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Firms get tips on tenders for public sector contracts
By Gordon Richardson, Express & Echo
BUSINESSES from the South West were given tips on bidding for public sector contracts in the wake of the comprehensive spending review, at an event at Exeter's Sandy Park.
Procurement Connection 2010, hosted by tendering advisers Ways2Win, was attended by 170 delegates, mostly from small and medium-sized firms.
A panel of buyers from organisations including the Met Office, Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter City Council, Exeter College, Torbay Council and the Ministry of Defence offered advice on how businesses could boost their chances of being chosen as suppliers of goods and services.
Top tips included completing tendering documentation in as much detail as possible and asking for feedback after an unsuccessful bid.
Paul McCormick, city council head of contracts and direct services, said the authority was making use of thewww.exeterbuysellprosper.co.uk website launched last year to help small businesses in the area bid for contracts worth under £25,000 with local public bodies.
"Some suppliers have got business out of it – not all of them, but it will grow and more people will use it," he said. "The big thing is that they get used to dealing with a local authority, and get over the perception barrier that it's too difficult."
He also encouraged firms to join organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses or Exeter Chamber of Commerce to make their voices heard.
Among delegates was Paul Banks, owner of café and catering company Fresha, who said it was worth the time and effort to go through the public procurement process.
"Generally with a private sector customer it's simpler and quicker, but you don't get the same security or length of contract," he said.
"People can be very negative about the tendering process for public sector contracts, but the buyers here represent £2 billion of business a year – how can you moan about that? In my experience it takes 30 to 50 hours to go through a successful tendering process, a really good return on investment for my time."
Wendy Wills, founder of Pynes Hill-based Ways2Win, said: "The key message was about approachability and understanding each other's needs.
"Once the tendering process is under way businesses aren't allowed to contact the buyers, but that message sticks at all times. So the one message I wanted to get across was that outside the tendering process the buyers are here to talk and they are approachable, so call them, meet them and ask what their systems are."
Ms Wills said competition for public sector contracts was more intense since the downturn as companies increasingly looked to the public sector for stable income. But the spending review could lead to more opportunities for firms as authorities considered outsourcing to make savings.
Firms get tips on tenders for public sector contracts
By Gordon Richardson, Express & Echo
Businesses from the South West were given tips on bidding for public sector contacts in the wake of the comprehensive spending review, at and event at Exeter's Sandy Park.
Procurement Connection 2010, hosted by tendering advisers Ways2win, was attended by 170 delegates, mostly from small and medium-sized firms.
A panel of buyers from organisations including the Met Office, Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter City Council, Exeter College, Torbay Council and the Ministry of Defence offered good advice on how businesses could boost their chances of being chosen as suppliers of goods and services.
Top tips included completing tendering documentation in as much detail as possible and asking for feedback after an unsuccessful bid.
Paul McCormick, city council head of contracts and direct services, said the authority was making use of the www.exeterbuysellpropser.co.uk website launched last year to help small businesses in the area bid for contracts worth under £25,000 with local public bodies.
"Some suppliers have got business out of it - not all of them, but it will grow and more people will use it" he said. "The big thing is that they get used to dealing with a local authority, and get over the perception barrier that it's too difficult."
He also encouraged firms to join organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses or Exeter Chamber of Commerce to make their voices heard.
Among the delegates was Paul Banks, owner of cafe and catering company Fresha, who said it was worth the time and effort to go through the public procurement process.
"Generally with a private sector customer it's simpler and quicker, but you don't get the same security or length of contact," he said.
"People can be very negative about the tendering process for public sector contracts, but the buyers here represent £2 billion of business a year - how can you moan about that? In my experience it takes 30 to 50 hours to go through a successful tendering process, a really good return on investment for my time."
Wendy Wills, founder of Pynes Hill based Ways2win said: " The key message was about approchability and understanding of each other's needs.
Once the tendering process is under way businesses aren't allowed to contact the buyers, but that message sticks at all times. So the one message I wanted to get across was that outside the tendering process the buyers are here to talk and they are approachable, so call them, meet them and ask them what their systems are."
Ms Wills said competition for public sector contracts was more intense since the downturn as companies increasingly looked to the public sector for stable income. But the spending review could lead to more opportunities for firms as authorities considered outsourcing to make savings.
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