Helping businesses in Melbourne and Victoria win government contracts and tenders

Our team of bid and tender writers in Melbourne, led by Jason Cooney, understand the Victorian economy, market industries and government procurement processes. We specialise in helping Melbourne and Victorian businesses win government and private sector bids both in Melbourne, Victoria and across Australia.

We help Melbourne and Victorian businesses:

• Write bids and tenders
• Find tender contract opportunities
• Review bids and tenders
• Win government and private sector contracts. 

We have been helping businesses organisations from a broad range of industries across Victoria secure state and national contracts for over seven years.  With experience in both government and private bids and proposals we love helping businesses write and win contracts. We know how to respond to VicTenders requests and our tender consultants and bid writing consultants provide tender help to companies from all industries.

Our team of tender writers have all the tender writing templates you need including supporting documentation such as safety, environmental and quality assurance documentation to help you win and help you navigate the complex government requirements.

We provide tender preparation services to clients in Melbourne and across Victoria and help with proposal writing as well as the preparation of government tenders and bids in Melbourne. 

A short guide to winning tenders and bids in Melbourne 

Executive summary: Your executive summary needs to be compelling, concise, and to clearly articulate your win themes. In addition to being a summary of your proposal, you also need to hit them between the eyes and outline why you should be selected for the tender.

• Do you have a unique or innovative solution?
• Will your Directors be hands-on in delivering the services?
• Do you have a pricing strategy linked to your methodology that will deliver value?
• Will you have a big focus on safety? How this will set you apart?
• Why does your previous experience and specific expertise make you the right choice?

Take your executive summary one step further from being a summary, and turn it into a compelling, convincing document that will put the reader in the right frame of mind from the start.

Win themes: It’s important to develop win themes that link your key points of difference to the tender and what they are looking for. Once developed, these need to be interwoven into your proposal to deliver a consistent theme.

Tender review teams have so much content to read and review, that sometimes they only take away 3 – 5 key message or points from each tender. These are your win themes.

When developing your win themes you need to look at your bid from the perspective of the buyer. If you have an outstanding track record, and your competitors also have an outstanding track record – it won’t make you different. If you have an outstanding track record and you are skilled in ensuring that your lessons learnt from previous projects will be incorporated into new projects and your overall service – it sets you apart.

Active voice: When writing the tender it is critical to use the active voice throughout the document.

This shows the confidence that you will deliver what you say and puts the reader in a positive frame of mind. Boldly declaring what you will deliver as part of the contract and using the active voice will increase your credibilty in the mind of the reader and provide them with the confidence to select you.

Detailed responses: Quotes, evidence and detail. They all help to make a compelling proposal or bid that gives the reader confidence that you will deliver a quality service if awarded the contract.

It’s important to write concisely. It’s equally important to go into sufficient detail. That means attaching evidence and testimonials from suppliers and previous clients.

For each question, be sure to answer the question comprehensively. Where a question asks for a case study to demonstrates your previous experience, for example, talk about:

• What personnel were involved in the project and if they will be involved in this project?
• What challenges were encountered and how did you overcome them?
• How did you manage quality on the project?
• Were there any safety issues?
• What did you do that was innovative?
• Did you exceed any of the KPIs or deliverables?

Don’t just provide a short summary of the services you provided.

Focus on your local Melbourne or Victorian presence

Whether you have a presence in Melbourne CBD, or are based in Richmond, St Kilda, Brunswick, South Yarra, or the wider areas of Melbourne and Victoria, your locality is critical to winning a bid. The reason is that for any bid or tender in Melbourne and Victoria will likely have a focus on procuring from locals and supporting local jobs. This is particularly the case for government bids.

In order to win contracts in Melbourne, even if you are in an industry typically not associated with employing apprentices such as professional services (legal, accounting), you will need to demonstrate your commitment to social value and how you will ensure the benefits of the contract will flow through to the local community.

Some ideas and initiatives you can put forward include:

• Putting forward a local employment plan: For any government contract, the client will want to know where the money is going and the jobs are going that are associated with the contract. It’s important you quantify this. You need to detail how many jobs will be created or supported by the contract and which area the relevant employees work and live.
• Look for ways to support disadvantaged groups: This may involve employing apprentices for disadvantaged groups, employing people who have a disability, or providing free work or advice (for example legal advice) to local Melbourne based disadvantaged groups. Either way, putting forward this type of initiative is critical to winning local government and government contracts.
• Support local suppliers – and name them: If you are going to build local, operate local, or run a business in Melbourne, then you need to ensure as many of your suppliers as possible are also locally based. This helps assure the procurement team that the downstream economic benefits of the contract are flowing through to the local community.

Case studies:

Melbourne Based Hospitality Company

We have written many bids in the food and hospitality sector. This particularly contract was for the provision of catering services for a government contracts. There was a whole lot of work to do around menus, allergies and food safety. 

