-off tenders are accessible to any business that meets the criteria. This makes them ideal for new or smaller firms looking to enter the market.

2. Immediate Contract Award

Winning a one-off tender results in a direct contract award, providing immediate business opportunities rather than waiting for potential work within a framework.

3. Greater Flexibility

Businesses are free to pursue multiple one-off tenders simultaneously, allowing them to select contracts that align best with their capabilities and growth strategy.

4. Diverse Project Opportunities

Since one-off tenders are issued for a wide range of construction projects, companies can access various contract types, from small refurbishments to large-scale infrastructure developments.

Challenges of One-Off Tenders

1. High Competition

Since one-off tenders are open to all eligible suppliers, competition can be fierce. Businesses must submit highly competitive proposals to stand out among numerous bidders.

2. Resource-Intensive Bidding Process

Preparing bids for one-off tenders requires significant time and effort, including drafting technical proposals, financial breakdowns, and compliance documentation for each submission.

3. Lack of Long-Term Security

Winning a one-off tender provides a single project contract, but once completed, businesses must continuously search for new opportunities to maintain a steady workflow.

Comparing Framework Agreements and One-Off Tenders

Factor Framework Agreements One-Off Tenders
Work Security Potential long-term pipeline of work Single contract, no ongoing pipeline
Competition Lower competition (limited to framework members) High competition (open market)
Bid Preparation Once pre-qualified, reduced paperwork for future projects Full tender preparation required for every opportunity
Entry Requirements High barriers to entry (financial, technical, and compliance checks) More accessible to a wider range of businesses
Flexibility Limited ability to bid for contracts outside the framework Ability to pursue multiple tenders simultaneously
Administrative Burden Less frequent bidding required More frequent bid preparation needed

Which Option Is Best for Your Business?

The choice between framework agreements and one-off tenders depends on your company’s goals, resources, and long-term strategy. Consider the following factors when deciding:

Framework Agreements May Be Best If:

  • Your business seeks long-term work opportunities.
  • You have the financial and technical capacity to meet framework entry requirements.
  • You want to reduce competition and increase your chances of winning contracts.
  • You aim to build strong relationships with clients for future direct awards.

One-Off Tenders May Be Best If:

  • You are a new or smaller business looking to enter the market.
  • You prefer the flexibility to bid on various projects rather than being tied to a framework.
  • You have the resources to submit multiple bids regularly.
  • You want immediate contract opportunities without waiting for framework call-offs.

The Role of Construction Bid Tracking in Choosing the Right Approach

Regardless of whether your business pursues framework agreements or one-off tenders, an effective bid tracking system is essential for identifying and securing contract opportunities. Construction bid tracking services offer:

  • Real-Time Tender Notifications: Stay informed about relevant framework agreements and one-off tenders as soon as they are published.
  • Customizable Search Filters: Focus on contracts that match your business’s expertise, location, and financial capacity.
  • Deadline Alerts and Bid Management Tools: Ensure timely submission of bids with automated reminders and document organization features.
  • Market Insights: Analyze industry trends and competitor activity to make informed bidding decisions.

By utilizing construction bid tracking services, businesses can efficiently manage procurement opportunities, streamline bid preparation, and maximize contract success rates.

Conclusion

Both framework agreements and one-off tenders offer valuable opportunities for construction firms, but the right choice depends on your business objectives, resources, and strategic priorities. Framework agreements provide potential long-term work with reduced competition, while one-off tenders offer immediate contract opportunities and greater flexibility.

To succeed in securing construction contracts, businesses should leverage bid tracking technology to stay updated on available opportunities, streamline compliance requirements, and optimize their bidding strategies. Whether you choose to pursue frameworks, one-off tenders, or a combination of both, a structured and informed approach will enhance your chances of winning contracts and achieving sustainable growth in the construction industry.

How to Tender for Scaffolding Work

Posted on by John Hudson

Here’s the secret to winning a tender for scaffolding work

Are you curious about how to find and win tenders for scaffolding work? There is a lot that must be understood to find the perfect contract. This also goes into writing a winning tender. Stick around as we cover how to find a tender for scaffolding work and how to win them!

What is a tender for scaffolding work?

If you are completely new to bids and tenders, you may wonder what a tender for scaffolding work is. Simply, it is a contract for work that various suppliers can bid for. The contracting authority is the organisation that requires this particular work. They will accept bids from suppliers and choose the most suitable candidate to deliver the contract. The supplier(s) that are awarded the contract will be chosen through a thorough evaluation process.

Where to find a tender for scaffolding work

Most people will search for a tender via a search engine such as Google. This will bring up almost endless results. You’ll be swamped with websites that can feature scaffolding contracts. However, the tricky part is navigating these results and finding contracts suitable for you. The likelihood is that you’ll be conducting this work locally, in a defined location. So, you’ll be searching for contracts in this particular area. However, when simply using Google, you’ll likely struggle to find work that meets all your specifications.

That is why we recommend using a tender tracking portal, such as ours: Construction Tenders. These portals are designed specifically to make it easier for businesses to find contracts. With our portal, we display key information so users can instantly see if they’re acceptable for a contract. Users can use these filters to search specifically for tenders that are suitable for them.

With Hudson Discover’s 11 sector-specific portals, you can streamline the process of finding a tender. Use filters such as location, deadlines, budget, and keywords to find a tender right for you. Through the Construction Tenders portal, it couldn’t be easier to find tenders for scaffolding work. Or could it…

Want to save time looking for tenders for scaffolding work? Try Discover Elite

Sign up to Discover Elite via your chosen portal. Then, a dedicated Account Manager will find live bids on your behalf. They’ll speak with you weekly to discuss opportunities that may interest you. This is especially helpful for those with little time to spare due to busy schedules.

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a tendering opportunity even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portalsof your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable leads and tendering opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices are monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

Here are some examples of tenders for scaffolding work found on our portal: 

National Framework Agreement Scaffolding – Republic of Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

Scaffolding Services – London – £2.2million 

Provision of Scaffolding Services at Various Regions – Scotland – Budget: Undisclosed

Scaffolding Framework Agreement – Republic of Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

Scaffolding for Billown Course – International – Budget: Undisclosed

How to win a tender for scaffolding work

Found the perfect scaffolding tender? Now, you’re likely wondering how to win. The good news is that we have some expert tips from seasoned Bid Writers.

1.     Make sure your bid response is clear and concise

You need to ensure your bid is clear and easy to read. The buyer doesn’t want to read loads of waffle. Stick to the point and answer questions as concisely as possible. This will help you stand out for all the right reasons.

2.     Proofread your bid before submission

It is crucial to proofread and edit your bid before submission. If you don’t, you are almost certainly submitting a bid with errors. Your bid needs to be of the highest standard possible to impress the buyer. If it is littered with mistakes, they will see you as unprofessional and lazy. If you don’t put the effort into your bid, they won’t trust you with their contract.

3.     Check your eligibility 

Before you even begin writing and planning your bid, you should thoroughly check your eligibility. You would be surprised how many people choose to bid for a contract they aren’t eligible for. The buyer may ask for the supplier to have a certain accreditation, for example. If you don’t, you won’t be considered, and you essentially waste your time and resources.

4.     Have your bid designed (if permitted)

Sometimes, you can submit a designed bid if the buyer hasn’t given a specified format for the submission. This allows you to showcase your organisation however you wish. We recommend having your bid professionally designed. This way, you can stand out to the buyer.

Still got questions about tenders for scaffolding work? Contact us to speak to one of our experts and learn more about how we can help you.

Need help writing your next tender?

If you don’t have the resources or time to write a winning bid, why not outsource it? Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, boasts an 87% success rate and has over 60 years of collective bidding experience. They offer four bid writing support packages to help you on the path to success. Whether you’re new to tendering, or simply need someone to proof your written response before you submit – we can help.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready programme is designed for those who have never tendered before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully.

Tender Improvement

Tender Improvement can help if you’re already tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next scaffolding tender.

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written a tender and need someone to proofread it – Tender Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tender Writing

If you’ve found the perfect tender but don’t know where to start – we can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Get in touch for more information about our bid management consultancy services.

