The Ultimate Guide to Bid Writing for Cleaning Tenders

The cleaning services industry in the UK is valued at more than £55 billion every year, providing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with an excellent chance to boost their revenue and reach out to fresh domestic, commercial and public sector customers. By aligning with the UK government's aim of allocating one-third of contracts to SMEs each year, there's no better time than now to extend your cleaning enterprise by engaging in public procurement.

And we're here to help!

Which Cleaning Services go to Tender?

'Cleaning services' is pretty all-encompassing and covers a wide range of different roles. Typical services that go to tender include (but are not limited to):

• Pest Control

• Decontamination Services

• Window Cleaning

• School Cleaning

• Public Sector Office Cleaning

• Graffiti Removal

• Street Cleaning and Sweeping

• Snow/Ice Gritting

• Laundry Services

Regardless of what 'type' of cleaning your company provides, you can be certain that there are public sector tenders for it. You just need to know where to look...

'Frameworks'

Many cleaning services come under 'frameworks' rather than direct tender opportunities.

Frameworks differ from direct awards in that they are a list of potential suppliers from which a public buyer can choose to award contracts. Rather than competing for a single contract, suppliers bid for a spot on the successful suppliers list, which may lead to future opportunities during the framework's lifetime. Frameworks usually occur during large, long-duration projects.

While being awarded a framework does not guarantee contracts, it does provide exposure to a concentrated pool of potential buyers. As Frameworks typically last long-periods of time, they are still useful to bid for, and will likely result in a positive outcome for your cleaning company in the [near] future. Frameworks are typically used by large, high-spending buyers who seek trusted suppliers that offer the best solutions at the most justifiable price - developing a positive relationship with these huge buyers is likely to benefit you in the future.

How to Win Your Next Cleaning Tender

Whether you're applying for a Framework or a direct tender, here are some useful tips to win your next cleaning tender:

• Hiring a professional bid writer for your cleaning tender can be beneficial. Our writers have expertise in crafting competitive and convincing tenders; as well as in understanding both the market and the client. Given the prevalence of cleaning tenders, such as building cleaning, school cleaning, facilities management, and window cleaning services, numerous opportunities exist for you to significantly increase revenue and profits for your cleaning company.
  

• To make a strong impression on your client, ensure that your tender is well-written, clear, grammatically correct, and persuasive. Avoid errors, copy-and-paste mistakes, or omissions. Additionally, present your tender in a structured, creative, and professional way.
  

• To increase your chances of winning your next cleaning tender, it is recommended you liaise with the buyer and visit the potential premises prior to drafting your proposal. This enables you to customise your offer and pricing based on the specific requirements of the project. Specificity is preferred to ambiguity and vagueness. Be specific with your numbers.
  

• Ask yourself... How can you make your cleaning tender stand out? Consider specialising or offering unique services that your competitors do not provide. For example, can you clean windows at heights? or do you offer specialist carpet cleaning services? Or can you manage hazardous materials? Do you have special products that you utilise to improve outcomes? By offering value-added services with qualified specialists, your tender will be more attractive to buyers, especially if you have tailored your approach based on the premises you have visited.
  

• Finally, familiarise yourself with your competitors and their offerings. Identify areas where you can offer more value, better quality, or lower prices. Think about what sets you apart from your competitors and how you can use that to your advantage. Consider your past experience with similar organizations and use it to showcase your expertise. This will help you stand out and increase your chances of winning the contract over your competitors.

There we have it! Whether you're going for a Framework, or a single direct contract, applying the advice above is likely going to significantly increase your chances of winning your next cleaning tender.

If you need help, get in touch - we'd love to help!