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Tender software or tender agency
A tender agency writes bids for you or coaches you through them. Tender software helps you do the work yourself. Which one fits depends on how often you bid, how much knowledge you want to keep in house and what you want to keep deciding yourself.
An honest note first
Atvalio makes tender software. Read this page with that in mind. We do not name agencies and we do not quote prices we cannot support. What an agency charges, you ask the agency.
The differences at a glance
| Topic | Tender agency | Tender software |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes | An external writer or bid manager. | You or your team, with a first version per award criterion from the software. |
| Knowledge of your company | The agency has to learn your company, references and way of working. How well that goes depends on the briefing. | It sits in your company profile and is used for every tender. You keep it up to date. |
| Time from you and your team | You are still needed for facts, references and the decision to bid. | Reading, organising and checking go faster, but the time stays yours. |
| Costs | You pay for hours or for the assignment. Ask in advance how it is charged and what happens on a no-go. | A subscription per month or per year. With Atvalio from € 400 per month, excluding VAT. |
| What you keep | Depends on the agreement. Ask whether you get the texts, sources and way of working. | Your company profile and earlier bids stay in your own environment and grow with every tender. |
| Confidentiality | Your documents go to an external party. Ask about confidentiality and a data processing agreement. | Your documents go to the software supplier. Ask where they are processed and whether they are used for training. |
| Who decides and submits | You, even if the agency writes the text. | You. |
When a tender agency fits
- You rarely bid and do not want to build the knowledge in house.
- One tender is so large or important that you want extra hands and experience.
- Nobody in your team has time right now to read the documents carefully.
- You would rather have an experienced writer next to you than a tool.
When tender software fits
- You bid every month, or want to.
- The tender documents are long, with many requirements, annexes and format requirements.
- You want to keep the knowledge about your company and your earlier bids in house.
- You want to be able to trace where every statement comes from.
If you only do a few tenders a year and the requests are simple, you can also keep writing yourself. That comparison is in writing it yourself or with Atvalio. To see what a bid costs you now, work it out with the cost of a bid calculator. That way you put a quote from an agency and the price of software next to the same number.
What stays the same in both cases
You submit and you remain responsible for everything you submit. So with an agency and with software, check the requirements, the evidence and the price yourself. See an error in your bid and the final week. If you bid more often, a fixed way of working saves time: organising the bid process.
HOW ATVALIO HELPS
Atvalio is tender software, not an agency. It reads and organises the documents, advises and writes a first version per award criterion. You decide what goes in and submit yourself. Atvalio Tenders launches in January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tender agency cost?
That differs per agency and per assignment, and we do not quote figures we cannot support. Ask for a quote and work out what a bid costs you now with the calculator. That way you compare on the same basis.
Can I combine tender software and an agency?
Yes. You let the software read and organise the documents and use an outside party for a review of your texts or for a busy period. Agree who does what, see organising the bid process.
Who is responsible for a mistake in the bid?
You, because you submit. So even with an agency, check the requirements, the evidence and the price yourself.
Can tender software replace an agency?
Software takes over the reading, organising and checking and writes a first version. It does not replace an experienced writer who picks up your trade quickly and sharpens your text. Whether you need that depends on your experience and the size of the tender.
Read on
Want to do this with Atvalio?
Atvalio Tenders launches in January 2027. On the waiting list, you can be the first to start a 14-day trial on a real tender.