We actively source tenders for the following sub-sectors:

Check out some of our other blogs:

5 Reasons Why You Aren’t Winning Tenders for Roofing Work

Posted on by John Hudson

Trying to win tenders for roofing work? Here’s why you aren’t seeing success…

Are you having trouble trying to win tenders for roofing work? Perhaps you want to know where to find such contracts. At Construction Tenders, we want to help you find solutions. So, in this blog, we will tell you five reasons why you aren’t winning tenders. Stick around to learn how to see success!

1.    You aren’t using relevant case studies

When you are out to tender, you need to show the buyer you know what you’re talking about. It is important to use case studies in your proposal to showcase your experience, but they need to be relevant. If you aren’t considering how relevant your case studies are, this may be what is costing you.

How to improve:

To improve your chances of success, you should start critically thinking about your case studies. These should always relate to the contract you are bidding for, in one way or another.

Read our blog: The Importance of Relevant Case Studies When Tendering

2.    You aren’t submitting bids of the highest quality

This tender for roofing work tip goes for all tenders. Your bid should be as close to perfect as possible. That is one way you will stand out from the other suppliers. Even if you think your bid is error-free, the buyer may pick up on mistakes you might have missed. If you aren’t taking the time to perfect your tender, then this will be affecting your score.

How to improve:

Before you submit, you should thoroughly proofread and edit the bid proposal. This way, you can rectify even the smallest of errors. Read it several times, even with breaks in between, to give you the highest chance of noticing mistakes. You could also ask others to proofread it so that they can tell you if anything doesn’t sound right.

3.    You missed the deadline

When it comes to a tender for roofing work, the deadlines are incredibly strict. Your bid MUST be submitted before the deadline, or you will not be considered. This includes instances where you may be one or two minutes late. Late means late and it will not be counted! Don’t risk your work being all for nothing by not submitting it on time.

How to improve:

With bid management skills, you can stay on track of your tender for roofing work. You’ll be able to organise the workload and workforce to ensure the bid is done well before the deadline. This also leaves some time in case of any unforeseen technical issues.

4.    You aren’t checking eligibility before bidding

It might surprise you just how many people bid for contracts they cannot deliver. In many cases, a business or organisation will tender for work they aren’t eligible for. This is a complete waste of time on everyone’s part. It is often why many buyers hold an initial stage of a PQQ (pre-qualification questionnaire). This is a way that they can filter ineligible suppliers without wasting time reviewing their full bid.

How to improve:

If you aren’t reading all the tender documents, then you might be bidding for contracts outside of your scope. This could be anything from not having the workforce to deliver the contract in time, or the sufficient annual turnover. Before you bid, make sure you are reading ALL the tender documents. Even if it’s 100 pages or more. Note down any important details. Check that you have the skills, experience, qualifications, accreditations, and workforce to deliver the contract.

5.    Your costs are inaccurate

Pricing is a big part of a bid. If you get these wrong, the buyer won’t award you the contract. In the construction industry, inaccurate pricing is the most common mistake.

How to improve:

Calculate your costs carefully! As we previously touched on, you need your bid to be as close to perfect as possible. So, every aspect of your bid proposal has to be carefully conducted.

Summary

So, that’s a wrap on our blog about tender for roofing work. Here’s the five reasons that might be affecting your tendering:

1.    You aren’t using relevant case studies

2.    You aren’t submitting bids of the highest quality

3.    You missed the deadline

4.    You aren’t checking eligibility before bidding

5.    Your costs are inaccurate.

If you want further advice about tenders for roofing work, contact us and chat to our consultants. We are always happy to help!

Want to save time looking for tenders for roofing work? Try Discover Elite

Sign up to Discover Elite via your chosen portal. Then, a dedicated Account Manager will find live bids on your behalf. They’ll speak with you weekly to discuss opportunities that may interest you. This is especially helpful for those with little time to spare due to busy schedules.

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a tendering opportunity even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portalsof your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable leads and tendering opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

Examples of tenders for roofing work found on our portal

Ramsey Grammar School East, Phase 1 Replacement Flat Roof

Isle of Man Government – International – Budget: Undisclosed

Bunscoill Rhumsaa, Replacement Perspex to Canopy Roofs

Isle of Man Government – International – Budget: Undisclosed

Roof Repairs

St. Joseph’s Secondary School (Rush) – Republic of Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

Roofing Replacement Programme 2022-2027

Onward Group Limited – North West– Budget: – £6,000,000

Summer Works Scheme 2022 – Glanmire Community College – Roof Works

Cork Education and Training Board – Republic of Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

Need help writing your next tender?

If you don’t have the resources or time to write a winning bid, why not outsource it? Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, boasts an 87% success rate and has over 60 years of collective bidding experience. They offer four bid writing support packages to help you on the path to success. Whether you’re new to tendering, or simply need someone to proof your written response before you submit – we can help.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready programme is designed for those who have never tendered before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully.

Tender Improvement

Tender Improvement can help if you’re already tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Our Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next roofing tender.

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written a tender and need someone to proofread it – Tender Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tender Writing

If you’ve found the perfect tender but don’t know where to start – we can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Get in touch for more information about our bid management consultancy services.

We actively source tenders for the following sub-sectors:

Check out some of our other blogs:

A Guide to Construction Tenders Online

Posted on by John Hudson

Opportunities for construction tenders online

There are thousands of opportunities for finding construction tenders online. However, it can be hard knowing where to start. We appreciate, all the information out there can be overwhelming. We put this guide together to help you understand construction tenders and the opportunities out there.

Construction tenders are essentially public contract opportunities. In construction, an invitation to tender (ITT) may be issued to procure:

  • Services
  • Goods
  • Works
  • Utilities.

When you’ve been searching for construction tenders online you’ve probably noticed how diverse the opportunities are. Tenders are often published for services including:

  • Roofing
  • Demolition
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Groundworks
  • Design and build
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Project management and many more.

What is the process of winning a construction tender?

The construction industry can be quite savvy when it comes to tendering. So, we’ve broken down the process to help you make sense of it.

The standard process is as follows:

  • PAS91 or PQQ

A PAS91 is essentially the construction sector’s answer to a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). This process is simply to shortlist the suppliers who qualify to deliver the contract. Be prepared to provide company details, compliance information and financial information.

  • Invitation to tender

Once you pass this initial stage, the buyer will usually release the invitation to tender. This allows you to respond to the tender and submit a final bid.

An invitation to tender may include:

  • The form of a tender
  • Preliminaries (including pre-construction information and site waste management plan)
  • Contract or contract conditions
  • Employer’s information requirements
  • A tender pricing document
  • A drawing schedule
  • Design drawings
  • Specifications.

  • Clarification

Clarification questions can be asked via the portal the tender will be submitted through.

You can remain anonymous when asking clarification questions, so your competitors don’t know it is you. Staying up to date with answers is important as it could change the way you respond to the bids. Remember to make a note of the clarification deadline as it could be weeks before the final submission date.  

  • Submission 

Once the bid is complete, it’s time to submit it. Your response will include methods, the price for supplying goods/services, and responses to how you meet the requirements. You will often also be required to submit supporting documents such as case studies, policies and procedures.

What to expect when bidding for construction contracts in the UK?

You’ve probably found hundreds of construction tenders online. This is because they are constantly being uploaded. Thanks to the billions of pounds invested in the construction industry across the UK. Recently, more businesses are turning towards tendering as a way of growing their business due to the impact of COVID-19.

Financial standing and health and safety procedures are some examples of what is to be expected in construction contracts.

What to look for in construction bid sites

We still have more information about construction tenders online. What should you be looking for to find the best construction bid site for your organisation? We’ve put together 7 things you should be checking for:

  1. The portal doesn’t rely on CPV codes

Common procurement vocabulary (CPV). An 8-digit code that allows buyers to classify what they are procuring. They are often used incorrectly, leading to extra time being wasted, wading through irrelevant tenders.

  1. The portal manually tracks construction contracts

At Construction Tenders, our opportunity trackers manually search thousands of sources each day. Instead of relying on CPV codes, they read and upload each tender manually, ensuring maximum relevance.

  1. The system focuses on your industry 

Most bid sites source tenders for all industries so there’s a chance you will see opportunities that aren’t irrelevant.  Construction Tenders is dedicated to the construction industry, therefore, cutting out irrelevant information.

  1. Allows for remote working in teams

Remote working has changed the way businesses operate in many ways. Especially since lockdown as most businesses have had to adapt to remote working. Our portal can be accessed anywhere anytime. 

  1. You’re supported by an account manager

You will have a dedicated account manager to offer support and guidance and answer any queries you may have.

