Personal Development Tips for Bid Recruitment Specialists

The latest issue of Bidding Quarterly has been released this week, with a focus on personal development. As Bid Recruitment specialists we have an interest in CPD. Our contributing Experts have provided a great selection of opinions, advice and anecdotes. If you are looking to develop yourself in 2018, it is a must read.

To download ‘Bidding Quarterly Issue 3: Putting Yourself First’,

In other news, our Proposal Management and APMP Training Expert, Jon Williams, has been asked about measuring bid team success and related metrics. To view Jon’s response click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/questions/measuring-bid-team-success/

To ask a question of any of our 17 experts, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/bid-hub/ask-the-expert/

Our latest Permanent Opportunities This Week Include:

Bid Writer Vacancy based from home for a leading provider of a range of out-of-hospital services. Salary is competitive to attract the best talent – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16850

Commercial Manager Opportunity for a major telecommunications provider near Basingstoke. Salary is up to £70k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16854

Bid Writer Opportunity for a leading Facilities Management Company based in Surrey (Near Sutton). Ideal candidate must have housing association experience. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16840

Business Bid Manager Role based in Glasgow for a software provider. Salary is up to £50k + bonus – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16849

Bid Manager Opportunity within a leading engineering consultancy based in Southampton. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-168412

Senior Bid Executive Position for a leading law firm based in South West London. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16847

Bid / Business Development Manager (12 month FTC) Vacancy for a leading charity organisation in London. Salary up to £38k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16853

Proposal Writer Role working for a leading retail logistics organisation based in Oxford. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16841

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

This week our Public Sector Bidding Expert, Peter Lobl, has provided great insight into the grounds for challenging public procurement decisions. To find out more, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/right-way-challenge-procurement-decision

To ask Peter a question, or any of our 17 experts, follow the link: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/bid-hub/ask-the-expert/

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include: 

Bid Writer Vacancy based from home, working for an IUC provider. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16850

Bid Writer Opportunity for a leading Facilities Management Company based in Surrey (Near Kingston upon Thames). Ideal candidate must have housing association experience. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16840

Business Bid Manager Role based in Glasgow for a software provider. Salary is up to £50k + bonus – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16849

Bid Manager Position for a leading cyber security consultancy based in Basingstoke. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16842

Bid Manager Opportunity within a leading engineering consultancy based in Southampton. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-168412

Proposal Writer Role working for a leading retail logistics organisation based in Oxford. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16841

Senior Bid Executive Opportunity for a leading law firm based in South West London. Salary is up to £42k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16847

Proposal Specialist Position for a leading telecoms provider based in Basingstoke. Salary is up to £42k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16848

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

Do You Have Grounds for Challenging Public Procurement Decisions?

We are often contacted by bidders who feel that something was not quite right with an authority’s decision-making process in the evaluation of their bid. They aren’t sure what to do about it and some even lack the confidence to take any action at all for fear that “relationships” will be damaged. We have prepared some outline guidance on how to challenge a tender decision. We hope that this will help anyone who finds themselves in such a position, who has the grounds for challenging public procurement decisions,  and who needs to balance the potential upsides and downsides of challenging.

We would like this to be a useful checklist for you, should you wish to push back on a procurement decision. We believe that this guidance and timeline, which is based upon information from the Technical and Construction Court, is an excellent way to approach getting procurement decisions re-examined, should a competition have gone wrong.

This approach covers most procurement cases. It recognises that claims will normally be complex and have to be handled very quickly because of the statutory time limitations. It also acknowledges that because of the time constraints, claims may have to be launched with some items of information missing.

In essence, the Court expects to see the following activities, as a minimum:

• An initial exchange of letters between the aggrieved bidder and the authority.
• The parties continuing to make appropriate and proportionate efforts to resolve the dispute without the need to turn to Court action.
• The claim to be served within 7 days of issue.
• Because the bidders have less information about the scoring than the Authority, the Authority to provide “key decision material” at an early stage. This would include the evaluation documents and the contemporaneous notes made by the evaluators.
• If a bidder considers that it has received insufficient information and applies for more – an early Case Management conference
• Confidential material on both sides to be protected. The Court expects to receive both redacted and full copies of information. It will then decide on what information may be released and under what conditions.
• The notional winning bidder to be informed (if not party to the challenge) and for it to participate as an “Interested Party”.
• Where an authority applies for the lifting of the automatic suspension, the timings to be set to allow the challenging party sufficient opportunity to file evidence showing why the suspension should be maintained.

