Saying more with less in tenders
Cut the buzzwords out. When dealing with restricted page limits, succinct and concise writing should be your top priority. And when every word or sentence on your page needs to be justified, here’s what you can do.
Eliminate the warm-up content.
When space is limited, remove any introductory sentences or paragraphs and just get to the point. Provide your response and proof, then move on to the next question. A rule of thumb is that if the content doesn’t directly answer the question or demonstrate capability, then it’s not worth including.
Ditch the adjectives
Robust, rigorous, best-practice, and even leading. These words, while they add emphasis and colour, are in fact not necessary. Without the option to use big words, you’re compelled to provide concrete details, and this actually strengthens your credibility.
Use the evaluation criteria
Let the evaluation criteria guide both the focus and depth of your response. Use it to determine the amount of space allocated on the page. A criterion worth 30% should receive significantly more detail, evidence, and explanation than one worth 10%. This will allow you to avoid overdeveloping content that scores lower, at the expense of higher scoring areas.
Don’t overcomplicate the response
Keep your responses simple. Overly detailed explanations distract from the point, therefore making it trickier for evaluators to assess what is being proposed. Clearly state what you will do and how you will do it, using only the level of detail needed to demonstrate capability.
Present information creatively
Another option to consider when conveying your approach is creative presentation. Either in the form of graphics or a well-designed table, you can convey complex information quickly and clearly, allowing evaluators to understand your approach at a glance without lengthy explanations. Also, as a benefit, incorporating visual elements offers evaluators a ‘pause’ from large blocks of text.
Get your ideas down first, then edit
Do not think about writing to fit the page limit straight away. Write freely, get your ideas down on the page first, then refine them. Having more content in the initial draft allows for a more detailed piece that can be trimmed as needed, whereas taking the opposite approach increases the risk of overlooking essential points.
In drawing things to a close, the next time you find yourself working to a page limit and are unsure what to retain or remove, remember to review your responses against these methods.
Here at Tender Plus, we’re always up for a challenge. We excel in all things tenders, from tender strategy to tender coordination, tender writing and more. Contact us today to see how we can help.
Want to learn more about tender writing? Here are some good blogs – 5 key points to improve your tender writing, Brace for impact: 5 dos and don’ts for impactful tender writing, and 5 tips for effective tender drafting and review.