  1. You have access to virtual learning

Our Tender VLE service is free and offers your business expert advice about tendering. We offer video masterclasses, fact sheets, blogs and templates to help with the tender process.

  1. You can outsource bid writing if needed

Some people struggle with writing. If you want to win a bid, you need a good writer to help you. We have developed Hudson Succeed, our bid writing division. This service helps our clients through the bidding process every step of the way. Our team are exceptional Bid Writers who assist businesses in multiple sectors to write compelling and technical narratives. Our bid writers are highly experienced with over 60 years of experience collectively and an 87% success rate. We have an extensive range of experience in the construction industry.

We source Construction Tenders on a daily basis from thousands of buyers, across the UK. Our goal is to save you both time and money manually searching for new construction leads. Our clients receive daily alerts when tenders are released. They also have 24hr access to our Construction Tenders portal.

Need help with construction tenders online?

Finding the right tender for your business can take a large amount of time out of your day. There are thousands of websites posting multi-sector opportunities and searching for leads can turn into a full-time job. Each one may have its own portal, log in or password. Luckily for you, we have a solution.

Construction Tenders is one centralised and easy-to-navigate portal hosting exclusive, public and private construction leads and tendering opportunities. Gone are the days of relying on inaccurate CPV Codes! Our Opportunity Trackers manually search and upload tenders from thousands of websites across the UK. You’re able to filter and search the results by budget, keyword, location and more, streamlining the process.

A subscription to Construction Tenders offers your business:

  • Access to all unique, private and public sector opportunities within the construction industry.
  • An on-hand Account Manager to answer any questions you may have about competitive tendering in construction.
  • A daily email bulletin sent straight to your inbox when new construction tenders are uploaded that day.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed, our bid writing division.
  • 20-minutes free bid management consultancy each month.

Get in touch today to book a free live demo.

7 Things you can Expect in Construction Tenders in the UK

Posted on by John Hudson

Construction Tenders in the UK: 7 things to expect

Construction tenders in the UK are constant. That’s thanks to the billions of pounds that are invested in the construction industry across the UK. The UK government is focused on building the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently more businesses are turning towards tendering as a viable and lucrative way to grow their business. COVID-19 has changed the way many companies do business. Tendering is a contact-free way of growing your business, and you can do it from home. This has led to increased competition, so it’s best to be prepared when writing your response. You want to stand out from the crowd and persuade the buyer that you’re the best company for the job.

7 things you can expect to find in a PAS91 or PQQ for construction tenders in the UK

Below are seven things you can expect to find within the initial stages of construction tenders in the UK. They can often be found within the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) and PAS91 in construction. Below highlights the main areas that will be covered and what questions you can expect to answer. It is predominantly a box-ticking exercise to make sure you pass the minimum criteria for the work at hand.

  1. Supplier identity and contact information

  1. Financial standing

  • Accounts and financial statements
  • Insurance statements and certificates.

  1. Business and professional standing

  • Any criminal convictions.

  1. Health and safety

  • Health and Safety management policies
  • How you obtain health and safety advice
  • Health and safety workforce training
  • Workforce health and safety qualifications
  • RIDDOR
  • Health and safety implementation
  • Risk assessment
  • Suitable workforce welfare facilities
  • Arrangements for co-operation and or-ordination with suppliers and sub-contractors.
  • CDM co-ordinators and designers.

  1. Equal opportunity and diversity policies and procedures

  • Compliance with anti-discrimination legislation.
  • Any findings of unlawful discrimination.
  • How your company ensures equality and diversity within your organisation.
  • Actively promote good practice by eliminating discrimination.

  1. Environmental management policy and capability

  • Policy and management of construction-related environmental issues.
  • Arrangements to ensure your environmental management procedures effectively reduce and prevent significant impacts on the environment.
  • Check, review and improve your environmental management performance.

  1. Quality management

  • Policy and organisation for quality management.
  • Procedures to periodically review correct and improve quality performance.

Once you have passed the PQQ or PAS91 stage of construction tenders in the UK, you’ll be given an ITT. ITT stands for an invitation to tender and is the next round of the tendering procedure.

3 things you should include in an ITT for construction tenders in the UK

  1. Relevant accreditations and qualifications

Construction tenders in the UK will ask for proof of your business and employee’s relevant qualifications and accreditations. Construction sites can be hazardous environments, leaving plenty of opportunities for accidents to arise.

You should demonstrate your business is prepared, in keeping with relevant health and safety regulations and best practice. A buyer may ask what relevant accreditations and qualifications you have, asking you to attach proof to your tender documents. These could include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

  • OHSAS 18001:2007
  • CHAS
  • RIDDOR
  • ISO 9001; 14001; 18001; 45001:2018
  • CDM 2015
  • Constructionline
  • Subcontractor
  • SSIP
  • BIM
  • IOSH.

  1. Evidence of your professional capability

Carrying on from relevant accreditations and qualifications, you will need to demonstrate and evidence your professional capability. You can expect to be asked to provide up to three relevant case studies completed within the last five years.

They should be contracts you have completed similar in complexity and scope to the current contract. Positive testimonials from past clients are a bonus. They can help you assert yourself to the buyer of the quality of your services.

Preparing a selection of previous examples of your work can help strengthen your bid. Having a well-prepared bank of evidence can help save time with future submissions too.

When applying for construction tenders in the UK, it’s a good idea to prepare any:

  • CCS reports.
  • National awards and nominations.
  • Fully completed risk assessments and method statements.
  • Site audits and completed reports.
  • Before, during and after photos from previous contracts.
  • The contact information and testimonials from previous satisfied clients.

  1. Social Value

The updated government Construction Playbook has an emphasis on practising sustainable construction to the best of one’s ability. Public sector construction tenders in the UK have a mandatory minimum weighting of 10% on social value. Buyers want to see how your business will give back during the course of the contract.

Social value has an emphasis on the economic, social and environmental aspects within the community and across the UK. Your sustainable development goals should maximise social values such as:

  • COVID-19 recovery.
  • Environmental considerations such as reducing waste and encouraging recycling, practising sustainable construction.
  • Promoting and creating new skills and jobs, tackling unemployment.
  • The equal opportunity and diversity policies you implement.

Need assistance?

We understand that the tendering process can be quite confusing. If you’re feeling a little perplexed about bidding for construction contracts UK we can help.

Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, boasts an 87% bid success rate. They have over 60 years of collective experience and are well versed in writing construction tender responses. They offer four levels of bid writing support that can cater to your bid writing response needs.

Tender Writing

Have you found the perfect construction tender for your business but don’t know where to start? You can send the specification over to our Bid Writers and they’ll take care of it all for you. They’ll write the response and even submit it on your behalf! They’ll also provide a full Tender Writing breakdown. This allows you time to focus on the more important things.

Tender Mentor

Our Tender Mentor service can make sure your response is free of grammar and spelling mistakes before you submit. Our Bid Writers will proofread your response, checking it’s in line with the specification.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready programme is designed for businesses who have never tendered for work before. This programme works with you, ensuring you have everything in place to tender successfully. You’ll have access to an expert Bid Consultant who can help your business grow.

Tender Improvement

Have you been tendering for work, but aren’t seeing any success? Our Tender Improvement package can help. During the course of the programme, our Bid Writers will assess your previous responses and supporting documents. They’ll provide you with guidance and improve literature where necessary.

Where can I find construction tenders in the UK?

Searching for the right construction tenders for your business can turn into a full-time job. We know this because that’s what our Opportunity Trackers do here at Hudson Discover!

 Thousands of websites across the UK post various opportunities for your business using unreliable CPV codes. If you’re solely relying on them, you could be missing out on the perfect opportunity for your organisation.

Our Opportunity Trackers manually scour and source construction leads from thousands of sources across the UK. They then upload them to our Construction Tenders portal. You are able to filter the results by budget, location, keyword and more. This streamlines the process, allowing you to find the perfect construction tendering opportunity.

