Public Sector Tendering in the Engineering Sector

This one-day Masterclass provides an essential introduction to public sector tendering for small businesses in the engineering sector, including new start-ups, SMEs, micro-businesses, and social enterprises. The learning objectives for the day include: preparing your business to tender; how and where to find tender opportunities; understanding tender requirements; commercial considerations, and; how to respond to and submit a tender.

The Masterclass content will cover the following topics:

Preparing your business to tender: Devising an organisational bid strategy; pros and cons of public sector markets; common supplier requirements (e.g. insurances, key policies, accreditations, audited accounts, case studies); tendering thresholds; different types of tendering (e.g. framework, restrictive, open etc.); procurement rules; assigning bid responsibilities; setting and measuring bid objectives.

How and where to find tender opportunities: Horizon scanning for future opportunity; online tender portal demonstration (e.g. Contracts Finder, YORTender); using subscription services; supply chain opportunities with other contractors; other opportunity sources (internet, social media, newspapers, trade associations). This masterclass will include an overview of:

• the public sector market for engineering (e.g. mechanical engineering, civil engineering, maintenance services, telecommunications, calibration/testing etc.);
• Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) contract models;
• Sector context and opportunity in the SCR (e.g. steel sector, high speed rail, advanced manufacturing, aviation support, etc.)
• the supply chain procurement portals of major engineering firms (e.g. Linde, Betchtel, Arup, Sheffield Forgemasters);
• key engineering frameworks (e.g. NEPO Civil Engineering & Infrastructure Framework, Scape Group Civil Engineering Frameworks);
• procurement features specific to construction (e.g. Engineering Council registration);

Understanding tender requirements: different tender documents (PQQ, SSQ, ITT, etc.); identifying key information; TUPE considerations; required accreditations, making bid/no-bid decisions (e.g. SWOT resources); different procurement procedures (open, closed, frameworks, DPS); interpreting tender specifications; understanding scoring/evaluation criteria (quality vs. price); social value; solution design.

How to respond to and submit a tender: Managing bid projects; interpreting tender questions; structure and storyboarding; writing winning content; using evidence and case studies; best practice answers (with examples): ensuring compliance; using space effectively (character/word counts); pricing strategies and commercial considerations (e.g. payment mechanisms); effective proof reading; submission and upload.

What are the benefits to my business?

Key business benefits for attendees will include:
• Customised content to look specifically at tender issues in the services sector;
• A more informed understanding of competitive tendering;
• Greater insight in how to source and identify bid opportunities;
• Greater ability to qualify opportunities and make informed bid/no-bid decisions;
• Better understanding of the bid process, to inform investment decisions;
• More insight into the characteristics of winning bids;
• A foundation from which to achieve an improved success rate on bid wins.

Eligibility

Only one registration per business via Eventbrite will be confirmed. This masterclass is open to small and medium-sized enterprises based in the Sheffield City Region. All attendees must be eligible for the SCR Growth Hub Enhancement Project.

For more information click here.