28 Feb 2019

Create a Tender that gets Results

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 2

Create a Tender that gets Results

In the world of construction, we often hear the word “tender” being used more often than ever…”Who was that tender awarded too?”, “X & Y have just put out a tender for the building of A”, “I wonder which company got awarded that tender?”…the big question then becomes, what is a Tender?

A tender is a process where an offer is put out to do work or supply a service/goods at a fixed price. Usually given by government and financial institutions they invite bids for large projects and have to be submitted in a finite deadline.

Creating a tender that will get the desired results may seem rather impossible but the reality is its all dependant on a few but relevant pointers will have a look at below:

  • Ensure that you are registered on the supplier database – find a sector that works for your line of business and register to be informed of the tenders that would be published.
  • Attend the briefing sessions so you would know what’s expected for the project.
  • Have the correct documents – it’s standard to have the correct documents as a company. Have a valid and current tax clearance and BEE certificate.
  • Have a good banking record, credit history and relationship with your clients and suppliers.
  • You must have the cash flow and necessary resources to bid for the tender.
  • Price in a competitive manner with proof – avoid pricing extremely low, get the pricing just correct.
  • Provide references – this will assist in boosting your chances of being awarded
  • Source out partnership – completing a project without assistance is always a bonus but it always helps to get assistance if needed.
  • Keep note of the of the closing date and submit before that time.
  • Keep a copy of your tender documents
  • Never give up – the tendering world isn’t easy at all but just because you didn’t get the first doesn’t mean the ones to follow won’t be a success.

Do remember that tenders are a lengthy process which may take a while before they are awarded, this doesn’t mean you should just bid for one and sit back waiting for the work..put in the effort and do as much research as you can in order to create a tender that will get you the results you desire.

It’s not so much that it is a difficult task but it needs you to be specific and pay close attention to the finer detail.

 

Sources

News24
Entrepreneurmag
Investopedia
GoogleImages
GoogleImages
GoogleImages

 

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About Lungile Chauke

27 Feb 2019

Fraudulent Tenders: What to look out for

by | posted in: General | 2

Is it too good to be true…

I see all sorts crossing my desk, when it comes to researching and sourcing tender notices. I see not only the various notifications companies and organisations put out alerting the public to the scams out there, but I also get sent quite a few scams myself. This has inadvertently created a new skill set. And that is, inhouse dodgy tender notice identifier.

Fraudulent tenders and scams involving tenders is not new. It tends to take on various incarnations, and, unfortunately, tends to get more inventive as time goes on. There’s a bizarre combination of old tricks and new tricks. So this misuse of imagination keeps everyone on their toes. It takes learning on the job to a new level.

Scams are not limited to any one type of service or product. It can be anything from supplying wheelie bins to building RDP houses. It doesn’t matter what the service or product is, because it’s just used as bait to lure unsuspecting suppliers and contractors to fall for the scam.

Any procurement process is competitive. And companies have to work hard to take advantage of all the opportunities that come their way. Fraudsters tend to prey on this eagerness, and in some cases desperation. They use a company’s naivity to their advantage as well as greed (to be blatantly honest). Heightened emotions, of any kind, put someone at risk of making a risking decision.

Money is the focus for scammers. They are trying to get as much as they can as quickly as they can as often as they can. So a red flag is any tender deposit that is exorbitantly high. A registration fee of any kind, needs to be questioned.

Has a tender notice or request for quotation shown up unannounced? Unsolicited quotations are very common. There are all manner of electronic procurement systems out there allowing buyers to send RFQs to vendors legitimately. But if you do not recognise the format or who the RFQ has come from, always double check. The way to double check, is to not call any numbers listed directly on the quotation. Look up the switchboard numbers of the organisation and call them directly and this will allow you to get confirmation of the legitimacy or the fraudulent nature of the tender notice/ quotation.

These fraudulent quotations/ tenders tend to also ask for very specific goods or products. Usually, where there’s only one company that can supply the item in question. Be wary of these types of quotations, as they channel you in the direction that the scammer wants you to go.

Did you tender for the contract award that has suddenly shown up in your inbox or doorstep? No? Then it’s most likely a scam. You cannot be awarded a tender you did not submit a tender/ quote for.

You will never be asked to pay, before being awarded a tender.