Below are past construction tenders in the UK sourced on our portal: 

Building Repair Works Pertaining to The External Fabric of Seacombe Ferry Terminal & Spaceport Building 2020

Merseytravel- North West- Budget: Undisclosed

05-03-2021

Disabled Facilities Grant Property Extension (Great Row Grove)

Stoke-on-Trent City Council- West Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed

03-03-2021

External Works

North Star Housing Group LTD- North East- Budget: £2,700,000

02-03-2021

Retender External Door Replacement – St Stephens and St Bartholomew’s

North Tyneside Council- North East- Budget: Undisclosed

08-03-2021

Tipperary County Council – Extension & Refurbishment Works to Traveller Accommodation at No. 4, Wallers Lot, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Tipperary County Council- Budget: Undisclosed

05-03-2021

A subscription to Construction Tenders offers your business:

  • Access to all unique, public and private sector construction bids from across the UK.
  • An on-hand Account Manager to answer any questions you may have about construction tenders in the UK.
  • A daily email bulletin sent straight to your inbox when new construction tenders are uploaded.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed, our bid writing division.
  • 20-minutes of free consultancy each month with our Bid Experts.

Book a free live demo of Construction Tenders today.

We actively source tenders for the following sub-sectors:

Contact us today and allow us to help you grow your business with Construction Tenders.

Upgrading to Discover Elite can save you even more time

Discover Elite can help optimise your tendering opportunities – even when you’re busy! Our two upgraded packages can improve your bidding success rate and competitor awareness. They are the ultimate time-saving tools that can help your business search and apply for construction tenders in the UK.

The Ultimate Time Saver package offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Hudson Discover sector-specific portals. This option best suits a business that overlaps two industries such as Construction and Facilities, for example.
  • A maximum of five tender breakdowns per month.
  • Buyer portal management including registration, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid or no-bid
  • Pre-market and award engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Weekly phone calls with your dedicated Account Manager to discuss the viable tendering opportunities in your industry.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package also includes:

  • All of the above.
  • Up to seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • A Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager with a minimum of 5 years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

Contact us to find out how we can help your business grow.

Structural Engineering Consultancy Tenders: 5 Things to Include

Posted on by John Hudson

Structural engineering consultancy tenders and how to write them

Structural engineering consultancy tenders can have advantages for your business. If tendering within the public sector, it can result in guaranteed pay, securing a pipeline of work for your business.

Structural engineering consultancy tenders may be looking to fulfil contracts such as:

  • Monitoring the quality of construction from a structural perspective.
  • Reviewing designed portions of the structure for compliance with the assigned parameters.
  • Co-ordinating and reviewing design elements with other members of the design team. This could include external stakeholders to obtain necessary licences and approvals relating to the works.
  • Reviewing design and calculations where appropriate.
  • Co-ordinating site investigation works as required.

The typical tendering procedure

PQQ

The standard criteria for selection within structural engineering consultancy tenders starts off as a PQQ. A PQQ is a pre-qualification questionnaire where you will have to detail your business’s:

  • Company information.
  • Confirmation of insurance.
  • Proof of financial stability and availability to undertake the project.
  • Health and Safety
  • Environmental policy.
  • Equal opportunities and diversity policy.

ITT

If your business is successful, you will then be sent an invitation to tender (ITT). This will include your quality and price response.

5 things to include in your structural engineering consultancy tenders

1. Overall project cost and fees

Buyers will always consider the rates of your services as part of the evaluation process. Each tender is different depending on the buyer’s needs. This means some tenders put more weighting on price over quality.

Pricing describes the cost of the contract, so you should submit your best price for the project. However, don’t try and outprice yourself or undercut your competitors by being the cheapest. It’s not profitable to submit a low price and then go significantly over budget.

Even if the price is not the main focus of a tender, public sector organisations will award the contract to the MEAT. The MEAT is the most economically advantageous tender. This is when your response is evaluated on other aspects than just price. It’s important to note that the cheapest bid does not win. Buyers may assess the MEAT by looking at the following examples:

  • Quality
  • Innovation
  • Technical ability
  • Environmental benefits
  • Accessibility
  • Ability to deliver on time

2. Project methodology and management

Within your ITT, you will need to provide the details of your prosed structure of the management and resources. This must include the supervision and demonstrate your ability to provide suitable and sufficient resources for a successful project. You must demonstrate management structures, lines of authority, reporting and your depth capacity to undertake the project.

Within structural engineering consultancy tenders, a good way to do this is via the RIBA stages. RIBA stands for the Royal Institute of British Architecture. Their Plan of Work contains the definitive model for the design and construction process of buildings. It has seven stages:

0. Strategic definition

1. Preparation and Briefing

2. Concept Design

3. Spatial Coordination

4. Technical Design

5. Manufacturing and Construction

6. Handover

7. Use

3. Risk assessment

A risk assessment is usually included within an ITT. It needs to include an understanding of specific challenges and risks of the project. It could go hand in hand with your businesses health and safety policies. As with any construction project, a buyer wants to optimise the health and safety of their staff and customers.

You must be in compliance with the current legislations and provide evidence. Examples of what policies that you could have in place for structural engineering consultancy tenders are:

  1. RIDDOR
  2. CHAS
  3. ISO 9001; 14001; 45001
  4. BS5750
  5. Constructionline
  6. SSIP

4. Past case studies

Construction contracts will require you to evidence past case studies of completed works of similar scope. Buyers want to see how successful you have been in the past when fulfilling similar contracts. You want to make sure that these case studies are tailored to projects of similar complexity.

You’ll likely be asked to detail 3 examples that have been completed within the last five years. Each example should be tailored, fitting and compelling with the specification. Testimonials from satisfied clients always reflect well on you. Depending on the buyer, you may have to provide their contact information so they can check you’re telling the truth.

Make sure your case studies are:

  1. Thorough
  2. Detailed
  3. Well-developed
  4. Backed up with evidence
  5. Showcase your company’s abilities
  6. Include how you overcame unexpected challenges and how you adapted, showing flexibility and problem-solving abilities.

5. CV’s

Structural engineering consultancy tenders will often ask for CVs of the employees who will work on the contract. You may also need to provide the details of any subcontractors you will be using too. The CVs must demonstrate that the staff are capable of providing a high quality of service. They will need to include their experience, ability and suitability and any relevant qualifications.

You could include a smart but friendly photo of each member on their CVs against a neutral background. This will allow buyers to put faces to names and is a nice added touch. CVs should be relevant, focused and as concise as possible while still being thorough.

Need assistance?

If writing isn’t your strong suit, not to worry – our sister company, Hudson Succeed, can help. They have an 87% success rate and over 60 years of collective bid writing experience.

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written your own tender response and want someone to double-check for errors, then Tender Mentor is for you. One of our Bid Writers will look over it and proofread for any grammatical or spelling mistakes. They’ll check it’s in line with the specification before you submit the bid.

Tender Writing

Have you found the perfect tender for your business, but don’t know where to start? Why don’t you send it our way? Our Bid Team will take care of it all for you, providing you with a full Tender Writing breakdown. They’ll let you know what they need from you and even submit it on your behalf!

Tender Improvement

If you’ve already been tendering for work, but aren’t seeing success, our Tender Improvement programme can help. Our Bid Writers will look over your supporting documents and past submissions. They’ll then give you feedback and guidance on how to improve.

Tender Ready

Our Tender Ready programme is designed for those who have never tendered before. This programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully. It includes a 12-month subscription to a sector-specific portal of your choice.

Where can I find structural engineering consultancy tenders?

Not everyone has the time to scour hundreds of websites a day trying to find the right tendering opportunity.

Luckily for you, our Construction Tenders portal can help. We don’t rely on CPV codes that can result in missed opportunities as they’re often used incorrectly. Our Opportunity Trackers manually trawl and source construction leads from thousands of websites daily. You are able to filter the results via location, budget, keyword and more. This saves you hours, allowing you to focus on the important things.

Below are some past structural engineering consultancy tenders we have sourced on our portal:

Tralee Northern Relief Road Structural Engineering Consultancy Services

Kerry County Council- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Civil & Structural Engineering Consultancy Services for Carpark Works at GRETB Adult and Further Education and Training Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway

Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy and Ancillary Certifier Services for Social Housing projects in Co. Kildare

Cluid Housing Association- International- Budget: Undisclosed

GBC DAB Structural Engineering Consultancy Services

SE Shared Services- South East- Budget: £120,000

St. Paul’s School – Civil & Structural Engineering Consultancy Services-Single Storey Extension at Beech Hill, Montenotte, Cork T23 P529.

