Tips for Tenders

2. Tips for Tenders Presented by: Rebecca Clarkson Director of Fundraising and Business Development Hackney CVS Training Team

3. Content of this online learning session • Understanding the history of tenders • Tendering as a consortium • The Statement of Approach • Exercise: Tendering scenarios • Costing your tender • Be green! Re-use your tender

4. Understanding the history of tenders through central and local government The previous government came to office in 1997 and implemented plans for a programme known as Best Value. This replaced the previous Compulsory Competitive Tendering arrangements. Out of this came the commissioning culture as a means of being able to demonstrate efficiency. Since then, Best Value has been modified in favour of procurement and commissioning arrangements nationwide and government has attempted to make the process as standard as possible. Many local authorities have interpreted this in different ways, although the majority have used this as a way of funding the Voluntary and Community sector whilst simultaneously removing the culture of grants in favour of contracts.

5. Tendering as a Consortium • A consortium is a collection of providers who come together for an expressed purpose: usually to bid for large scale pots of commission-based monies. • There must be a lead organisation which will, as the accountable body, be responsible for any monies awarded and will also be the contract signatory. • The remaining consortium members will sign either service level agreements or memorandums of understanding for the service they will provide through the consortium. • The lead bidder is also responsible for ensuring quality, monitoring and evaluation of all the consortium members.

6. The Statement of Approach • Your statement of approach will largely determine whether your tender submission is successful or not. • Your statement of approach must describe what propose to do, how you propose do it, and with whom you propose to do it! • This should be the longest section of the document as it covers everything about the project itself.

7. Example of what will be required in a Statement of Approach Please note: this is an example, not the final word – requirements may vary across tenders 1. A detailed methodology statement indicating how you will undertake and complete each of the key areas as set out in the tender documents. 2. A project plan setting out key milestones and actions to meet the requirements of the brief, with specific timescales and resources allocated. 3. Identification of any likely risks or problems and how you will address these.

8. Example of what may be required in a Statement of Skills and Experience • Details of similar projects that your project team has previously completed, including hard copy of one example of a similar piece of work. • Evidence of a proven track record • CVs of each team member involved in the project, specifying their experience in this area. Each CV should be no more than two A4 pages. • At least two appropriate referees for whom you have undertaken work previously. Please include all their contact details as both will be contacted for references if your organisation’s bid is shortlisted for interview.

9. The exercise • The next section gives you the opportunity to try writing some responses to tender specifications. Refer to the previous slides if that’s helpful. • Remember to include everything and everyone who will be involved. • Don’t worry about it being overly long: just ensure that you add enough and score enough points to win! • Now open part 2 of the presentation