We worked with our client to develop a winning and compliant strategy which included a plan to hire local employees and employees from disadvantaged groups which appealed to the government department and was a driving force for the contract success.

Melbourne Based Medical Services Provider

We helped a Melbourne based medical services provider with a national contract opportunity. It was across Victoria and a number of other states – and involved the provision of medical and allied health services. 

One of the key issues in the bid was logistics. They needed a comprehensive plan to provide services in rural and remote locations. We worked with the client to develop a credible plan by forming alliances with other service providers in different states. 

How our writing consultants add value to your bid:

We will add value to your bid by:

• Drafting your content from scratch, or tailoring existing content
• Project managing your proposal from start to finish, enabling you to focus on core business
• Driving best practice

The full range of bid and tender writing services we provide include:

• Tender identification
• Assistance with the bid / no bid decision
• Graphics and template design
• Content writing
• Tender response management
• CV writing and development
• Editing and proofreading
• Submission

Types of service we provide

We provide a full range of tender writing and review services. These include:

• Reviewing your tenders and providing feedback
• Creating a bid and tender library for future use
• Managing your tenders from start to finish
• Writing your response.

Delivering a quality result

When you retain our services we will ensure we deliver a quality result. That means our tender and bid writing consultants will challenge the norms within your organisation and work with and coach key stakeholders to gather as much information as possible.

Our bid and proposal writers will incorporate win themes and use graphics where appropriate, to convey complex solutions in a simple and easy to understand manner for the reader.

For larger tenders, we will actively project manage the process from start to finish, ensuring all moving parts work efficiently, and any issues are quickly identified and raise.

We have experience in nearly industries such as:

• Construction
• Engineering
• Transport and Logistics
• Professional services (legal, accounting and legal)
• Building and trades (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tiling, civil etc)
• Health and Medical
• Community Services
• Maritime and Marine
• Aviation
• IT & ICT
• Many more.

What we will do for you and how to get tender help in Melbourne

Our experienced team of bid and proposal writers will take ownership of your response and free your time up to focus on your immediate tasks. It doesn’t matter if it is your first tender, or you draft bids and proposals on a weekly basis, our team of tender writers in Melbourne will add value by either coaching you through the process and guiding you through what you need to do to deliver a quality response, as well as challenging internal stakeholders and ensuring existing content is improved upon.

We are also able to assist you with strategy and direction, professional visual design, presentation and training, workshops and coaching and mentoring. That means if you want to completely revisit your tenders with a view to refining them and improving them for the longer term, we are your team to assist. Whether you know an opportunity is coming up, you have an existing opportunity that has hit your desk with limited time to respond, our tender writers in Melbourne can assist.

As a boutique consultancy, we provide a 24/7, highly responsive service. We can also assist in the preparation of CVs, profiles and expertise, ensuring you have a standout template ready to work from when an opportunity hits your desk. We are proud to be one of the leading tender companies in Melbourne with a team full of experienced tender consultants in Melbourne.

Common questions our clients ask us

Over the years, we have found that many clients face similar challenges when looking to secure government contracts. Questions we are often asked, and the answer is usually ‘Yes’ are:

• Do you help small businesses in Melbourne win contracts?
• Are you able to support our internal team of bid writers?
• Do you have experience on major government and defence bids?
• Are you able to help with an urgent project?
• Have you got experience responding to the Victorian Government including Victorian Health?
• Do you provide tender writing services across all industries?

Our fees and service

We offer fixed project fees, a strong depth of resources and knowledge and a library of templates to enhance your response.

Review our fees page for more information or call Jason on 0410 448 770 to talk about your next tender. We update our fees yearly and have recently updated our fees for 2024. Where you are looking for tender and bid writing services in Melbourne CBD, tender and bid writing services in St Kilda, a bid writing consultant in Brunswick or tender help for your business in South Yarra, or even in regional Victoria, our team of writers is here to help.

Victorian Government Departments 

Our team is experienced in winning contracts with most Victorian Government Departments including:

• Department of Education
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Department of Government Services
• Department of Health
• Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
• Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Department of Transport and Planning
• Department of Treasury and Finance

We have of course, also got expensive experience, winning contracts with City of Melbourne.

Our team of bid writers here at The Tender Team, led by our Director, Jason Cooney, will help you create the necessary supporting documentation for Melbourne Government bids including:

• Local industry development plans
• Modern Slavery Policies
• Modern Slavery Statement
• Local Jobs First plan
• Supplier Code of conduct
• Environmental Impact Statements
• Safety Plans

Our team has a strong understanding of major projects in 2025 and 2026 and are well positioned to help clients capitalise on major government infrastructure spend in the next few years. 

Testimonials

The Tender Team are definitely one of the leading tender and bid writing consultancies in Melbourne in my view. They are responsive, professional and they want you to win. They consult with you to understand your business and interweave your win themes throughout the tender response. They are also highly skilled at project managing the tender process and are very organised and transparent. We have always had a positive experience with them. Paula is great and so is Jason.