St. Paul’s School (Montenotte) – International- Budget: Undisclosed

A subscription to Construction Tenders can offer your business:

  • Access to all unique, private and public sector structural engineering opportunities from across the UK.
  • Discounted support from Hudson Succeed, our Bid Writing division.
  • An on-hand Account Manager to answer any of your structural engineering tender questions and queries.
  • A daily email bulletin sent straight to your inbox when new structural engineering consultancy tenders are uploaded.

Book a free live demo of Construction Tenders today.

We actively source tenders for the following sub-sectors:

Upgrade to Discover Elite

Discover Elite can save you even more time when searching for structural engineering consultancy tenders. Our two upgraded packages can help you identify tenders, even when you’re busy.

The Ultimate Time Saver and Become a Pre-Bid Master packages can help improve your competitor awareness. You’ll have a dedicated Account Manager that will consider whether tendering opportunities are right for your business. This will help to improve your bid success rate, by going after the right contracts.

The Ultimate Time Saver package can offer your business:

  • An on-hand dedicated Account Manager and weekly phone calls to discuss viable tendering opportunities.
  • A tender breakdown of a maximum of five bids per month.
  • Annual subscription to a maximum of two Hudson Discover sector-specific portals. This is a great option if your business overlaps two industries such as Construction and Logistics, for example.
  • Buyer portal management including registration, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid or no-bid
  • Pre-market and award engagement notices monitored on your behalf.

The Become a Pre-Bid Master package includes:

  • All of the above.
  • A maximum of seven tender breakdowns per month.
  • A Bid Strategy delivered by a Senior Bid Manager with a minimum of 5 years of experience. It will also be managed by our Global Bid Director.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you grow your business with Construction Tenders.

5 Benefits of eTenders Construction Businesses Should Know About

Posted on by John Hudson

Why are eTenders construction’s best friend?

In construction, eTenders are simply procurement processes which occur entirely online, through online documentation and communication.

In short, a buyer posts details of a construction job online and uploads any documents needed. Relevant suppliers register on an online portal, such as Construction Tenders, to express their interest and download documents. Suppliers can submit bids for the work digitally, without needing to print or post any documentation. Construction bids can be submitted either directly to the buyer via email or via an online portal.

We’ve looked at the benefits and shortfalls of eTendering in general and how to build construction contracts for tender. Now, we’d like to take a sector-specific approach and ask: What are the ramifications of using eTenders in construction bids? And how can the features of eTendering help make a construction bid as strong as possible?

eTenders: Construction’s new normal?

Firstly, you might be thinking: eTendering sounds a lot like ‘normal’ tendering, doesn’t it? You’d be right – these days, eTenders are very much the norm across all industries.

Now, the vast majority of construction tenders are carried out almost entirely online. This includes the Invitation to Tender (ITT) at the start of the process, right through to the final stages of completion. Generally, pen, paper and postage are becoming a thing of the past in tendering. Perhaps the procurement manager will print out tender documentation for their own ease of reading. You can consider formatting bids with print or branding in mind, as our design masterclass on Tender VLE explains. However, design is rarely an important factor in construction bids, where strict formats are stuck to.

Here at Hudson Succeed, the percentage of requests we get for postal submissions is less than 5%. Obviously, this is a small fraction. The majority of our tendering work is carried out online. Because of this, we’re always looking at how to make the process of eTendering more efficient at every stage.

The benefits of eTenders that construction workers should know about:

When it comes to the rise of eTenders, construction is one of the industries that benefit the most. The Government recognised the importance of eTenders in construction as part of their Construction 2025 report, back in 2013. They predicted eTenders would deliver much greater productivity by 2025 and major efficiency gains from the earlier engagement of supply chains. This has certainly come true in recent years.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of an eTender in construction can be defined by how well the procurement process is completed. Also, whether the specification and response accurately reflect the intentions of the contracting parties. All of this is a lot easier with eTenders.

So, how exactly has eTendering revolutionised construction contracts?

  1. It allows for Dynamic Purchasing Systems and online portals.

A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is a supply chain list where tenders are published to specific members. A DPS is a completely electronic process.

We’ve streamlined eTendering through our 11 sector-specific tendering portals, including Construction Tenders. Opportunities on our portals can be filtered according to the needs of the user. This makes sure users only see tenders that are relevant to their specific industry and sector. Ultimately, the user avoids having to trawl through irrelevant tenders. The process for buyers is also streamlined, as they can publish competitive opportunities to actively engaged suppliers.

  1. You can collaborate effectively with your team.

Having a secure online platform where tender documents can be distributed, amended and submitted helps streamline the procurement process further. This saves time, money and resources and allows for ongoing collaboration as you create your construction eTender.

The ‘Tasks’ function on our portal allows multiple users to work on a tender simultaneously. You can set tasks for different team members regarding different elements of the tender, such as pricing or quality. You can then view each member’s progress, whenever you need to, and when milestones are hit, you can alert participants.

  1. It allows for clearer, more accessible contracts and terms.

Construction tenders are highly complex. There are often multiple buyers, multi-tier supply chains, and very detailed specifications to think about. With eTenders, constructions bids and proposals are a much clearer and more accessible process, for both buyers and suppliers.

A construction tender is often a very large document. For instance, we’ve talked about the trials of setting out tender rates in construction, which can be a long process. The schedule of rates (SOR) alone may contain 100+ pages, 50+ headings and countless sub-sections and pricing units. eTenders allow construction contractors to use software to properly price their works and boost the chances of effective tender management.

eTendering also allows for early engagement between buyer and supplier and encourages ongoing communication. If something needs to be clarified or negotiated, it can be done so fairly easily. This helps reduces tender cycle times and lowers transactional costs.

Easy and streamlined communication between contractor and sub-contractor is an often-overlooked blessing of eTendering compared to past methods (postage). Good communication is always essential when it comes to multiple companies collaborating effectively!

  1. There’s less room for errors (and more time to fix them…)

Eliminating the need for pen, paper and postage also removes the need for a lot of extraneous physical processes. This, in turn, leaves a lot less room for human error.

Imagine, for instance, you’ve filled out the 100-page SOR document and made a mistake on page 56. Previously, it could have been printed and sealed inside an envelope in time for postage. Now, however, multiple team members can have online access to a digital document, 24 hours a day. This is a lot more likely to be spotted and changed before submission. The eTender can also be checked over and amended right up until the deadline for submission.

In turn, staff members who would be burdened with extraneous jobs can focus on more important tasks. For instance, knowing the ‘scope of works’ is perhaps the most important aspect of the procurement process in construction. eTenders give the buyer more time to define the contract terms, and the supplier more time to understand and negotiate them. Extra time to make the contract and tender documentation more accurate is valuable and will reduce the risk of errors.

If you need any support with construction eTenders, our Hudson Succeed team is happy to help. We can give expert writing support to maximise your success. 

  1. eTenders in construction allow for automation.

eTendering allows for automation which drastically speeds up elements of the tendering process. For instance, the automatic submission of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). The PAS 91 is the construction industry’s answer to the PQQ. Sites like ConstructionLine can be used to prove you are PAS 91 compliant. Essentially, once suppliers have completed one PAS 91 questionnaire, the same set of standard responses can be used again.

But is automation always the best method?

While moving online has simplified many stages of the tendering process, this comes with a major issue, seen in CPV codes. Automation doesn’t always provide the best outcome. A major downfall with eTendering and online portals is the widespread dependence on CPV codes to source tenders. Up to a third of CPV codes are used inaccurately, causing many businesses to miss relevant tenders.

To avoid this, all opportunities on Construction Tenders are sourced and tagged manually. In this area, it’s clear that humans are still beating robots! 

Get in touch with Construction Tenders

Book a free live demo of Construction Tenders today and receive a daily construction leads bulletin straight to your inbox. The bulletin contains all the relevant construction tenders that we have uploaded that day.

This includes the following sub-sectors:

5 Tips for Quoting Accurate Tender Rates in Construction Bids

Posted on by John Hudson

Tender Rates in Construction

Tender rates in construction are essentially the rates, or pricing, presented by the contractor at the time of tender. These rates should cover the total cost of the construction project and the mark-up price.

Sounds simple enough, but tender rates in construction can be difficult to pin down. Especially because an estimate won’t do. A quotation is required when it comes to presenting your tender rates in construction bids. This means that the price will be fixed from the time of tender. There is often little room for negotiation later down the line. So, you need to be certain you’ve presented the proper costs for the requirements of the tender.

How can we help?

