Common tendering mistakes we see
Tendering is complex, with even the most experienced teams slipping up if not careful. Understanding these early on can help you improve efficiency and increase your chances of delivering a strong submission.
Below are some of the most common tender mistakes we see and why they matter.
Starting too late
One of the most frequent issues is simply not allocating enough time. Don’t assume that because you have prior content to draw from, writing will happen quickly. It is essential to allocate sufficient time from the beginning to thoroughly understand the tender requirements. On top of that, this is when you may realise that your previous content isn’t actually appropriate for the current submission.
And if you’re starting too late, you’ll be pressured to draft from scratch with minimal time. Late starts always lead to compromised quality and unnecessary stress, so allocate yourself enough time to provide a comprehensive and compelling response.
Unclear roles, responsibilities, and timelines
If you’ve been in it long enough, you’ll know how process-driven tendering is. It’s therefore unwise to work on a submission without a tender management plan (TMP).
A TMP helps clarify who is responsible for each task and when schedules must be finalised. The reasoning is that without a clear structure in place, you risk duplicating or missing tasks. This is in addition to potentially missing a schedule altogether. Tenders involve many moving parts. Clear roles and confirmed timelines help reduce last-minute scrambling, leading to a smoother tender process overall.
Not placing enough importance on compliance
Compliance is sometimes checked too late and sometimes altogether ignored. From overlooking formatting or submission requirements to missing mandatory schedules and failing to fully address every part of the question, even strong submissions will fail if compliance requirements aren’t met.
Underestimating the importance of structure
There is a difference between a document that has been blueprinted against the questions posed and one that hasn’t. At Tender Plus, we blueprint the questions in the order they are asked, which makes it easy for evaluators to follow.
Teams that focus less on how information is presented may risk providing responses that don’t mirror the questions. Other common issues include having key points buried within endless blocks of text. Having a clear structure really makes it easier for evaluators to find, understand, and score your response.
Rushed reviews
At Tender Plus, we implement three reviews, sometimes two, throughout the submission process. You’ll find that an objective review from a fresh pair of eyes is really all you need to take the submission from ok to great.
However, some teams leave reviews until the final hours before submission, limiting the ability to identify gaps or inconsistencies.
Poor version control
With multiple contributors and tight deadlines, version control is a common and frustrating problem. If you’re working offline, you risk working on an outdated file. Time spent enhancing the submission will now be directed to the laborious task of transferring content from the offline version into the online platform.
Most tender mistakes stem from time pressures, unclear processes, and an underestimation of how complex tendering can be. Start early, plan properly, prioritise compliance, and give yourself time to review. These steps, albeit simple, can dramatically improve both the experience and the outcome.
New to tendering? Here at Tender Plus, we excel in crafting winning submissions. As seasoned professionals with experience across various sectors, we can support in any area of tendering including tender strategy, tender coordination, tender writing and more.
Get in touch today to see how we can help.