Tenders in construction and installation

What buyers ask for

• VCA at the right levelA VCA certificate shows that your company works safely and healthily. It is not required by law, but buyers in construction, installation and engineering often require it. VCA* focuses on your own operational risks; VCA** also covers managing subcontractors. The buyer decides which level is needed.
• The CO2 Performance LadderA contracting authority can use the CO2 Performance Ladder as an award criterion. Under the current guidance you choose one of three ambition levels when you bid and get a notional discount or points for it. During the contract you show that you meet the level. More in sustainability as an award criterion.
• Price and qualityIn the Dutch Public Procurement Act 2012, the most economically advantageous tender (EMVI) is the overall award criterion, and the best price-quality ratio is the standard. Your method statement and risk management are then worth money in the evaluation. Work out what a point is worth with the price and quality calculator.
• References that fitReferences often have to match the type and size of the work, within a set period. How to choose and describe the right ones: references.

In a private tender

With a private client, such as a developer or a company renovating a building, the relationship and the planning weigh heavily, and a negotiation round is common. Keep room in your price and cost out every commitment; read price and negotiation.

Read how Atvalio helps with private tenders

How Atvalio helps

Atvalio reads the documents, knows your company and helps you write. You decide and you submit. In this sector that looks like this:

1. 1UnderstandSelection requirements such as VCA and references as knock-outs, and award criteria such as the CO2 Performance Ladder with their weighting, with the page.
2. 2DecideA recommendation that sets your certificates, references and capacity against the requirements and the timeline.
3. 3AskA question for the clarification round when a requirement seems disproportionate or the VCA level asked does not fit the role.
4. 4WriteYour method statement and risk file per award criterion, from your own projects.
5. 5CheckA simulated committee assesses your plan, and Atvalio checks format rules, annexes and declarations.

What often goes wrong

• Fictional exampleA certificate at the wrong levelAn installation company holds VCA*. The contract asks for VCA**, because the contractor manages subcontractors as main contractor. The difference is one line in the selection guide, and the bid is excluded. Atvalio sets every selection requirement against your profile and flags such a gap as a knock-out, with the page.

Read on

• Sustainability as an award criterion: how to score points with it
• Selection criteria and knock-outs: read them, challenge them, or team up
• References: which ones to choose, and how to use them
• Best price-quality ratio (BPKV): why 70/30 does not mean what you think
• Price and quality calculator