At Hudson, we employ experts in all stages of tendering, from sourcing construction tenders (Discover) to writing winning bids (Succeed). And while we can create quality, compliant tender responses for you, you must prepare accurate tender rates prior to this. It’s important to have accurate tender rates ready to go when it comes to tendering in construction. Even if you wish to outsource the tender.

We understand that quoting tender rates in construction can be a burden for suppliers, and we want to help. So, we’ve created this quick guide to cover the basics of tender rates in construction. Here are 5 things to look out for, so your business can be one step closer to winning bids!

5 tips for quoting tender rates in construction!

1. Don’t miss any indirect costs.

Buyers will always consider the rates of your services as part of the evaluation process. Some tenders put more weighting on price than others, for instance, they might weight 70% on pricing and 30% quality. In this case, the focus falls on the lowest price.

Even if price is not always the main focus of a tender, the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) will always fair well.

To help you consider all costs, there are two main elements to tender rates in construction:

  1. Direct Costs.

These are the specific costs incurred to provide the product or service on the construction site. For example:

  • Materials used;
  • Machinery and equipment used;
  • Salaries for staff and supervisors throughout the project;
  • Subcontractor invoices.

  1. Indirect Costs.

In short, this covers everything else! These are costs that are directly related to construction, but not the specific project or construction site in particular. For example:

  • Project management
  • Training programmes for staff
  • Research and development
  • Contract supervision
  • Temporary buildings or premises
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Quality control and inspection
  • Insurance
  • Repairs and maintenance

When considering tender rates in construction, it’s common to focus on direct costs and obvious, physical aspects of the site. It’s easy to neglect aspects of the pricing that aren’t immediately obvious. For instance, an indirect cost such as the salary of a project manager working on multiple projects in the office.

Make sure you take a holistic and detailed approach when considering all factors of your final rates.

2. Be realistic.

Make sure you are realistic when setting your tender rates. You may be tempted to lower your prices to ensure you’re the Most Economically Advantageous Tender. However, this isn’t good practice for several reasons, for instance:

  1. The buyer might doubt the legitimacy and quality of your service if your bid is especially low. This could mean you lose the bid.
  2. Once you’ve set your tender rates, you must carry out the specification as required. You may even be legally bound to the contract conditions, so you should make sure they’re realistic. You may get a chance to negotiate your price through an Invitation to Negotiate, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, most public-sector Invitations to Tender (ITTs) state that there won’t be any post-tender price alterations.
  3. You may manage to carry out the project at a lowered price. However, you’ll then find it difficult to increase the tender rates with this buyer for any future contracts.

It’s always better to price your tender as realistically as possible and avoid running into future problems.

What do current tender rates in construction look like?

You should always ask yourself this question when ‘being realistic’ with your tender rates in construction. Consider the current landscape of the construction industry. For example, the average tender rates in construction have deflated in 2020 due to the effects of coronavirus. Global consultancy Arcadis, however, reports an optimistic outlook on the long-term future of UK tender rates in construction. They forecast tender price inflation at 5% for 2024/25. This reflects a large potential pipeline of work in the coming years, plus a reduction in the UK labour force.

In a recent letter to the construction sector, Business Secretary Alok Sharma praised the resilience of the construction industry. He touched upon adapting to the contraction of tender rates in construction, saying: The industry has had to innovate and adapt, changing the way it operates on sites, finding more efficient ways of delivering projects.

How are construction companies like yours delivering projects more efficiently? It’s worth researching and monitoring changing rates across the industry as a whole and in your specific sub-sector. This should be an ongoing process, each time you tender. 

3. Check (and re-check!) the specification.

Construction tenders contain very detailed specifications. You need to read and understand it all in order to begin accurately quoting tender rates in construction bids. There’s little room for error here, as prices often can’t be revised if you spot a mistake after submission. The only choice may be to decline the contract offer if you are awarded it, which is not an ideal situation to be in.

The Invitation to Tender (ITT) may offer applicants the chance to survey the site of construction. If this is a possibility, you should always take the opportunity to survey! Gain as much information as you can to allow you to consider all aspects of pricing, as accurately as possible.

4. Don’t solely focus on driving down tender rates in construction bids.

Tender rates in construction are important, but as we mentioned earlier, pricing isn’t always the main weighting of a tender. Leave time when tendering to research the requirements and consider what wider benefits that you can provide to the project.

One way to do this is to consider the social value of your services. Social value is becoming increasingly important, and it should be part of your approach to tender rates in construction. For example, have you made environmentally conscious decisions in your supply chain? An increase in cost may allow you to dispose of materials sustainably. This environmental consideration could benefit your tender more than a cheaper, yet irresponsible, alternative would.

So, can you implement high-quality service and demonstrate social value? If this is the case, buyers could choose your bid despite it being priced higher price than your competitors’. Now, that’s a win!

5. Find out which resources are available.

You may use a bill of quantities (BoQ) or a schedule of rates (SOR) when pricing your tender. Both are used to obtain prices from contractors, depending on your procurement route.

  1. A bill of quantities: This provides project-specific, measured quantities of the items specified in the tender documentation. It helps tenderers prepare tender rates in construction. This is appropriate in projects that have been designed in great detail, with precise quantities set out in the specification.
  2. A schedule of rates: This is essentially a price list, setting out the rates for staff, labour and machinery that a contractor will use. This doesn’t contain specific quantities and is appropriate when the nature of the work can’t be quantified. You may need to insert your rates into the SOR, while others will have pre-filled prices. A handy feature of a SOR is that it sometimes shows the evaluation weighting against certain items. This means you can tailor your rates and aim to be more competitive on highly weighted items, and selective with others.

You could also invest in online services that help you set out tender rates in construction contracts. For instance, the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is a service designed to help you produce specific estimates.

Another useful resource can come from always requesting tender feedback from previous bids. Ask for feedback on how you compared to competitors when it comes to failed bids, in particular. From this information, compare your tender pricing and quality to other bidders, and adjust your rates accordingly for future bids.

Need bid-writing support?

We appreciate setting out tender rates in construction bids can be very time consuming, in and of itself. (This guide only touches on a fraction of the information available for tender rates and pricing!) And this all comes before the process of writing a fully compliant and detailed bid to put your rates in.

Our Hudson Succeed team can take the pain out of bid writing and save you a lot of valuable time. We provide writing support to help maximise your bidding success. Our dedicated team of bid writers have extensive experience delivering construction tenders – with an 87% success rate.

Whether you are tendering for the first time or have tendered before, we have four services tailored to your needs:

Get in touch for more information about our bid management consultancy services.

Do you want to save time when sourcing construction tenders?

Our Construction Tenders portal gives you a sector-specific service that is tailored to your business. Our opportunity trackers manually search for all the latest construction tenders, so you don’t have to. Every result you see will be relevant to the services you offer. You’ll receive updates straight to your inbox. And if you have any questions, your dedicated account manager will be on hand to answer them.

Get in touch with Construction Tenders

Book a free live demo of Construction Tenders today and receive a daily construction leads bulletin straight to your inbox. The bulletin contains all the relevant construction tenders that we have uploaded that day.

This includes the following sub-sectors:

Bricklaying Tenders & Advice for SMEs

Posted on by John Hudson

How to Win Bricklaying Tenders as the Construction Industry ‘Bounces Back’ 

Bricklaying tenders are a gateway for growing your brickwork business. But is now a good time to grow as an SME, as we head into another National Lockdown?

At first glance, you may not think so. Coronavirus and lockdown restrictions had a significant impact on businesses in the construction industry earlier this year. In March, major construction projects ground to a halt across the country.

The fallout from these mass shutdowns continues to have an impact on the construction industry. As we enter a second National Lockdown, you’re probably wondering, will history repeat itself?

It’s understandable to be concerned about what the future of bricklaying looks like in 2020. What do the latest government restrictions mean for your sector? And how can you secure bricklaying tenders that are right for your business during a second National Lockdown?

Well, we’ve checked the stats with your bricklaying business in mind. Now is as good a time as any to win bricklaying tenders and grow your business. Here’s why – and how to do it.

What is the construction ‘bounce-back’?

Many industries are still in sharp decline due to coronavirus. It can feel like there’s nothing but bad news for businesses at the moment. But this simply isn’t true – the construction industry is back in growth-mode.

It’s been coined the construction ‘bounce-back’ as the industry, quite literally, rebuilds itself.