So, to get your challenge initiated correctly, your initial correspondence should identify:

• The procurement process being challenged
• The grounds for the claim (both factual and legal)
• The information sought from the authority
• The remedy required
• A request for an extension of the period within which the authority will not enter into the contract
• An appropriate, short time-limit for a response

Then, the authority should:

• Acknowledge receipt of your letter
• Notify you of its solicitor’s details
• Indicate whether the standstill period will be extended and if so, for how long

The authority should then immediately provide you with all the information you need and then send you a more substantive response as soon as practicable thereafter. Of course, throughout all this, the Court expects both sides to act co-operatively and reasonably.

From the viewpoint of the Public-Sector bidder, this approach reinforces our ability to get the information we need and then to be able to engage in a constructive discussion about how the issues may be resolved with the procurement team. If they don’t play ball, then the Court is likely to take a dim view and this will prejudice any case they think they may have. For us, this is a brilliant checklist of what we have to do and get right for the process for challenging a public contract award.

By Peter Lobl, Public Sector Bidding Expert

https://bidsolutions.co.uk/experts/peter-lobl/

For more advice and information from our experts,please visit our Bid Hub. There’s industry news, and expert advice to add to your bid library. To view our  most recent vacancies, click here. To register with us as a freelance bid writer, click here.

Proposal Manager or Bid Writer – Survey Reveals Range of Job Titles

The 2018 Salary Survey has once again uncovered an excess of job titles in our profession, with 334 variations recorded (up from 298 in 2015). To ensure meaningful analysis, the survey required participants to align themselves to one of 6 core roles (9 when including ‘Head of’ roles).

Respondents were also asked to list any secondary roles that form part of their workload. A massive 79% of respondents had at least one secondary role to perform, with Heads of Proposal Writing having the largest proportion of multi-taskers (86%); and Graphics Designers the fewest (64%).

We look forward to sharing the full Salary Survey report in the coming weeks.

Also this week, our Bid Team Leadership & Innovation Expert, Peter McPartland, was asked how to calculate the internal cost of bidding. Peter broke it down into 4 key points of consideration. To find out what these are, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/questions/internal-cost-of-bidding/

To ask a question of any of our 17 experts, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/bid-hub/ask-the-expert/

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include:

Proposal Leader Position based in London for a leading professional services organisation. Salary is up to £70k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16828

Proposal Manager Role based in London for a leading professional services organisation. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16829

Bid Writer Opportunity for a leading Facilities Management Company based in Surrey (Near Kingston upon Thames). Ideal candidate must have housing association experience. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16840

Bid Writer Opportunity for a global technology solutions provider based in Reading. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16825

Bid Manager Position for a leading cyber security consultancy based in Basingstoke. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16842

Bid Writer Vacancy for a leading security services provider, based in Woking. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16802

Proposal Specialist Role with a leading telecommunications company, based in Basingstoke. Salary is up to £42k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=16848

Proposal Writer Role working for a leading retail logistics organisation based in Oxford. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16841

Senior Bid Executive Opportunity for a leading law firm based in South West London. Salary is up to £42k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16847

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

When analysing salary performance across specific roles, the 2018 Salary Survey has uncovered some interesting statistics related to the gender pay gap.

‘Head of’ roles are dominated by men (typically a 60:40 split). However, in the highest paid role in our profession – Head of Proposal Management – women are for the first time outperforming men by 3% (£2,022). It’s a similar story with Head of Bid / Proposal Writing roles, with women earning 15% (£10,343) more than men. Meanwhile, men in Head of Bid Management roles earn on average 13% (£8,393) more.

While gender imbalances remain across our profession, we can take encouragement from the fact that women are commanding similar salaries to men at the highest levels. We look forward to sharing the full report in the coming weeks.