Is the quotation/ tender notice not only on a “official” looking letterhead, but has a watermark and all manner of crests and coats of arms? Trying too hard to look legitimate and official; then give this a wide berth, and call the organisation and check

Is the email address given, some bizarre derivative of an official organisation’s domain name? Then it’s a scam. Government Departments, Municipalities and legitimate private companies do not have various versions of their own domain names. There’s one official domain name and that’s it. This is a dead give away.

Most of these fraudulent tenders/ quotations are variations of exactly the same advert but with varying dates and slightly different cell phone numbers listed. This repetition stands out. Companies are posting warnings of these scams; so a good Google search can quite quickly confirm whether the tender/ quotation is fake or not.

It might be tedious; double checking and notifying the proper companies of these scams out there, but it helps tremendously in shutting these scammers out by spreading the word.

Once bitten, Twice Shy.

 

 

 

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About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

30 Jan 2019

Featured Tender: Maintenance, servicing and repairs of building, civil, mechanical and electrical infrastructure

by | posted in: Featured Tender | 0

Featured Tender: Maintenance, servicing and repairs of building, civil, mechanical and electrical infrastructure

Supply, Install or Replacement of High Voltage and Medium Voltage Equipment in Various Substations

Contract Number:

H18/035AI – Department of Public Works

Description:

Bids are invited for: Professional services built environment – Maseru Bridge: Land Port of Entry: Appointment of a service provider: Maintenance, servicing and repairs of building, civil, mechanical and electrical infrastructure for 36 months.

Category Industry
Consultants Institution
Region Site Inspection
Free State 2019-02-07 10:00 AM
Closing Date Contract Period
18 February 2019 at 11:00 36 Months

 

Please visit Leads 2 Business for more information on this Tender Notice.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit the Leads 2 Business Wiki.
To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Antonette Claassens

I am a fanatical researcher who takes immense pride in the information I publish and those all-important finer details. When I'm not "researching up a storm", I love the ocean, fab music, and fine dining.

25 Sep 2018

Featured Tender: Expression Of Interest For Development Of A Shopping Center At Erf 914 And Relocation Of Ngqeleni Stadium

by | posted in: Featured Tender | 0

Expression Of Interest For Development Of A Shopping Center At Erf 914 And Relocation Of Ngqeleni Stadium

Supply, installation and maintenance of standby generators and general electrical reticulation

Contract Number:

47/2018 – Nyandeni Local Municipality

Description:

Invitation To Submit Expression Of Interest For Development Of A Shopping Center At Erf 914 And Relocation Of Ngqeleni Stadium. Bid proposals are hereby invited from suitably qualified and reputable service providers/Property Developers for Development of a Shopping Center at ERF 914 and Relocation of Ngqeleni Stadium.

Category Industry
Consultants Hospitality & Leisure, Institutional, Retail
Region Site Inspection
Eastern Cape (047) 2018-09-28 11:00 AM
Closing Date Contract Period
25 October 2018 No Details

 

Please visit Leads 2 Business for more information on this Tender Notice.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit the Leads 2 Business Wiki.
To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Stephanie Hull

7 Aug 2018

Featured Tender: Upgrades and Additions of Dingukwazi Secondary School

by | posted in: Featured Tender | 4

Upgrades and Additions of Dingukwazi Secondary School

Qualified Electrical Contractors

Contract Number:

IDTKN18DOE012 – IDT

Description:

Independent Development Trust Kwa-Zulu Natal invites tenders for the Upgrades and Additions of Dingukwazi Secondary School.

 

Category Industry
Building Institutional & Renovations
Region Site Inspection
KwaZulu-Natal 2018-08-17 11:00
Closing Date Contract Period
31 August 2018 at 11:00 No Details

 

Please visi Leads 2 Business for the Upgrades and Additions of Dingukwazi Secondary School tender.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
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To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

15 Feb 2018

L2B Blog: The Most Important Tender / Project of your Career

by | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 2

The Most Important Tender / Project of your Career

The Most Important Tender/ Project of your Career

This can be up to interpretation. The most important tender or project could very well be your first tender or project. Being given the responsibility and trusted to compile a project or submit a tender on your own, can be a huge turning point in any career. Regardless of whether it’s a huge failure or a blazing success, the odds are that the lessons you learnt when working on your first are the lessons you carry with you for the rest of your career, and hopefully serve you in good stead.

