Construction Tenders

• Are you a Tier-1, multinational construction firm with a busy bid team that needs support for a large PPP or Major project?
• Are you a building, construction, infrastructure company or trades firm struggling to win construction tenders and want to know why?
• Are you a Tier-2 or Tier-3 construction company that needs to beef up your bids team when multiple tender opportunities come in at once?
• Do you urgently need a Capability Statement to send to a potential client?
• Is there an important contract you need to secure or retain and you need guidance?
• Is your existing tender team overworked and you require some temporary assistance?
• Are you a small or medium construction firm looking to increase your Government tenders win rate?

How we can help you win contracts

The Tender Team comprises a team of experienced bid and tender writers helping construction industry clients win new contacts. We are seasoned writers with experience across the construction sector spanning from writing tenders for tradies looking to secure local council contracts to working in large bid teams on large PPP infrastructure projects.

Our bid writing consultants provide strategic assistance and hands-on help for you to:

• Provide guidance on the bid / no bid process
• Storyboard your initial responses to draw out key win themes for your construction tender
• Write your bid or tender from start to finish. We are hands-on when it comes to writing your tender response. We have worked on construction and building bids across the country and know how to get stuck into a tender and draft a compelling and persuasive proposal.
• Bid and project manage the tender response process including communicating at C-Suite level. We can also take the hassle out of the tender process for small builders and other contractors and will communicate closely with your team members or office team to gather the required information.
• Create infographics and graphics that look professional and polished.

We service construction sector businesses across Australia and assist with bids to both government and private sector.

Construction Sector Specialists

We are a team of tender and bid writers specialising in the construction and infrastructure sector. 50% of our clients are from the construction industry, and all of our writers have strong experience writing construction bids and tenders. Our writers are experienced in working on major project bid for some of Australia’s leading infrastructure projects. We understand the challenges of project managing large bids and engaging with key stakeholders.

The construction industry is a major driving force of the economy requiring a vast range of different services. Construction companies, Government Departments and Developers are educated buyers and use construction tenders to make quantified procurement decisions. They are methodical and strategic in the way they procure, and will are experienced in administering the tender process.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have helped small and medium sized construction industry firms win their first government contract and improve their win rates through a bid and tender functionality committed to excellence.

Helping construction companies win more contracts

Our bid writing consultants have helped construction companies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and in regional and remote across Australia win construction tenders. We do this by taking a highly organised and methodical approach to tenders and bids. We read between the lines of a project and RFP to understand the key challenges or concerns facing the client.

We then identify what matters to the clients, develop win themes, storyboard responses and write compelling content that integrates key messages. When putting together and submitting a construction tender, it is critical to:

• Demonstrate to the client that you have the track record and credibility to complete the project.
• Communicate the expertise of your team and your experience working together to ensure you deliver a quality project
• Focus on the issues that matter to the client. For example, if you are submitting a government tender, Customer Experience may be critical as might community communication. It’s important that you talk about your ability to manage all stakeholders as a major contractor.
• Make sure it looks good. graphics are important, and infographics are useful to communicate complex tasks in an easy to understand and effective manner.

What is best practice

In order to win a construction tender you need to go in with a quality tender and a reasonable price. The word reasonable is key here. There is often no real benefit in winning a contract that is not profitable. We have worked on tenders for clients large and small that have underestimated their pricing and/or made too many representations in the tender requirements which are costly and increase the overall cost of delivering the project to an unsustainable level.  Winning a competitive construction tender requires;

• Clearly articulating your experience and expertise with case studies of similar scope and size.
• Adopting an active voice throughout the document and writing with a confident, consistent and approachable style.
• Ensuring all of your supporting documentation are well developed, sufficiently detailed and consistent in branding and them.
• Quality, compelling graphics and infographics integrated into your bid.
• An executive summary that clearly outlined the benefits.

How we can help

Our consultants have a track record of helping clients win construction tenders across a range of services areas. These include:

• Major PPP Projects
• Demolition: We have helped civil and demolition companies write bids and tenders for major works across Australia. This includes demolition works to the Government sector as well as the private sector. We also help excavation and civil works businesses win bids – especially to major infrastructure providers such as Sydney Water – which can be very lucrative.
• Electrical: From building maintenance services contracts to electrical maintenance bids and fire compliance certification, our team helps electricians across Australia win tenders at local, state and federal government level. In 2024 alone, we have worked on over 11 electrical services tenders combining both maintenance services and new projects.
• Gyprocking and internal fit-out
• Fire and fire maintenance: Our bid writer who works on electrical tenders and other trades, also has experience writing fire maintenance bid. He works closely with Jason Cooney, our Director, to help our fire industry clients write proposals and bids to the government sector, as well as strata and other property management companies. We’re proud to have helped many fire and maintenance clients win new work and secure new revenue streams.
• Restoration
• Hydraulics and plumbing: Please see our page on how to win hydraulics and plumbing tenders here.
• Masonry
• Concreting
• Traffic Control: We have helped traffic control companies win contracts with the government and private sector. Our team has also been integral in helping our traffic control company clients partner with other businesses bidding for contracts to provide the traffic control component only.
• Civil and Civil engineering: Please see detailed information on our engineering bid writing capability here.