This summer, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) reported that almost 50% of SME builders were enjoying an uptick in demand. This state-of-trade survey also specified that 40% expected their workload to increase further in Autumn.

Did this increase happen? In short – yes! Let’s look at this in more detail.

To measure the construction bounce-back, we can look at the PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) of the construction industry. This index summarises economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors and shows whether market conditions are expanding or contracting. Ultimately, the PMI provides information about current and future business conditions to companies, analysts, and investors.

The Construction PMI in the UK shows the industry has bounced back and is operating at above-average levels:

  • As reported by the IHS Markit/CIPS UK, the UK Construction PMI hit 53.1 in October 2020. This comes after a 12-year average of 51.11 between 2008 and 2020, and an all-time low of 8.20 in April of 2020.
  • Construction companies report feeling optimistic towards their prospects for the next 12 months. In fact, business optimism has hit a 3-year high in the construction industry. As Markit Economics reported, there are high-hopes for economic recovery and an overall reduction in COVID-19 disruption going into 2021.
  • As the construction industry avoids shutdown during the second National Lockdown, business optimism is set to remain high for the sector. Build UK announced that the latest government restrictions will have no direct impact on their business or trading. Operations across all Build UK sites remain fully open to support the construction industry.
  • New orders in the construction sector are also seeing their highest increase since December 2015. This is largely due to delayed projects that were halted earlier in the year amid the initial COVID-19 crisis.

What does this all mean for bricklaying tenders?

All of this is good news for bricklayers. But it gets better:

Housebuilding was the best-performing area of all construction activity in October 2020, scoring a PMI of 62.4. You don’t need to be a consultant to see that’s a great figure. The speed of recovery for housebuilding has eased only slightly since September 2020. This means the bounce-back is showing very little signs of slowing as of November 2020.

This revival is due to pent up demand from stalled or cancelled projects. The boost also stems in part from the fact that housing market conditions have improved in recent months.

As these projects spring into action, they bring a surge of opportunities. Now is the time to source bricklaying tenders and grow your business.

How do I find bricklaying tenders during the bounce-back?

New opportunities in the sector are set to steadily increase as we enter 2021. So, how should you set about finding construction contracts effectively?

Make sure you’re using a portal that is specific to your industry. This will save you countless time trawling through irrelevant results when you could be growing your business.

Signing up to our Construction Tenders portal provides you with a service that is tailored to your needs from day one. Our opportunity trackers (humans, not robots!) manually search the latest bricklaying tender opportunities every day so you don’t have to. This means every result you see is specific to your sector and relevant to the services you offer. You’ll receive updates straight to your inbox.

Opportunities for bricklaying tenders may include:

  • Masonry and bricklaying work
  • Programme and Project Management
  • Renovation Works
  • Grout packers
  • Building and Maintenance Services
  • Training
  • Bricklaying health and safety consultancy

If you have any questions, your dedicated account manager will always be on hand to answer them.

How do I secure the perfect bricklaying tender?

Have you already found a bricklaying tender perfect for your organisation? Do you want to increase your chances of securing the tenders that are right for your business once you’ve found them?

There is a lot to consider when writing a bricklaying tender, especially now.

A key aspect of construction bids in today’s climate is the effective management of coronavirus. Many buyers will expect this to be considered within tender responses, especially now national restrictions are in place again. You must plan how you will analyse risks and communicate risk management strategies to your workforce.

National restrictions impact how construction sites operate. Always refer to the latest government guidance when planning your bricklaying tender response. You may need to consider:

  • Planning your approach in advance
  • Strategically reducing delivery frequencies
  • Minimising contact between people
  • Managing staff schedules differently.

Our Hudson Succeed division provides writing support and professional consultation to help you maximise your chances of success. Our dedicated team of bid writers have extensive experience delivering excellent tenders with an 87% success rate.

Whether you are tendering for the first time or have tendered before, we have a service suitable for you. We tailor each service to your needs through the following tender packages:

Get in touch with Construction Tenders

Book a free live demo of Construction Tenders today. Clients receive a daily bulletin with construction leads straight to their inbox when new tenders are uploaded. The bulletin contains all the relevant construction opportunities that we have sourced that day.

Below are previous bricklaying tenders sourced on our portal:

Early Market Engagement Questionnaire – Environmental Improvement Works

Believe housing- North East- Budget: Undisclosed

31-07-2020

Environmental Facilities Work To 187 Properties Oakridge Sketty, Swansea

City and County of Swansea- Wales- Budget: Undisclosed

17-07-2020

Construction of a replacement retaining wall – Belmont, Dreemskerry Road, Maughold

Isle of Man Government- International- Budget: Undisclosed

25-06-2020

Boundary Wall – Clare Court (v2)

Stroud District Council- South West- Budget: Undisclosed

08-07-2020

Take Down and Rebuild Defective Retaining Wall at Parwich Primary School, The Square, Parwich, Ashbourne

Derbyshire County Council- East Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed

11-06-2020

We actively source tenders for the following sub-sectors:

Contact us today and allow us to help you grow your business with Construction Tenders.

What Does Tendering Mean to the Construction Sector?

Posted on by John Hudson

What is tendering in construction?

Tendering is a vital business development strategy for most construction firms. Why? Because tendering is an effective way of securing new contracts from buyers you may not have had access previously to or even be aware of.

So, what is tendering? As in all industries, tendering is an approach that is ultimately deemed to be the fairest way of procuring works, goods and services. The tendering process, however, can vary slightly depending on your industry sector. It is normally a formal process, aimed at procuring the most economically advantageous option.

In order to secure the work, businesses have to demonstrate why they are the most appropriate supplier for the construction contract. You must answer the buyer’s specification and evidence how you will meet the criteria of the contract.

What is the process?

Pre-qualifying stages

Initially, buyers may request that suppliers complete and submit a PAS-91. This method of pre-qualifying suppliers is becoming increasingly popular in the construction sector. It was developed by the British Standards Institute to save suppliers time filling out multiple types of PQQs.

In a nutshell, the PAS-91 takes the same ‘what have you done’ approach as the PQQ. The main purpose is to ensure that suppliers who bid for the contract, have the capability to deliver the services/goods if successful.

Requests

Depending on the contract, the buyer can ask for this information by publishing various different requests. For example, buyers can publish:

  • An RFQ (request for quote)
  • An RFP (request for proposal)
  • or an RFI (request for information) and more besides.

If buyers require more than just a quote, they will divide their evaluation weighting into pricing and quality. For example, the buyer may mark the tender responses based on 60% price and a 40% quality. We have also seen this the other way around in a variety of different ratios.

When quality is required, this means that the buyer is assessing your written responses to their questions. They may also request to see three previous, relevant, contract examples and potentially turnover evidence in the form of accounts.

Evaluation

Once you have completed the tender and submitted your bid, the buyer will then evaluate the submissions against the specification.

The highest-scoring supplier will be awarded the contract and the work will commence on the contract start date. 

Why do businesses tender for work?  

Securing contracts through tendering is a proactive approach to your business development strategy. When asking yourself, ‘what is tendering in construction?’ the answer is simply, being practical about growing your business.

It’s great when you get inbound leads through marketing or word-of-mouth. However, to really grow your business sustainably, you need to invest in self-generation.

Tendering opens up a new world of possibilities. If you’re a smaller business, relying on word-of-mouth, imagine the difference that securing a construction contract with the council could make to your pipeline of work. You can secure long-term, 10+ year contracts with local authorities and know that the work is guaranteed for the future.

As well as this, the Prompt Payment Code means that you are guaranteed to be paid on time. All too often we hear of businesses who have been caught in difficult situations when clients miss payments. The Prompt Payment Code means that government authorities have 30 days to pay invoices. 

What if you’re an SME? 

If you’re an SME business and you’re asking yourself ‘what is tendering in construction?’ you can think of it as a way of opening doors.

We have been supporting businesses with their tendering efforts for almost two decades. In this time, we have realised that SMEs are often under the impression that they are too small to tender.

Under this impression, you could potentially be losing out on multiple opportunities for business growth.

In terms of government construction contracts, the UK government has a target to spend every £1 in £3 with SMEs. This means that public sector buyers want to award contracts to SMEs in order to meet this target.

