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Feedback from previous NAVCA tendering events

Comments from attendees at Secrets of Successful Tendering 2007:

"the insight, clarity and ongoing resources are unlikely to be obtained anywhere else. Very valuable"

"really useful practical advice"

"grabbed me in the first 10 minutes and kept me grabbed"

"best workshop attended"

"Secrets of successful tendering is the best procurement course I have been on to date. She takes the subject apart and puts it across in an easy to understand way"

"absolutely excellent - thank you!"

" I really thought this was fantastic - thank you!"

Secrets of Successful Tendering

15 Oct and 12 Nov 2008

Manchester and London

About the training events

Effective tendering requires an understanding of the legislative and practical background within which procurement is currently taking place and the processes which drive the tendering procedures.

Part 1

The completion of the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is the essential first step in the "restricted", "negotiated" and e-procurement procedures. Getting this right opens the door to the invitation to submit a full tender. These procedures are also used in the establishment of "Select Lists".

Completing the PQQ correctly or getting on the 'select lists' is important as this produces a framework of organisations which are allowed to go on to tender for specific contracts over a period of three to seven years. If you get it wrong you could face being excluded from being able to contract to provide services over a long period.

This part of the workshop takes account of latest case law from the European Court of Justice and will focus on the procedures which are used for each style of tendering, the PQQ and other tendering requirements. We will look at the agenda being followed by procurement officers including what they look for at the appraisal stage.

Part 2

Real success in tendering lies in having a clear understanding of exactly what procurement officers want to see in your tender document - and how to ensure that your tender scores well at the appraisal stage.

Two possible sets of criteria are used in the selection process: Lowest Price and Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). Part 2 of this Workshop will review:

  • model appraisal schemes - including looking at specific areas such as Equal Opportunities, Environmental Policy etc
  • an actual scoring scheme in order to work out how well tenders might perform
  • how to improve the techniques of tender preparation
  • the impact of the tendering process on organisations
  • the opportunities which exist for organisations large and small

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Dates and venues for 2008


All events: 10am - 4pm

  • 15 October - St Thomas Centre, Manchester
  • 12 November - Abbey Centre, London

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About Janet Roberts

Following a varied career in Education and Adult Literacy, in 1985 Janet took up a post as an officer with Derbyshire County Council, with responsibility for community education, literacy and work with BME groups.

In 1986 she also took responsibility for the DCC annual European Social Fund (ESF) budget of £4.25 million and the new Urban Programme budget of £8 million. This involved devising and implementing a system of tendering for public funds by voluntary and community groups.

Between 1988 and 1990 Janet was Principal of Morley College, a large registered charity. In 1990 Janet and her husband set up a business which helped FE Colleges to tender for contracts from European and other funds in order to develop their programmes of income generation. In response to demand, Janet's business re-oriented to help charities to bid for European funds.

From 1998 to 2005, Janet's customers together secured £18.3 million of European and other funding. In addition she prepared the biggest successful ESF tender in the country - £6.3 million - for the Association for Residential Care (ARC).

Janet set up Tendering for Care (TfC) in 2005 to help providers in the sector to cope in the new procurement environment. This work has expanded rapidly to include the voluntary sector generally. TfC members have a rapidly growing track record of success winning contracts within the range £15,000 to £5 million.

In recognition of Janet's "work campaigning for better training in tendering in the charity sector", she has recently been elected to Fellowship of the RSA.

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