Supporting documentation

As you would be well aware, Work Health and Safety is a big issue in the construction industry, and we have templates on hand for most documents required in construction tenders.  Other additional templates we have available include:

• WHS Management Plans
• QMS Management Plans
• Contract Management Plans
• Business Continuity Plans
• Marketing Plans
• Transport Management Plan
• Workplace Management Plan
• Chain of Responsibility Documentation
• Modern Slavery
• Ethical Procurement Policy
• Indigenous Participation Plan
• Environmental Plans
• Task Appreciation and Methodology
• Local Industry and Capability Plan
• Indigenous Procurement Policy
• Workplace Relations Management Plan

We also have tender writing consultants who specialize in the building and construction industry, ensuring you receive a highly specialized service.

Client testimonials

Jason and The Tender Team write nearly all our tender writers for us. Our internal teams complete the easy and smaller ones, however, the majority of our bids are large and complex, and we outsource them to The Tender Team. They are guns at construction tenders. They have people that can write the methodology which is usually the hardest part / a dealbreaker. They take a no-fuss, proactive approach to helping us write and win our tenders. They quickly and easily work in as part of our team and area easy to deal with. It’s a lot easier as I know that when they call, they will ask me all the correct questions which I can answer, get on with running the business and know that the tender or RFP response will be compelling.

John B | Construction Company | Northern Territory

The Tender Team provided three experienced bid writers for a bid for a major project we were putting together. One of the writers had strong bid management capabilities which are difficult to find, and three of the writers were bid writers. Overall we were very satisfied with the service provided. It was a bid for a major PPP project and it was a JV bid which made it even more difficult. The process went smoothly and standard and quality of work was very high. Internal feedback was also fantastic and we will continue to engage Jason Cooney and The Tender Team to beef up our internal writing capabilities where required.

Juan S | Chief Executive | Top Tier 1 Construction Company – Australia

Hi everyone at The Tender Team. A quick thank you for all your help with this bid. Construction bids are never easy and I know some of our stakeholders are busy and not responsive. Jason and the team have been fantastic to deal with. You are all pleasant, patient and also passionate about winning. I reviewed the tender prior to submission and I was very happy with it.

Keep up the good work and we will let you know of the result, and call you in for our next construction or maintenance bid.

Roger K | Construction and Building Maintenance | Adelaide

Construction industry players we assist

Our writers bring a wealth of experience working for Tier-1 construction companies such as Multiplex and Grocon. Our consultants have also held several bid management and marketing roles for small and medium-sized construction companies and specialist contractors. We’ve helped small companies win Council tenders to build local stadiums, as well as Tier 1 construction companies to win national contracts.

For multi-million dollar projects, we are able to project manage your tender or bid, and can coordinate with joint-venture partners where necessary. Outsourcing your tender responses to The Tender Team is a great way to increase your success rate and spent more time focusing on your core business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can small building and construction businesses win more tenders?

Small building and construction businesses across Australia can win more tenders by:

• Bidding for opportunities in their local areas.
• Focusing on innovation and agility – as well as ease of communication.
• Bidding for specialist opportunities which they have specific expertise and experience in.
• Personalising your bid and talking about the direct positive effect the contract will have on employment.
• Tailoring your methodology and showing insight into the opportunity.

The Tender Team, and our Director, Jason Cooney, has helped many small to medium sized builders and tradespeople across Australia including in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and regional areas, write and win government and private sector contracts.

How do I answer local content questions in construction tenders and what do you need to do to win?

In order to score well in local content questions, particularly for local and state government tenders, you should:

• Provide evidence of local suppliers you will procure from.
• Identify local workers and talk about who and how many workers you will hire.
• Identify local charity and other groups you can support and get involved with.

At The Tender Team, we have helped many construction businesses write compelling local content responses. More information on scoring well in your local content response is available here.

How can I win more government contracts for my construction business?

