Local Authorities (LAs) will open a tendering process for private organisations to provide domiciliary care to LA funded clients.
The tender could be for inclusion in the Authorities’ framework of approved suppliers or for providing a specific service for the Local Authority, for example an Extra Care Service.
Contracts can come in all shapes and sizes, and the tender process can be lengthy and time consuming. As a care provider, it is vitally important that you read the documentation carefully to ensure you do have both the capability and capacity to undertake the work as it is described by the LA, otherwise a) you will be unsuccessful and b) you risk wasting an awful lot of your own time.
So, you’ve checked the requirements and you’re confident you can deliver. How do you give your application the best chance of success?
- Read the documentation, then read it again. It sounds basic, but LAs will spell everything out for you to answer in the documentation, it’s just a matter of getting your head around it so you know exactly what they are asking for and exactly what they need you to tell them. Print it out, grab a highlighter and get reading!
- Read the questions. It’s like being back in school – make sure you’ve read all the questions they’re asking you and make sure you give yourself enough time to answer them all in full before the submission deadline.
- Demonstrate your ability to deliver. Highlight your organisation’s experience, your team, their qualifications and accreditations, and your track record of delivering similar services. Perhaps you have examples of previous successful projects or testimonials you can get from previous clients. If you don’t have those, think about how you will be able to demonstrate that you have the capability to fulfil the contract.
- Put together a detailed service delivery plan. Outline exactly how you would deliver the contract, your staffing plan, your recruitment strategy (if headcount growth is needed), your quality assurance plan, and your risk management strategies.
- Show your local knowledge. You know your area best, demonstrate it! Show you understand the specific needs and challenges of the target population you will be working with.
- Show your passion for continuous improvement – talk about your organisation’s quality management systems, performance monitoring, and general commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
- Be realistic with your pricing. Provide a detailed and transparent price structure. Give them a breakdown of your costs and how you’ve considered things like staff costs, insurance, back office, etc.
- Make sure you answer all the requirements. This is where it comes back to reading the documentation through thoroughly and knowing what the requirements are.
- Proofread and review your submission. Check things like spelling and grammar. Get someone else to read it through and take a look yourself with fresh eyes!
Writing a successful tender isn’t rocket science, but there is a lot to consider. Be honest, sell your strengths but don’t shy from your weaknesses, read the documentation thoroughly and make sure you are answering all the questions they’re asking of you. It can be a time-consuming but rewarding activity.
If you’re still unsure about tender writing or don’t think you’ve got the time to be doing this by yourself, our expert team of tender writing specialists are available to support. Find out more here and get in touch today to book your free consultation.
