Tendering for Public Sector Contracts Training

By: Boysie

(Government Statement 2007)
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the DTI have been active in encouraging public sector agencies to ensure that SME’s are given the opportunity to win a much larger share of public sector contracts.

Local authorities are required to adopt a policy that indicates how they will achieve the milestones of reduction of barriers to SME entry into their procurement process.

Later statements by Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Under-Secretary of State for the DTI, actively encouraged all public sector procurement professionals to access the Supplier Information Database (SID).

Mission Statement
Our mission statement is supplying SME’s business needs with innovative training solutions and mentored support that delivers business benefits.

“Key objectives are to provide online training that will enable Small to Medium Enterprises to successfully compile and submit well-prepared tender documents enabling them to secure new business inline with government policy and to manage these contract projects effectively and profitably”.

Workshop Based Experience
We have identified from a series of tendering workshops that there are a number of critical success factors that will enable this training programme to achieve its quantified goals, including the following:-

1. provide an in-depth understanding of tendering issues faced by SME’s
2. how to “reach” the contract providers
3. how to “engage and encourage SME’s” to consider public sector business opportunities seriously
4. showing them how to apply and comply with public sector tenders
5. understanding some of the changes that they might need to make in their businesses in order to succeed in public sector tendering and procurement.
6. together with any other changes that they might need to make in their businesses to ensure successful delivery of any contract that they may win

Unique Advantage
Tendering for Contracts Training offers a comprehensive online programme that enables firms to tender for public and private sector contracts with confidence.

The training enables firms identify and benefit from new business opportunities, respond to invitation to tender notices, respond to, prepare and submit tenders documents, implement quality management systems, effectively market their products and services to the public sector and efficiently manage contract projects.

Our training enables firms develop new revenue streams by effectively preparing them to engage in the tendering and contracting process.

Our unique advantages are that our training programme is based on-line, users can proceed at their own pace, the programme been endorsed by (SFEDI), a government agency and learners who require a certificate are externally assessed by an awarding body:-

• We are (IBC) Institute of Business Consulting registered consultant and have worked extensively with SME’s
• Our programme is equally applicable to all cultures
• We utilise in-depth research in order to provide the latest procurement thinking to our programme users

Design of the intervention

Stakeholders
Procurement managers sets the standards for compiling and issuing of bids, their requirements are to secure goods, products and services at the best price from suppliers who effectively meet your business requirements.
Procurement managers are constantly trying to achieve high levels of efficiency in their supply chain management process and ensure that they achieve the expected end results.

They employ measures that monitor and track supplier contract performance and service level agreements in order to promote service accountability.
The winning bidder / supplier will need to ensure that their contractual performance and obligations are well managed to ensure that they meet their contractual commitments.

The prime objective of a (bidder) potential supplier is to seek new business sales opportunities for their goods products or services and at the same time, grow your company’s reputation and profitability.

Competition is stiff and SME’s need to distinguish themselves from other competitive bids in order to have the winning edge.

Rationale
The programme aims to overcome the perennial ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma in public sector supplier capability, How? - by providing effective accredited training and support that enables learners to tender for, win and manage public sector contract projects successfully and profitably.

We have identified that there are a number of critical success factors that will enable our Tendering for Contracts Training programme to achieve its objectives of preparing individuals or small enterprise to become competent as a public sector supplier , the training outcomes includes the following:-

• Provide an in-depth understanding of tendering issues faced by potential suppliers

• Provide information on making contact with contract providers, and “engage and encourage individuals and / or SME’s” to consider public sector business opportunities.

• Showing them how to apply and comply with public sector tenders and understanding some of the changes that they might need to make in their businesses in order to succeed in public sector tendering and e-procurement.

• Identify changes they might need to make in their businesses to ensure successful delivery of the contracts.

• Provide a network of accredited support resources – so that learners are always able to get the support they may need

Content
The Training Process
The contents are presented in a clear and concise manner with multiple-choice questions and answers throughout the (5) modules.

Additional content is provided in the reference section with links to the main content. Need-to-know content is presented as tabs, pop-up boxes, embedded documents and links to reference pages and further reading.

Training Modules
Module-1 Introduction and Overview
Module-2 Tendering Process, including
Proposal Preparation, Structuring,
and Presentation
Module-3 Quality Management Systems
Module-4 Marketing Products and Services
Module-5 Contract Project Management
Module-6 (60) - Self-Assessment multiple
choice questions with answers

Our (SCORM)
Shareable Content Object Reference Model training programme is delivered on line through a (SCORM)-(LMS) Learning Management System.

SCORM is a collection of standards and specifications adapted from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive suite of e-learning capabilities that enables interoperability, accessibility and reusability of web-based learning content.

Each learner receives
1. (5) modules - (45) hours total learning time (minimum)
2. 290 page workbook
3. 130 pages of additional learning materials
4. Regular newsletters
5. Support provided by email, VOIP, Telephone

Deployment / Delivery and Assessment Structure

Aims Are:
1. develop contract management competence
2. develop information and communicating management systems
3. focusing on customers requirements by adopting core marketing principles and techniques
4. develop planning methods and the management of resources to meet contract deadlines
5. develop methods to maintain and improve quality, including health, safety and the environment
6. develop project management best practice skills and methods
7. develop a method of working with others as contract partners or sub-contractors
Objectives Are:

Enable an individual to master all aspects of the tendering and contracting process through the (5) training modules listed below.
1. Tendering for Contracts Overview
2. Tendering for Contracts Process
3. Quality Management Systems
4. Marketing Products & Services
5. Contract Project Management
6. Module (6) Self-Assessment
Self-Assessment Module covers 60 multiple-choice questions with answers – it covers what has been learnt in the previous (5) modules and supplements the self-assessment questions and answers which are to be found throughout the (5) modules.

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Summary Quality Standard The programme has successfully been through (2) accreditation process and is endorsed by the “Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative”, it is listed in the directory of the Learning and Skills Council and UKRLP. Who are the stakeholders? Small to Medium Enterprises who wish to learn how to tender for public sector contracts and Individuals who wish to improve their employability prospects. What will the training achieve? Our training enables firms develop new revenue streams by effectively preparing them to engage in the tendering and contracting process. Who are the beneficiaries? This training programme is designed to provide both the business and the person undertaking the training, with a structured framework for successfully preparing contract document, managing the contract, implementing quality management systems, and marketing their products and services – to a potential contract provider. The beneficiaries are public sector procurement agencies – who will in future receive suitably structured documents from potential contracts who are capable of fulfilling the required contract projects - small to medium enterprises who will be much better prepared for the role as a public sector supplier and individuals who will now understand how the system works and may wish to offer their services to small to medium enterprises as consultants.

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