The benefits of using e-tender websites

Did you know e-tender websites can make the tendering process a whole lot easier for you? Tendering for work can be a minefield, especially if you’re new to the concept and don’t know what you’re doing. In this blog, we’ll tell you all about e-tender websites and the benefits of using them.

What are e-tender websites?

In simple terms, e-tendering is where the procurement process is conducted online. It is a legal requirement for public bodies to use electronic communication methods and information exchange in regulated procurement procedures. This was introduced in 2015 under Regulation 22 of the Public Contract Regulations.

Different authorities and buyers use various portals. We use Hudson Discover, which gives you access to 11-sector specific tending portals. To use our portals, you need to register with a username and password. On our portals you can:

• Find suitable tendering opportunities
• Submit an expression of interest (EOI)
• Complete and submit a pre-qualification questionnaire (PPQ)
• Complete and submit an e-tender
• Download relevant bid and tender documents
• Ask clarification questions and receive responses
• Track the progress of your PQQ or tender
• Receive notification of any changes
• Upload any additional documents.

What are the benefits of using e-tender websites?

E-tendering is useful because it takes through a very structured process. As we’ve previously mentioned, the tendering process can seem daunting and confusing. It’s a complex process that requires a lot of time and effort. E-tender websites take you step by step through tendering. Often, you’ll be required to complete one section before moving on to the next. This is helpful because it ensures you haven’t missed anything in your tender response.

The tender is usually split up into specific sections. This makes it easier for you to provide the exact information the buyer is looking for. The layout is easy to follow, and the questions are clearly stated. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about what format you need or providing and design work.

With traditional tendering, factors such as design and structure can impact the outcome. E-tendering offers a level playing field for potential suppliers. Everyone is answering the same questions, following the same layout and set to a word limit. This makes it much easier for the buyer to evaluate.

E-tender websites require suppliers to answer all mandatory questions before submitting bid responses. This saves the buyer time assessing bids that haven’t been completed fully.

Using e-tender websites means you can save your bid as a draft and come back to it. This allows you to come back to the bid at any time without losing any content. You can even see how much of your bid has been completed with the progress bar. It will also tell you how much is left to complete, which is great for project management and timekeeping.

Tips for submitting e-tenders

For e-tender with portal-based answer boxes, it’s best to word offline in a word document. Once you have completed your responses, transfer them back into the answer boxes on the portal. Word will act as a spell and grammar checker in case you have made any mistakes.

Before submitting your bid response, be sure you have answered questions as close to the word count as possible. Be sure you have followed any special instructions, such as the font or font size. Double check that your answers have no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Once you submit the bid, you can’t ask for it back to change anything. It is a good idea to have someone else check over your bid too.

In conclusion

To summarise:

• E-tendering is the procurement process online
• You can find suitable opportunities on e-tendering websites
• Download relevant documents
• Ask clarification questions
• Complete and submit a tender
• E-tendering makes the process much easier, as it takes you through the process step by step
• It is split up into different sections, making it easier for you to provide your answers
• You can save your responses as a draft and pick up where you left off at any point.

 What opportunities can I find on e-tender websites?

At Hudson Discover, we house 11 sector-specific tendering portals. These consist of:

• Creative RFPs & Bids
• Healthcare RFPs & Bids
• Facilities RFPs & Bids
• Construction RFPs & Bids
• Technology RFPs & Bids
• Logistics RFPs & Bids
• Research RFPs & Bids
• Consultancy RFPs & Bids
• HR RFPs & Bids
• Finance RFPs & Bids
• Hospitality RFPs & Bids 

Do you need any assistance?

You may not have the time or resources in house to write a winning tender response in house. Outsourcing to tender writing specialists can help you secure your next contract.

Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, provide four levels of bid writing support services. Our Bid Writers have over 60 years of collective bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Whether you’re new to tendering or need your response proofread – we can help.

RFP Ready

RFP Ready is the perfect programme for those who are completely new to tendering. You’ll have access to an expert Bid Consultant to answer any questions that you may have. You’ll also get a year’s subscription to our Finance Tenders portal.

RFP Improvement

If you have already been applying for tenders but aren’t seeing success our RFP Improvement package can help. Our Bid Writers will go over your previous submissions and provide feedback and guidance.

RFP Writing

Have you found the perfect courier delivery contract for your business but are struggling to start? Send it over to our Bid Writing team and they can write the whole response for you. If you use our RFP Writing service, they’ll even submit it on your behalf!

RFP Mentor  

Our Bid Writers can look over a bid response you’ve already written, checking it for errors before you submit. Sometimes you just need another pair of eyes to go over your response and our RFP Mentor service can help.

With a subscription to the portal, you receive:

• Unlimited access.
• A dedicated Account Manager.
• A free 20-minute phone consultation.
• A daily email bulletin.

This way, you can save your precious time and focus on the more pressing matters on your plate.