“It’s fine to celebrate success, but more important to heed the lessons of failure.” — Bill Gates

The argument can be made for the most successful tender or project, being the turning point of a person’s career. It could be a tender or project that’s unique or innovative, and gets the attention of those in your industry or captures the public imagination. Success is measured in many ways and can come in just as many incarnations. The pat-on-the-back job that steers you towards grander goals, can be a stroke of luck or the product of unrelenting perseverance. The stress and pressure of such an endeavour can make or break you. And like all things in life, your attitude towards the success defines the lasting effect of it.

“Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for success.” — Eike Batiste

The most important tender or project could be the one that saves you. Many industries are increasingly under pressure, competitive and quite ruthless. Not all companies survive or go from strength to strength without there being periods of grasping desperation. Whether it’s the new start up or an established company battling to adapt to the changing times; that tender or project could be a lifeline that saves dreams, jobs and spirits. As long as you’re paid within 30 days, right? The most important might be the opportunity to keep hope alive and to carry on.

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”  — Henry Ford

The lucky dodge. Hell, perhaps you were passed over with regards to a particular tender or project. Perhaps you wanted it really badly and you had worked your butt off to get to be part of the team, and you were left out. Not all tender or project teams are good or experienced. Or honest. Or share your work ethic. It might be that it all looked perfect like the stars aligned and then life happened. There are many horror stories out there, with buildings falling down or the word “collusion” being thrown around. A natural disaster or a bad turn in the economy. Does anyone really want to be associated with any of that when it all hits the fan? Dodging the bullet is the lucky break no one wants at the time, but is thankful for when it all comes to light. Unfortunately, in society people are tainted by association. It’s unfair, but unwaveringly true. “Be careful what you wish for” – the most important tender or project of your career might be the one that does not appear on your resume.

“It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behaviour is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.” — Warren Buffett

The one you missed, can define your career. The focus might be on the successes, the big payday or the photo opportunities when breaking ground or cutting the opening day ribbon; but none of that compares to the quiet of the missed chance. If you fail; you know. If you succeed; you know. But if you don’t even get a chance to try; you’ll never know. Not to be dramatic, or anything but being in the loop, and knowing what and when is vital for there to be any chance at landing that big payday or that career-defining project. Information is power. The importance of this is not lost on us and is our bread and butter. Get in the know early, and you can reap the reward later.

“The most meaningful way to differentiate your company from your competitors, the best way to put distance between you and the crowd is to do an outstanding job with information. How you gather, manage and use information will determine whether you win or lose.” — Bill Gates

So whether it’s the first go, the shining success story, the dodged bullet or the missed chance; hopefully these all form part of long and enduring careers, with just a few colourful stories to tell.

What do you consider your most important tender or project? Leave a comment below.

 

Source:

https://foundr.com/50-billionaire-tips/

 

L2B Blog: How to make the most of our Tender Leads

Did you Know #DYK – How to search for trending civil tenders?

 

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

25 Jan 2018

L2B Blog: How do Projects differ from Tenders on our website?

by | posted in: Featured Project | 0

What is the difference between a project and a tender?? This is the question Clients and Potential Clients often ask.

It can potentially get a little confusing, but in short, a project is a development that is tracked from conception to completion e.g. The development of a hotel. A tender is a specific tender for a specific requirement e.g. a tender might go out for the supply of bricks.
There might be several tenders that go out within a specific project.

Tenders:

Generally speaking, 95 – 99% of tenders are for government or parastatals as they are required by law to put their requirements out to tender. Private developers aren’t legally required to tender, so most of the time they will invite or negotiate with suppliers to price.

Leads 2 Business researches from various sources for building and construction-related Tenders throughout Southern Africa. We have a dedicated team who collate tenders published on websites, newspapers, online portals and government gazettes.

We publish these on a daily basis in a user-friendly template on the website. These tenders are categorised according to their location, CIDB Grading and industry. This allows our subscribers to access all live and awarded tender information,

which is easy to search and refine, to give YOU the information that is relevant to YOUR business. We also send an e-mail containing a summary of the leads that match your online profile at the end of each business day.

 

A tender document is sent out, for example, a tender may go out for bricks for a particular project.

