The advent of a new e-tendering route means that SMEs need to quickly get to grips with this as it is fast becoming the preferred means of procurement by the public sector. This trend is not surprising, as the growing pressure to cut administrative costs combined with greater access to online systems; IT once again appears to provide the answer.
In order to respond quickly to the right opportunities, SMEs will need to be clear about their business priorities. In addition, while e-tendering makes things quicker and more streamlined for the tendering organisation, it takes time and a little practice to get used to the online application process.
With the development of this new e-community, here are some basic tips for successful e-tendering.
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Establish an internal tracking system to record the information received and potential areas of interest. Over time this will demonstrate if you are getting the data you require and whether you are following the right opportunities.
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Save previous tender submissions so you can reuse information rather than having to draft everything from scratch.
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Encourage partners to also register with websites and to agree arrangements for collaborating (where appropriate) so you can share information on opportunities arising in others areas.
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Start to complete online registration forms as soon as they are issued. That way you will have time to consult colleagues for information and upload documents in good time. Web portals can crash when seriously busy. Can you think of anything more frustrating than missing a deadline because the portal overloads?
Source:
Regeneration & Renewal, 21st September 2007