Tendering for Business

How do you know if there are business opportunities and contracts out there that your businesses could successfully tender for?

Regional business organisations such as SWRDA, Business Link and the Institute of Directors are organising events to inform businesses about how to find out more about these opportunities and providing information on the complicated procurement process that must be followed by a contracting party when public funding is used on a wide range of projects and contracts.

If you would like to hear about these opportunities a good place to start is to register with the Compete For website which advertises 2012 opportunities, managed by The Olympic Delivery Authority and The London 2012 Organising Committee, and also Supply2.gov which advertises government and local authority contracts.

The South West Regional Development Agency has identified a wide range of opportunities for businesses of all sizes, ranging from civil engineering and construction supplies, such as canal dredging, plant hire and road building, to accomodation providers, caterers, transport, set design and build as well as the supply of many more materials and services.

Once a business has identified an opportunity that it would like to get involved in, what does it do next?

• They may need to think about their corporate structure – is the risk associated with trading as a partnership or sole trader appropriate for the type of services or works contract that need to be fulfilled? 
• Does the business need investment, either from a bank or from a venture capital firm to help it aim that one step higher? 
• Are there property issues such as planning applications or obtaining land or premises? 
• Do the commercial agreements need to be reviewed? 
• Have work permits and employee arrangements been considered? 
• What to do if it goes wrong? Including the failure to be awarded a contract and a need to be appeal or debt collection or rention of title in goods until payment has been made 
• Are there branding issues, such as use of the trademarked logos and sponsorship opportunities? 

We can help with all these questions and more. For more information, visit our public procurement service or contact Rachel Robinson

Published 17/09/2008. The author of this article is Rachel Robinson