 

This begins the process whereby interested and qualified suppliers are able to provide pricing for the tendered materials, and the contractor who tendered for those materials can review pricing and service offerings and award the tender to a suitable supplier.

 

Projects:

When we refer to a project, we look at it holistically from start to finish. This is where we track the developments through all the different stages and provide our clients with the contact details of the right person at the right stage of the project. We define the project stages as follows:

Conceptual

The conceptual stage is the beginning phase of the project development. The following can occur at this stage of the development:

  • Appointment of a Client / Developer
  • Feasibility Process
  • Securing Funding
  • Request for Proposal
Procedural

Procedural stage of project development involves obtaining various approvals and authorisations:

  • Basic Design
  • Geotechnical Study
  • Licensing
  • EIA Process
  • Property Rezoning
  • Professionals
Design

The design stage of a project involves detailed design, this is where the majority of the Project Professionals such as Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Engineers get appointed.

Where the following can occur:

  • Detailed Design
  • Expression of Interest
  • Negotiation
Tender
At this stage, the main contractors will submit pricing for the project as a whole.
Bidding Contractors’ details are listed under Bidders.

The following can occur:

  • Tender
  • Appointment of an Anchor Tenant
  • Invited to Tender list
Awarded & Underway
The main contractor and subcontractors have been awarded reflecting the Main Building and Civil Contractor details under Awards.
Completed
In the completed phase of project development, it means practical completion is nearing the end, or it is already structurally complete.
Cancelled 
A development may be cancelled for a number of reasons. Sometimes the developer runs out of funds, perhaps the environmental studies picked up on a species of frog that cannot be relocated and the project is cancelled until a new site can be acquired…. Whatever the reason, the cancellation of a project is always an inconvenience, and we alert our subscribers as soon as possible so that any parties that were interested or bidding on the project can plan and react accordingly.
Postponed 
Project developments can be postponed or put on hold for various reasons. If you are monitoring a project where this occurs, you will receive an update email when the status changes.
I hope you now have a better understanding of the difference between projects and tenders! Happy searching on our site, and may all stages of “Project 2018”, from conception to completion, be prosperous for you 😉
Sources:

About Amy Steyn

I started at Leads 2 Business in August 2017, so I am relatively new to the L2B family. In my role as Account Executive, I am one of the lucky ones that get to interact with you, the client, on a day to day basis! I'm learning every day, and I look forward to what the future holds at L2B!

23 Jan 2018

Featured Tender: Replacement of the 11kv Cable with Open Transmission Line

by | posted in: Featured Tender | 0

Replacement of the 11kv Cable with Open Transmission Line

Contract Number:

20/2017/CTN/INFRA – PRASA

Description:

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa Johannesburg invites tenders for Replacement of the 11kv Cable with Open Transmission Line and the Replacement of the 33kv ABC with a New 33kv ABC.

Category:

Electrical and Instrument

Industries:

Power Grid

Institutional

Region:

Western Cape

Site Inspection:

Bidders will not be allowed at the briefing without the valid tender documentations. Late comers will only be allowed to be 15 minutes late. A compulsory clarification meeting with representitives of the Employer will take place at Room 163 Infrastructure Building, Off Malta Road, Salt River on 26 January 2018 starting at 13:30.

Closing Date:

05 February 2018 at 12:00

Restrictions:

It is estimated that tenderers should have a cidb contractor grading of 6EP. Preferences are offered to tenderers who 5EP or Higher Only tenderers who who are a 5EP and higher are eligible to submit tenders. Tenderers will be evaluated on 80/20 (Price=80 and BBBEE Status = 20) Bidders who do not achieve 60% threshold within the technical evaluation will be disqualified. NB: It is Mandatory requirement for prospective suppliers to be registered on the CSD in All Requests for Price Quotations and advertisement for procurement of goods and / or services. Telephonic, Telegraphic, Telex, Facsimile, Emailed and Late Tenders will not be accepted. Tenders may only be submitted on the tender documentation that is issued. Requirements for sealing, addressing, delivering, opening and assessment of Tenders are stated in the Tender Data

 

If you are a valued Tender subscriber, Click here for more information.

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

7 Aug 2017

How to make the most of our Tenders?

