What is a tender?
A tender is a procurement process in which a client, often a government organisation, puts a contract for work, services or supplies on the market. The purpose of a tender is to ensure that all interested market participants have an equal opportunity to win the contract. This process encourages competition, allowing the client to achieve the best possible result at a fair price.
Content of a tender
A tender consists of several parts, including requirements and objectives for the contract. Tendering companies submit a bid (tender) showing how they meet these requirements and how they intend to perform the contract and achieve the objectives.
Awarding the contract can be done in different ways. For example, the client can opt for best value for money (MEAT), where other quality aspects are taken into account in addition to price. This encourages bidders to offer more than the client requires.
Procurement directives and legislation
Procurement rules are set out in European legislation and have been translated into national legislation, which in some cases provides further detail. These rules apply to organisations that qualify as contracting authorities. These are mainly public bodies working with public money and/or operating under government supervision. In the Netherlands, these include, for example, municipalities, provinces, but also utility companies, healthcare institutions and universities. The purpose of this legislation is to reduce the cost of work by encouraging competition between companies and to give companies equal opportunities to perform the work.
Help with tenders
Bidding for tenders is a competitive process where companies have to stand out to win the contract. In every tender there is competition between interested market players, and it is essential to show why your company is best suited to perform the contract. At Flux Partners, we are happy to support you in all aspects of tendering. We help you draw up a winning approach to MEAT and tender processes and ensure that your company is well prepared. Contact us for more information on how we can help you with tenders.