Tenderers

Tenderers are individuals or organizations that submit formal offers, or tenders, in response to a call for tenders issued by a buyer. This term is used in public sector procurement as well as private contracting. The tenderer competes to supply goods, services, or works under the terms of the invitation.

In preparing a tender, the tenderer develops a bid that may include a technical proposal, a financial proposal, and evidence of capability. Submissions must comply with eligibility rules, technical specifications, contract terms, and deadlines. Some processes require prequalification, and tenderers may need to provide bid security or performance bonds.

Tender evaluations are conducted against predefined criteria such as compliance, price, quality, delivery schedule, and risk. The evaluation results identify the preferred tenderer, or sometimes multiple winners for different lots, and guide the contract award. After an award, some jurisdictions require a debriefing and a standstill period to allow objections.

Tenderers operate within legal and ethical constraints. They must avoid bid-rigging, conflicts of interest, and disclosure of confidential information. The contracting authority must ensure transparency, equal treatment, and non-discrimination in the process, with contract formation following award.

Terminology varies by jurisdiction; tenderers are often described as bidders, proposers, or suppliers. In practice, a tenderer is the party that submits a tender, while the bidder may be used more generally. Tendering methods include open, selective, and negotiated tendering, chosen to balance competition, capability, and value for money.