Capitalise on a £37 Billion Industry by Winning a Tender for Software

Published9th May 2022 AuthorJohn Hudson

7 golden rules for a tender for software

Winning a tender for software is a core element in business development strategies for many technology businesses. It’s generally agreed that software in all its many shapes truly forms the bedrock of our modern society. Near enough everything we encounter online was developed using software. Indeed, according to IBISWorld, the market worth of the software industry is expected to reach $37 billion in 2022.

What could this possibly mean for software developers and businesses?

Immense, and lucrative business opportunities.

What’s the best way to harness this potential business growth? Software tenders. This is where Technology Tenders come in. In this blog, you’ll get all the info you need about the tendering process. You’ll know where to source these opportunities…and how to win them.

Where can I source Software Tenders?

To say the least, there’s an endless number of websites and databases that contain tenders for software.

But unless you’ve got an enormous amount of time and resource, it can be unfeasible…

Enter Technology Tenders!

We source tenders on a daily basis, manually searching through hundreds of sites across the UK. We know how important it is to source the right tenders for software.

You can sign up to our Technology Tenders portal and start receiving business leads today. Our Opportunity Trackers manually upload new live tenders daily. You’re able to filter the results by keyword, location, budget and more. You no longer have to rely on inaccurate CPV codes to find the right opportunity for your business.

Below are previous software tenders sourced on our portal:

Electronic Solution for the Voice of the Child
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council – Yorkshire and Humber – Budget: £100,000

NNC – North Northamptonshire Council Public Health Northamptonshire NHS Health Checks Software
North Northamptonshire Council – East Midlands – Budget: £180,000

Online Assessment Tender
Coventry University – West Midlands – Budget: £250,000

Contract for the Provision of a Lone Worker Solution
Oxford City Council – South East – Budget: £350,000

Video Conference Streaming Solution
South Wales Fire & Rescue Service – Wales – Budget: Undisclosed

Office 365 SaaS Data Backup, Data Recovery & Data Protection Solution
Mayo, Sligo, & Leitrim ETB – Republic of Ireland – Budget: Undisclosed

On Technology Tenders, we source contract opportunities for:

Get in touch to find out more information.

3 aspects you should look for in a good software RFP/ITT?

As a widely procured product, tenders for software are published by buyers from every sector. Therefore, you need to know what to look out for to avoid completing a lengthy bid that you can’t win.

With this in mind, let’s look into what you need to look for in a good tender for software.

Executive summary

This should be covering exactly what the buyer wants, alongside their target audience.

It should include their goals, limitations, and requirements. If they’re succinct and to the point, it’s a good sign. Ultimately consider if they’ve included their;

  • Mission statement
  • Thoughts on the look of the finished product
  • Target audience
  • Current flaws in their software solution
  • Potential roadblocks (e.g. outdated tech).

Bid structure & requirements

In the same way that the buyer looks for quality, you should too. If a tender for software seems rushed and incomplete, then it’s a sign that the specification hasn’t been thoroughly considered. You should be looking for a structure similar to this from the buyer…

  • Company name and background
  • Location
  • Project management preferences
  • Qualifications of team members
  • A primary project plan
  • A vision of the final product
  • Plans for training and support
  • Cost breakdown

Timelines

A standard component of a tender for software should include deadlines/timelines such as a;

  • Deadline for submitting an intention to bid
  • Date range for holding interviews or receiving preliminary/clarifications questions
  • Deadline for submitting formal bids
  • Date for notifying final candidates
  • Date range of final interviews
  • Deadline for candidate selection.

2 tips for winning a tender for software services

The power of being an SME

Due to technological advancements and the advent of cloud-based software, hundreds of small start-ups have been created. Simply put, SMEs applying for IT contracts are recognising the importance of their status to buyers.

This is due to an association with agility and flexibility when compared to your larger competitors. Impress on them how you can match both their functionality needs and their budget as a smaller company. In essence, using your status as an SME in a tender for software gives you a competitive advantage.

Using feedback to the best of your ability

As such an enormous industry, the competition for a tender for software can be tough. Luckily if you’re working within the public sector, the buyer is legally held to sending a report for your performance.

This report should be detailed in scoring your performance against their criteria. They also have to include the winning supplier, providing reasons as to how they won the tender. This will also include where they went right, and what specifically stood out in their tender responses.

Once you act on this information, it stands to reason that your future bids will improve enormously. If you’re working in the private sector, be proactive in asking for feedback. Ultimately, it goes a long way in improving both your overall knowledge and chances of winning.

In summary

So that’s it, we’re at the end of this blog on winning a tender for software. What if you need a recap? Technology Tenders has your back:

  • Where can I source software tenders? – Looking into our smart, time-saving tool for sourcing software tenders.
  • 3 aspects you should look for in a good software RFP/ITT:
  1. Executive summary
  2. Bid structure & requirements
  3. Timelines.
  • 2 tips for winning software tenders:
  1. The power of being an SME – Using the reputation of smaller companies for being more agile and competitive to your advantage.
  2. Using feedback to the best of your ability – Making sure to take onboard everything the buyer has to say about your performance. Paying particular attention to the winning suppliers performance.

Bidding support

The tendering process is long and complex, but the team are here to assist you in writing winning bids. You can outsource the role to our dedicated Hudson Succeed Team. They have 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Their team have secured contract wins totalling over £3billion for our clients.

Tender Ready

Their Tender Ready programme is designed for those who have never tendered before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully.

Tender Improvement

Tender Improvement can help if you’re already tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Their Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next software contract.

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written a software tender and need someone to proofread it – Tender Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tender Writing

If you’ve found the perfect tender but don’t know where to start – They can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Want to save even more time?

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a tendering opportunity, even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portals of your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid decisions.
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable software leads and tendering opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

 

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