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include:
Proposal Leader position based in Central London for a financial services organisation. Salary is up to £70k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=16828

Commercial Manager Position based in London for a major construction organisation. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16835

Bid Writer Opportunity for a leading Facilities Management company based in Surrey (Near Kingston upon Thames). Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16840

Bid Manager Role for a leading logistics company. This position can be based in either Kent, Birmingham or Nottingham with home working available. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16837

Bid Writer Opportunity for a global technology solutions provider based in Reading. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16825

Proposal Writer Role working for a leading retail logistics organisation based in Oxfordshire. Salary is competitive – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16841

Bid Manager Position for a leading cyber security consultancy based in Basingstoke. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16842

For more information on any of these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

Data Protection and Public Procurement

This week our Public Sector Bidding Expert, Andy Haigh has provided a fascinating overview of the new Data Protection Legislation and how it will affect new and historical bids. To find out more, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/data-protection-impact-upon-bids/

To ask Andy a question, or any of our 17 experts, follow the link: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/bid-hub/ask-the-expert/

In other news, the latest edition of Bidding Quarterly is currently in production and will be exploring the topic of personal development. Keep an eye out for further updates ahead of its February release.

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include: 

Commercial Bid Manager Position based in London for a major construction organisation. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16835

Senior Bid Manager Vacancy for a leading print management organisation, based in London. Salary is up to £55k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16833

Bid Manager Role for a leading logistics company. This position can be based in either Kent, Birmingham or Nottingham with homeworking available. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16837

Bid Writer Vacancy for a leading security services provider, based in Woking. Salary is up to £45k –
https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16802

Business Development Assistant Position for one of the UK’s largest providers of social welfare, based in London. Salary is up to £33k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16787

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

GDPR for the Bid Manager

A few organisations are starting to pick up that on 25th May 2018, the new Data Protection Legislation (the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)), comes into force. It is targeted at improving privacy and preventing data breaches. It is based upon EU legislation. However, we expect that it will continue after Brexit, essentially unaltered. The Public Sector is already being pushed into altering all existing and new contracts, to bring them into alignment with this legislation.

Under the new regulations, companies must keep a complete record of how and when any individual gives consent to store and use their personal data. Individuals, also, have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. When somebody does withdraw consent, their details must be completely, permanently and swiftly erased, and not just deleted from a mailing list. In other words, the legislation gives individuals the right to be forgotten. There is some good guidance at https://ico.org.uk/media/1624219/preparing-for-the-gdpr-12-steps.pdf

The impact upon bidding organisations seeking both commercial and Public Sector contracts may be substantial. It is routine for us to include CVs and references in bids. We often name individual personnel to give credibility to their achievements or pass personal telephone numbers as emergency contact routes. From May, each business will need to record the consent to those involved and have an accurate system of managing withdrawn consent. It means we have to know where every instance of the personal data is logged and to be able to amend it quickly. For instance, can you be sure of where every one of your old bids are located?

When the legislation kicks in, companies will be required to provide regular data audits for EU authorities to prove they are compliant. This means someone will have to go through every software application and database and record details such as the exact type of data they contain – whether it be names and addresses, or more personal information like achievements. They will also have to identify who has access to it.

We expect that any organisation looking to comply with the new Data Protection legislation will incur costs in doing so, especially if it needs new systems or processes to be put in place. The Public Sector view is that such costs are attributable to conducting business and not just supplying the Public Sector. As a result, it expects all suppliers to manage their own costs in relation to compliance. This means the overall costs of doing business with formal proposals is about to go up.

As bid professionals, we need to prepare for the changes now. We must maintain a register of the personal data we use, when it was agreed to be used and where it is included in all our bids. We need to let everyone who has personal data used in our work know where and the reasons for its use. Plus, we have to tell them how they can withdraw their consent and how they can be sure that this has been achieved.

We think that this is a good time to include a preamble in every bid which contains personal details. Like the statement that identifies that a document contains sensitive information which needs to be kept confidential, we now need to add something like:

“This document contains personal information provided with the consent of the individuals involved. This information is highlighted on pages 7 to 9 and in Annex B. This information is provided for the sole purpose of fair evaluation of our proposal and may not be copied or passed on to others for any purpose beyond the evaluation in this competition. The individuals may withdraw their consent for the use of this information at any time and you must account for all copies of this information so it can be recovered or destroyed, if circumstances require. Should you be unable to comply with this requirement, you must return this document and all copies to us immediately for all personal data to be redacted.” We must then highlight the information accordingly.