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

The Inside Scoop:

Ssssshhh, don’t tell the boss! I wanted to share some insider secrets with you. A brief look behind the scenes and into the research “engine room” of our company. I am hoping that you can use this information to your advantage. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

As you know, Leads 2 Business is keenly focussed on smarter ways to do and create business opportunities.This approach is not just about the information we deliver to you, but an integral part of our business ethos. Each month we capture literally thousands of tenders, yes, you read it correctly, THOUSANDS!

With this much tender information being pumped out on a daily basis, we have to find a smart and effective way to prioritise researching the subsequent tender awards.

How do we know?

Every Tender we send to you has an option to be monitored.
Monitoring a lead allows you to follow it through its life cycle
or assign it for follow-up within your team.

What is not so apparent is that we, in turn, use this monitoring
information as an indicator that this tender is important, creating
a priority flag back to the research team for follow-up.

It then becomes very important for you to monitor a tender!

How to Monitor a Tender

Monitoring a Tender can be done from selecting a recipient from the drop down box “Assigned to” on the tender.
Alternately, it can be done in bulk from the search results page first selecting which tenders you want to monitor, followed by “Actions”, “Monitor selection”. It will then present the same list of recipients as is available from the individual tender view pages.

Ways to get our attention

In the event you have not monitored a tender but still need the award information and the tender is now closed, you can email your request through from the tender page by clicking on “Request Award Information” button and someone from our research team will then follow up with you.

Tools you can use

There are more tools integrated into our tender notifications that we know will help you stay ahead. Specifically, our site inspection, follow-up and closing date reminders, which offer timeous alerts. An area for notes directly relating to the tender or contacts you may have reached out to. Our document collection and/or site attendance on your behalf through Infomessenger. (Gauteng only)

Making the most of your tenders is quite an exhaustive topic…

Here are the common points for consideration :

Subscribe

It may be seemingly obvious, but a valuable subscription to Leads 2 Business is a smart, streamlined approach.
We shoulder the cost of a research team and send you what is important to your business.

The number of filter combinations across categories, industries, geography and keywords creates a uniquely customised solution for your business lead pipeline. If you would like to know more about subscribing or taking a free trial, please send me an email on TarynD@L2B.co.za

Refine Your Profile

Making sure your profile on Leads 2 Business is tailored appropriately to your business requirements so that you get the lead information.

Your Advisory Settings Profile explicitly dictates what is received in the Daily Advisory email.

Steps to Action in Identifying opportunities


Go through the daily Advisory email thoroughly each day.

  • View the full details online.
  • Monitor & Request BoQ/ SI register/ Bidders Lists as soon as possible.
  • Set Reminders.
  • Email the researcher, if there are any discrepancies that you identify or if you need assistance.
  • Make Notes.
  • Download DTAs. (Daily Tender Advisory)
  • Keep a record of DTA numbers, instead of partial descriptions. This helps when searching.
  • Dismiss those unwanted DTAs, that are cluttering up your Search Result. (Be extra careful of dismissing DTAs by mistake)
  • Take advantage of our free online training, live support, telephonic support or in person training. (In person training is availble by appointment and only in selected areas)

Key Vocabulary to Understand:



  • Details Change:The details pertaining to the original tender have changed, please review the new details supplied in our notification.
  • Short Lead: This means there is a very short lead time or a very short time within which you can respond to this tender opportunity.
  • Awards: After the closing date, all the tenders are checked for basic compliance with the tender regulations. Non-compliant tenders are disqualified. The compliance of the products or services offered and the price is considered. Then all compliant tenders are listed in order of price. Those in the lowest price tender list are in the lowest price group. Preference points are given to suppliers on the list of lowest price tenders are first verified. Preference points are only awarded after the most expensive tenders have been excluded, as this makes the process faster and fairer. Those with verifiable information come out with the best preference points and are therefore awarded the contract.
  • Re-tenders: the issue of a second or subsequent request for tenders on a proposed contract.
  • Withdrawals: the contract has been withdrawn and there is no longer an opportunity to tender at this time.
  • Cancellations: the contract has been cancelled and there is no longer an opportunity to tender at this time.


About Taryn Duckham

I am a lover of marketing, customer centricity and the art of influence. Being able to effect this through analysis, content and front end design is part of my work, my great love of creatively solving problems that reach across as many parts of Leads 2 Business as I can.

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