Terry F | Construction | Melbourne

We won the tender! Amazing. Can’t thank you all enough for your help. You are excellent bid writers and you helped us figure out our key selling points and integrate them into the document. You also helped us create all the supporting documents so we would comply. It was a massive process and we are so happy with the outcome. Thank you for helping us win and we will be in touch for our next opportunity. 

Karen Y | Community Services | Regional Victoria

Thank you for your assistance with our tender to City of Melbourne. You guys certainly know a lot about tenders, bids and the catering industry. Jason and the team are were great to deal with and you guided us on what was one of the largest tenders and projects we had worked on. Fingers cross for the result and thank you for all the help.

Liam M | Catering Company | Melbourne 

The Tender Team, and Jason, are excellent tender writers and I think one of the most trusted and reliable tender writing consultancies in Melbourne and Australia. They have been writing our tenders for over nine years. When you call they answer. When you send them the RFP documents they respond with a quote. Finally, when you proceed they get onto it straight away and help you write a winning response. They know the construction industry well as well as other industries and I recommend them to any business that is looking for a reliable, helpful tender writing consultancy in Melbourne that really wants you to win!

John M | Construction Company | Melbourne

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the leading leading tender writing consultancy in Melbourne?

The Tender Team is one of the leading tender and bid writing consultancies in Melbourne. The Tender helps Melbourne and Victorian based businesses write and win tenders to the Government and private sector.’ There are also other consultancies who provide reliable tender writing services in Melbourne. 

Is there a specialised tender writing consultancy in Victoria that helps business win government tenders?

Yes – Here at The Tender Team, Jason Cooney and our team help businesses write winning bids and tenders. We are Victoria-focused, understand the Victorian legislation and regulation and know the local economy and what the Government is looking for when procuring from suppliers. 

Can you guarantee we will win the tender if we get The Tender Team in Victoria to help with our next bid?

Although Jason and all of us here at The Tender Team will certainly do our best to help you win, we cannot guarantee you success. The result of a tender depends on many factors such as:

• Price
• Experience and expertise
• Competitive landscape.

What services do you offer as a tender and bid consultancy? Do you only write the tenders?

At The Tender Team, our Victorian team offers the full range of tender and bid writing services including:

• Tender search
• Tender strategy and bid/no bid guidance
• Storyboarding
• Graphics and infographics
• Tender writing 
• Tender and bid review
• Submission and presentation guidance
• Tender writing workshops and training
• AI software program establishment

Contact our team to discuss how we can assist with your next bid across Victoria and beyond. 

How much does it cost to get a tender professionally written by your tender writing consultants in Victoria?

This depends on the size and scope of the tender and how much work and time is involved. To give you a rough guide, the average tender to a local Council costs between $2,000 and $7,000 whilst larger tenders can be more expensive. We can also provide an hourly rate option. Additional detailed information on our fees is available here.

How long will it take to write our tender?

We will generally work within whatever timeline you provide us and is provided by the procurer. Sometimes you are given three weeks for smaller tenders and for large complex infrastructure tenders the process can take up to six months. It depends on the nature and size of the tender. If we take on your tender we will work within the deadline. 

Do you help small businesses in Victoria write tenders? We may need help but I’m a sole-trader.

Yes certainly. Here at The Tender Team, we have helped lots of sole-traders win government contracts across all different industries.

What makes The Tender Team different or better than other bid writers in Victoria?

Our Director, Jason Cooney, runs a small team of bid writers. He is hands-on and will work with you to write winning bids and tenders. We provide a tailored, personalised and direct service and operate transparently. 

How do you develop a winning tender strategy and will that help us win?

We will work with you to develop a winning tender strategy by:

• Understanding your business
• Understanding and reading between the lines of the tender
• Assessing your existing unique selling points
• Developing win-themes that align with the tender requirements and differentiate you from the market
• Transforming those win-themes into key messages.

Can you help us prepare for a tender presentation and interview?

Yes we certainly can. Our team of tender and bid writers helps our clients prepare for presentation and interviews. We will train you on the tender, what questions to expect and we will develop your presentation for you to ensure it runs smoothly. 

We need a tender consultant that has experience with Victorian government tenders. Do you have experience?

Yes – The Tender Team has written hundreds of Victorian government tenders. We have been operating since 2007 and have experience writing bids to all Victorian Government departments as well as local councils such as the City of Melbourne.

Can you tell me why we are losing tenders?

Yes – through our review service we can review your previous tender submissions and provide feedback and guidance on why you were unsuccessful and what you can do to improve your chances of wining. 

Do you help write tenders in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and other parts of Victoria or just Melbourne?

Yes of course. The Tender Team helps businesses across Victoria write winning tenders and always have. We have strong experience writing bids and tenders for services that extend into regional and remote Victoria. 

We have helped many businesses in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Wodonga write bids and tenders. Most of the time, a strong focus on your local area and demonstrating the link between your services and the needs of and challenges facing the local community is crucial to success.