Of course, there will be contracts that are simply too big for SME businesses to deliver. However, for businesses that are new to tendering, we always recommend starting small and working your way up. It is likely that with smaller contracts, you won’t be competing against the “big players”. They will be bidding for the larger projects. By building a portfolio of contracts, you are preparing your business for winning big construction bids in the future.

Where do I find tendering opportunities in construction? 

By simply Googling ‘Construction Tenders’ you will be confronted with a plethora of platforms who will source these opportunities.

However, if you’re looking to save time when sourcing these tenders, you should be aware of issues with CPV codes.

CPV codes (or common procurement vocabulary) are how buyers categorise their tenders. In theory, each industry has its own code and buyers simply select the service with the correct code when publishing a tendering opportunity.

However, when we conducted research, we found that a third of tenders were tagged with incorrect codes. The problem is that these opportunity tracking platforms rely on algorithms to collect their data and the algorithms track CPV codes.

That’s why our Construction Tenders platform is different. We don’t rely on codes or algorithms to source our tenders. We have a dedicated team of Opportunity Trackers who manually search thousands of sources, daily. They read the buyer’s requirements and tag each tender with industry-driven keywords.

What does this mean for you?

When signing up to Construction Tenders, you will simply be able to enter the keywords that represent your services and instantly find construction leads. The tenders you see will be relevant to your service offering and ultimately, this will save countless hours, searching through hundreds of irrelevant contracts.

Below are previous construction tenders sourced on our portal:

Provision of Scaffolding to Weetwood, Wooler

Advance Northumberland Limited- North East- Budget: Undisclosed

Minor Works Framework Agreement Daresbury Laboratory & UK Astronomy Technology Centre

UK Shared Business Services Limited- South West- Budget: £9,500,000

Mechanical Upgrade Works at Ballyheada N.S.

Ballyheada National School- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Freemans Park B Block Campus Mechanical Works

Leicester College- East Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed

Flat Roof Replacement & Parapet Repairs at Clacton Police Station

7 Forces Procurement- Eastern- Budget: £380,000

We source tenders for services including;

Book a free live demo of the portal to see the current opportunities and see how the system can help your business.

How do I win?

When you find the perfect contract, it’s easy to get excited and imagine winning the tender. Then, you look at the requirements and see that the buyer has asked for quality responses totalling 10,000+ words. How will you complete this to a high-standard whilst delivering your current contracts?

That’s why we developed our sister company, Hudson Succeed. This is our bid writing division. Our Bid Writers have vast experience supporting construction businesses with their tendering efforts. The team proudly holds an 87% bid success rate and they are trusted by over 700 businesses, globally.

Get in touch with the team for a free consultation. Our consultants will be happy to discuss your current tendering strategy or how to get started with your first bid. Call 0203 051 2217 or email hi@tenderconsultants.co.uk.

Shovel-ready projects & the £1.3 billion investment

Posted on by John Hudson

Shovel-ready projects receive a £900 million investment

Shovel-ready projects will account for over £900 million of the Government’s £1.3 billion investment in homes, infrastructure and jobs. £360 million will be used to build 26,000 new homes. Overall, the funds are predicted to deliver up to 45,000 homes and create up to 85,000 jobs. The work will also help to upgrade skills and infrastructure, contributing to building a greener economic recovery.

What is it?

The Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick, announced the nearly £1.3 billion investment earlier this month (August). The project will see the build and implementation of vital infrastructure across England.

Over 300 projects throughout the country have been told that they will be receiving a share of the £900 million. This is being referred to as the ‘Getting Building Fund’. The fund was announced by the Prime Minister in June as the COVID recovery plans stepped into action.

The Housing Secretary said:

“As we get Britain building, we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.

This Government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much-needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”

What is the goal of the projects?

Not only focussed around infrastructure, the shovel-ready projects are also in aid of boosting the economy as we recover from the pandemic. Whilst creating around 85,000 jobs, the projects offer a chance to boost skills in the construction industry.

Creating a greener England is also one of the main aims of the work. It is expected that the new infrastructure will reduce around 65 million kilograms of CO2 emissions across the country.

The successful projects

Some of the 300 successful shovel-ready projects include;

  • Mayfield Park in Greater Manchester. They were granted £23 million for the first phase for the development of commercial space. The project is predicted to open 3,200 jobs and attract around 1 million visitors per year.
  • The National Brownfield Land Institute was granted £14.88 million. The project aims to create a leader in sustainable construction to drive levelling up across the region.
  • Support for a high-speed railway station in Thanet, Kent. The project was funded £12 million and aims to improve transport infrastructure in the area, as well as creating 800 jobs.
  • A total of 21 projects in the North East have been granted a combined £64 million. These projects include the Gateshead Quays convention centre and the development of a new business park. These schemes are expected to create over 4,200 jobs and safeguard a further 3,500.

In total, the successful shovel-ready projects are expected to deliver;

  • 85,000 jobs;
  • 1 million sqm of commercial space;
  • 45,000 homes;
  • Almost 1 million sqm of the public realm or green space (improved or created).

Developing 26,000 new homes

The government has also confirmed a further £360 million investment in Mayoral Combined Authority areas. This investment will help to develop 26,000 homes, whilst protecting greenfield sites.

Additionally, another £8million of funding has been confirmed for brownfield sites. The funding will speed up the build of new homes on these sites. These leaves £40million of funding remaining, for which the Government is now inviting ambitious bids from Mayoral Combined Authorities.

Green Homes grant scheme & required accreditations

The new Green Homes grant scheme will see the government offer £2billion of funding. This will fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements for over 600,000 homes.

However, please be aware that tradespeople must register for a TrustMark accreditation in order to take part in the scheme.

The Business and Energy Secretary, Rt Hon Alok Sharma said:

“Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople.

Our TrustMark scheme will guarantee that building work is completed to a high standard by accredited tradespeople, ensuring consumers are fully protected.”

Households on low incomes can receive vouchers which will cover 100% of the cost of their home improvements. This support carries a maximum of £10,000.

Are you looking for new construction projects?

Does your  business need to secure new construction contracts in the UK? We know that the opportunity tracking process can be time-consuming. There are numerous tendering portals available to you that can make the process more efficient. However, when we conducted research, we found that over a third of the opportunities on these portals were tagged with incorrect CPV codes.

In a nutshell, CPV (common procurement vocabulary) is how the algorithms on these portals find and identify tenders. The problem is that buyers don’t always know which CPV codes to use when publishing tendering opportunities.

We decided to eradicate this process altogether. When we developed Construction Tenders, we decided not to rely on CPV or to leave decisions at the mercy of computers. Our team of Opportunity Trackers manually searches thousands of sources every day. They identify new opportunities in the construction sector and upload them to one central system. They then tag the tenders with industry-specific keywords. This means that all the tenders you see are relevant to your business. No more searching and scrolling through endless, irrelevant contracts.

But don’t just take our word for it. Book a free live demo and trial the system for yourself. The demo will allow you to access the system, see the current opportunities and understand how the portal can help your business.

We source tenders for services including;

Refurbishment Tenders

Do you need bid writing support for a construction tender?

We understand how important the process of tendering is to the construction industry. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, houses our five dedicated bid writing services. The Succeed team has vast experience with writing and winning construction bids. They proudly hold an 87% bid success rate and are trusted by over 700 businesses globally.

Each service was created to ensure that the team can support businesses of varying sizes with different levels of tendering experience.

For example, the Tender Ready package was designed to support those who are new to tendering. During the service, our bid writers will work with you to develop the corporate literature you will need when you begin tendering for work. Not only that, but our Bid Designers will also ensure that your documents are professionally branded and stand out from your competition. They will then help you to identify the right tendering opportunities for your business. Then, they will offer to write your first bid on your behalf or guide you through two.

Tender Writing is the perfect ad-hoc solution if you require support with a one-off bid. The team will write your tender responses, attach the required documents and then submit the bid on your behalf. They will work with you to respond to any technical questions to ensure that your bid showcases your business in the best light.

Tender Improvement was developed to help you see success from your tendering efforts. During this service, our consultants will assess your previous tender responses and identify any areas of improvement. They will also assess your corporate literature and either create or re-develop any necessary documents. Once this is complete, the team can either write your next bid or guide you through two.

Further support  

For further support or more information about how we can help your construction business grow with a steady supply of construction leads please get in touch. Our team will be happy to take you on a tour through our Construction Tenders portal or discuss your tendering strategy in more detail.