You can win more government contracts for your construction or building business in Australia by:

• Conducting a thorough bid / no bid process and only bidding for contracts you have a good chance of winning. When you identify those contracts, put all your effort into developing a quality bid.
• Focus on your strengths. Whether it’s your innovative equipment you have invested in, or your locality, you need to focus on what sets you apart and highlight this in your bids.
• Tailor your response to the specific project. Cutting and pasting information can only get you so far. If you want to win more construction contracts you need to tailor your submission to each specific opportunity.
• Demonstrate your culture. If you are big on safety or quality assurance, or both, ensure that shines through in your tender or bid. When writing your RFP proposal response, you should integrate quality, safety and other parts of your culture into your experience and expertise so this shines through.

The Tender Team, and our Director, Jason Cooney, have helped many small to medium construction businesses win contracts the all levels of government across Australia.

Is there a consultant that helps with construction and building tenders in Perth?

Yes. Our team of writers have lots of experience writing bids and tenders in Perth. The Tender Team, and our Director, Jason Cooney, can certainly assist.

Why do we keep losing construction bids and tenders? Can someone help us win more?

Some of the key reasons construction businesses, building companies and also tradespeople are unsuccessful with bids and tenders across Australia include:

1. Writing a generic response. Your response needs to be tailored to the specific project or buildings you are bidding for. You also need to tailor the CVs of your team members and include experience that is relevant.
2. Bidding for contracts you don’t have the experience to win. This is generally a waste of time and can lead to frustration with the tender response.
3. Not including evidence throughout your bid or tender. Your bid will have limited credibility with little or no evidence. You need to include evidence throughout your bid in order to make it credible. Facts and figures build confidence in the reader so quantify as much as possible for what you say.
4. Incorrect safety or quality documentation. This is a dealbreaker in most construction bids. You need to ensure your supporting documentation is correct, compliant and also – project specific.

Our team of bid writers at The Tender Team will help you avoid making the above mistakes, and many other possible mistakes not detailed above. We will help you win more construction contracts both in the Government and private sector.

How do I write a methodology that scores well for a construction RFP or RFT?

The methodology is a critical part of nearly all construction bids and tenders and also reflects a high percentage value of the weighting criteria. We have written a detailed article on how to write a methodology in construction bids and tenders here.

How can I win a contract with the government or local Council?

The steps to winning a contract or tender with the government or local Council are:

1. Register for tender notifications (so that you can find opportunities in your local area or that suit your experience and expertise).
2. Conduct a thorough bid / no bid analysis. This ensures you are only bidding for construction and building tenders you actually have a chance of winning.
3. Prepare and submit your response. This is the real hard part. Ensure you complete the tender, comply with all of the requirements and provide a detailed and compelling bid that shows your experience. You also need to price competitively (but don’t underquote to win).

Call The Tender Team for more detailed assistance.

Where can I find construction tender opportunities in Australia?

Tenderlink, AusTender and other local Council portals provide tender notifications for opportunities. The correct portal to sign up to depends on your local region and where you propose to operate. The Tender Team can provide tender notifications or guide you on where you should subscribe for notifications.

How do I interpret tender specifications and drawings?

We are unable to assist with interpreting tender drawings. In terms of tender specifications, you need to read through them read the rest of the RFP or RFT documentation and the write your response.

What are “conditions of tender,” and why do I need to adhere to them?

The conditions of tender in a construction tender generally set the rules around the tender process and what you need to comply with in order to be considered for the project.

How do I handle addenda or variations throughout the tender process for my construction tender?

When an addenda is issued, you need to read it. Sometimes they are answering simple clarification questions which you more than likely already know the answer to. Other times, they will provide a clarification that will impact your tender response. You will need to incorporate the new information into your tender, add in any supporting documents if required, or take whatever action is necessary.

Call our team for additional or further information.

The tender has asked for my financial capacity. How do I show this when I’m a small construction company?

Usually we recommend you ask your accountant and provide you financial statements. If you want to keep these confidential, sometimes they (depend on who you are tendering to) will accept a letter from your accountant or an abridged version of your tax returns.

What evaluation criteria are used in construction tenders and do I have to score well in all of them to win?

They vary but generally, when completing a construction bid the evaluation criteria will cover price, methodology, experience, equipment, safety and quality assurance. You need to score as high an average score as possible so you should aim to score well in all of the different evaluation criteria.

Contact our team

Our consultants are available 24/7 on 0410 448 770 and will provide a free initial consultation and fee proposal. We help builders and construction companies across Australia with tenders and bids. For example, we have a strong and comprehensive knowledge of bids and tenders in Darwin as well a Perth and Tasmania, having helped many building companies from over the years with bids in those cities and the surrounding regions with bids to the government and private sector.

It’s been a great year so far in 2025 with many successful results being awarded for tenders we have worked on in 2024. We help businesses small and large write tenders and win contracts.