Finding contracts for tender

Hi everyone.I'm currently signed up to a couple of websites that advertise contracts that are coming up for tender (www.oppex.com and www.competefor.com) but they tend to just contain the really enormous multi-million pound contracts and I'm wondering if anyone knows of any other useful websites where smaller tenders might advertise?Aside from having a great website (so you get found by companies seeking out firms to invite for tender) how do you find out about other local jobs that come up for tender?We've been sought out several times through our website www.johnsongardening.co.uk which is great but I can't help feeling there are many more opportunities out there that we just don't know about.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Paul

I'm not in any way experienced in this but I've had a look and have a couple of suggestions.

1. Local authorities advrtise tenders/contracts on their websites including low value ones. They (should) also offer advice on applications and the whole tender process.

My authority has signed up to this thing called a Procurement Concordat for SMEs (small and medium enterprises). They ahve a procurement strategy which includes supporting SMEs in this area, through advice and also training sessions. see below

2. Tenders are advertised on the Assoc of prof landscapers website (part of HTA) and probably BALIs too.

3. A wee nosey through t' interweb should furnish you with plenty of impartial advice on tender processes and with a bit more digging advice on finding forthcoming tenders.

4. I've certainly read plenty of 'meerkatting' info about your existing (happy) customers being the best ones to promote your business. Spot any with experience or business links?

5. Look out in the planning news, local papers, out your van window, etc for any suggestion of upcoming projects. The landscaping usually comes last in the project planning and tender process around any development. Stick y' nose in to the site office, take the no off the billboard, call your Planning Dept, contact local architects and local offices of the med-large building and landscape contractors you keep seeing such as Skanska (esp. schools), ETM, Railtrack,

I hope that helps and look forward to seeing the advice of someone with expertise

Concordat spiel: Bristol City Council recognises the benefits that small and medium-sized enterprises can make to the local economy and their vital contribution to delivering public services. Accordingly, Bristol City Council has signed the Procurement Concordat for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises which signifies Bristol's commitment to dealing with SMEs in our procurement activity.

To support the Concordat, we are running a series of awareness sessions outlining the procurement process the Council adheres to, what we procure and why. In addition, there will be introductory workshops in respect of the use of the Council's e-tendering system and the advantages that it brings to SMEs in respect identifying up and coming tenders.

Replies

Garden Doctor Chris March 13, 2016 at 11:20pm

Hi Paul

I'm not in any way experienced in this but I've had a look and have a couple of suggestions.

1. Local authorities advrtise tenders/contracts on their websites including low value ones. They (should) also offer advice on applications and the whole tender process.

My authority has signed up to this thing called a Procurement Concordat for SMEs (small and medium enterprises). They ahve a procurement strategy which includes supporting SMEs in this area, through advice and also training sessions. see below

2. Tenders are advertised on the Assoc of prof landscapers website (part of HTA) and probably BALIs too.

3. A wee nosey through t' interweb should furnish you with plenty of impartial advice on tender processes and with a bit more digging advice on finding forthcoming tenders.

4. I've certainly read plenty of 'meerkatting' info about your existing (happy) customers being the best ones to promote your business. Spot any with experience or business links?

5. Look out in the planning news, local papers, out your van window, etc for any suggestion of upcoming projects. The landscaping usually comes last in the project planning and tender process around any development. Stick y' nose in to the site office, take the no off the billboard, call your Planning Dept, contact local architects and local offices of the med-large building and landscape contractors you keep seeing such as Skanska (esp. schools), ETM, Railtrack,

I hope that helps and look forward to seeing the advice of someone with expertise

Concordat spiel: Bristol City Council recognises the benefits that small and medium-sized enterprises can make to the local economy and their vital contribution to delivering public services. Accordingly, Bristol City Council has signed the Procurement Concordat for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises which signifies Bristol's commitment to dealing with SMEs in our procurement activity.

To support the Concordat, we are running a series of awareness sessions outlining the procurement process the Council adheres to, what we procure and why. In addition, there will be introductory workshops in respect of the use of the Council's e-tendering system and the advantages that it brings to SMEs in respect identifying up and coming tenders.