How we might deal with such information which has been distributed in past proposals, is uncertain. The GDPR covers the information in them too. No doubt, we will have some court cases in the future which will set the direction. In the meantime, your organisation should have a nominated Data Protection Officer and now is a very good time to talk through the issues with them.

By Andy Haigh, Public Sector Bidding Expert
https://bidsolutions.co.uk/experts/andy-haigh/

Gender Pay Gap – The 2018 Bid & Proposal Salary Survey

The 2018 Bid & Proposal Salary Survey has once again shone a light on gender inequality within our profession, with men on average earning 21.5% more than women. The difference was 23.8% in 2015, so while the gender pay gap is closing, there is a long way to go for parity to be achieved across genders.

Next week, we will release an overview of the survey with more detailed findings to follow across select criteria, including gender, location, age and industry.

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include:

Proposal Coach Opportunity based in London for a professional services organisation. Salary is up to £75k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16828

Strategic Bid Manager Position based in London for a major construction organisation. Salary is up to £75k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16830

Proposal Manager Opportunity based in London for a professional services organisation. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16829

Proposal Manager / Writer Position based in Luton for a leading social housing organisation. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16820

Knowledge Manager Position based in London for a major construction organisation. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16831

Bid Manager Role based in Hereford working for a payment service provider to public and private sector organisations. Salary is up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16822

Bid Coordinator Role based in East Birmingham for a building services specialist. Salary is up to £35k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16824

Bid Writer Position based in Reading for an IT solutions organisation. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16825

Business Development Assistant Role based in London, working for a provider of social welfare. Salary is up to £36k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16787

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

Looking for Bid Writer Jobs?

January is the time of year for resolutions and plans for personal and professional development. It is also our busiest period for recruitment. Whether you are planning your next career move and looking for a new opportunity, or hiring into your team and taking advantage of a busy candidate market; we recommend you reach out to the team and discuss how you can benefit from our expertise in this sector.

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include:

Proposal Manager / Writer Position based in Luton for a leading social housing organisation. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16820

Senior Proposal Manager Opportunity based in London for a leading facilities organisation. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16814

Bid Manager Role based in Hereford working for a payment service provider to public and private sector organisations.  Salary is up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16822

Bid Writer Position based in Woking for a security services provider. Salary up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16802

Bid Manager Opportunity for our client, a leading healthcare provider based in Kingston-upon-Thames. Salary is up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16801

Business Development Assistant Role based in London, working for a provider of social welfare. Salary is up to £36k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16787

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs

5 Key Points for Winning Bid Presentations

Happy New Year from Bid Solutions! This week, our Construction & Professional Coaching Expert, Holger Garden, was asked about preparing and delivering bid presentations. With a wealth of experience in the field, Holger has provided 5 key points one must consider at a bid presentation. To find out what these are, follow the link: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/questions/bid-presentation-preparation-delivery/

To ask a question of any of our 17 experts, click here: https://bidsolutions.co.uk/bid-hub/ask-the-expert/

Our latest Permanent Opportunities this week include:

Proposal Manager / Writer Opportunity based in Luton for a main contractor, with a focus on Social Housing. Salary is up to £60k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16820

Senior Proposal Manager Position based in London for a leading facilities organisation. Salary is up to £50k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16814

EMEA Bid / Proposal Manager Opportunity based in Chippenham for a global retailer. Salary is up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16792

Bid Writer Position with a security firm in Woking. Salary is up to £40k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16802

Bid Writer Vacancy based in Stevenage for a national utility contractor. Salary is up to £45k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16816

Bid Assistant Opportunity based in London for one of the UK’s largest providers of social welfare. Salary is up to £36k – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs/?keywords=VAC-16787

For more information on these roles please contact the team on 020 8158 3952 / recruitment@bidsolutions.co.uk or for a full list of vacancies please visit – https://bidsolutions.co.uk/jobs