How to Bid For Australian Government Tenders

Winning an Australian government tender is a huge thing for any business. Government tenders usually have a lot of competition, simply because they are so lucrative and open to businesses of all sizes. But winning a government tender requires a significant amount of work from well before you submit the proposal.

Whether the request for tender (RFT) has already been released or is about to be released, taking care of the following steps well beforehand will help you be well-prepared for the proposal writing process.

- Research the department well. Find out what their core offerings are. Does your business align with what the department is looking for? Do you have the necessary expertise to get the job done?

- Learn more about what the department’s aims and policy direction is. How does your business help the department reach these goals?

- Carefully read through the requirements of the tender or the quotation. Again, does your business have the ability to meet these requirements?

Researching and answering the above questions will also help you come to a decision regarding whether to bid for a contract or not in the first place.

The worst thing you can do when submitting any tender response, but especially for a government contract is misunderstanding what is being asked. Take your time to read through the questions carefully and then reread them again. If there is still some confusion regarding the requirements in the questions asked, take the opportunity to get in touch with the tendering department and clarify them.

Many tender documents may ask the same question in several different ways. Even if some questions seem repetitive, don’t leave them unanswered! Make sure you answer exactly what is asked and find a way to add value to each answer by providing proof of your claims wherever possible. The buyer may have added the same question twice on purpose to learn more about you from a different angle. Which is why it is also important not to copy and paste the same answer.

Case studies are your best bet at proving your claims. Don’t just say you can do or have previously done something. Show the buyer how you will or have done it. Include references, evidence of relevant, recent experience and real-world, practical expertise of what you are proposing. It’s great to have theoretical knowledge of how things will look like when you complete, but unless you have a well-thought out plan that takes into account all the particulars, it can be difficult for a buyer to take you on your word without any previous experience to show for it. If you don’t have any experience, try getting some smaller contracts to build your credibility before applying for a government tender.

Writing any winning tender is a skill that is learned over many years and through considerable experience. But when it comes to Australian government tenders, you need to go above and beyond in order to stand out because of the sheer amount of competitors who are likely to be applying for the same contract. Get on top of the competition by hiring a professional bid writer with years of proposal-writing experience to give you the edge you need.

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