SmallBusiness.wa.gov.au
The Small Business Specialists
Phone: 131 BIZ
Website: www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
Submitting a tender is a great way to earn new business. Many large and small organisations regularly “go out to tender” to find and appoint suppliers for contracts.
Businesses often use a tender process for large contracts or to appoint suppliers for a certain amount of time. For example a tender could be used to appoint a supplier for a new building or a stationary provider for the next 12 months.
When submitting a tender it's important to remember that it's a highly competitive process, so it's imperative that you provide your best quote. Many organisations, particularly government agencies, will not negotiate prices once the tender has closed.
Writing and preparing your response to a tender can be daunting, expensive and time consuming, and there' is no guarantee of success. Before deciding whether or not to submit a response, take a moment to consider the following questions:
Most tender documents also include a contact name. Use this contact to find out if there's any additional detail or information that may assist you in preparing your application. Showing interest and discussing the job will make you more memorable when the decision panel is analysing all of the submissions.
The State Government is one of the largest organisations in Western Australia to request tenders. More than 40,000 individual contracts are awarded each year by government agencies which vary from appointing a printer to provision of catering services or construction of a new jetty.
A formal tender process is used by State Government agencies for purchases worth $150,000 or more in value and a written quotation process is required for purchases of a value between $20,000 and $150,000. More information on submitting quotes and tenders for State Government contracts is provided below.
For purchases below this threshold, State Government agencies either purchase direct (where the total purchase value is up to $5,000) or obtain verbal quotes (where the contract value is between $5,000 and up to $20,000).
Businesses interested in supplying goods and services of a value in this price range, are encouraged to be proactive in marketing themselves to, and building networks with, the relevant contacts within Government.
The State Supply Commission’s website contains useful information to assist suppliers in doing this, including a list of contact details of purchasing officers within each agency. This information can be accessed at the State Supply Commission.
In some cases, the Western Australian Government establishes whole of government contracts for the procurement of goods and services. These contracts are called Common Use Arrangements (CUAs) and establish suppliers to provide particular goods or services for a set period of time. More information can be found at the Department of Finance.
If you are confident that tendering for a contract with the Western Australian Government is right for your business, the next step is to familiarise yourself with the specific requirements laid out by the Department of Finance on the tendering process. For full details, download the ‘Guide to Tendering with Western Australian Public Authorities'.
There are also free seminars available that provide information on the government quoting and tendering process in Western Australia. On this web page, you will also find information on briefing sessions that may be scheduled to clarify issues relating to any current tender requests.
It is also useful to get to know the relevant agency contact person for the particular tender you are interested in. They are available to answer any questions you may have about the tender requirements.
If you would like more information on the Western Australian Government’s tendering process, visit the Government Procurement section on the Department of Finance’s website.
Most organisations advertise tender opportunities in electronic marketplaces – ie the Internet. A call for tender can also be advertised in The West Australian newspaper. Doing a search for “tender opportunities” or similar key phrases in a reputable search engine such as Google or Yahoo will return a list of some of the major tender websites in Australia .
To find the latest Western Australian Government tender opportunities visit Tenders WA
You can then contact the relevant public authority or Tenders Office specified in the advertisement or listing to request a copy of the Request document by mail.