A number of skills and attributes are required of procurement professionals involved in the tender process. We’ve identified three that we believe are core to successful outcomes.

• Strategic Thinking: The tender process involves many different stages and it’s important from the outset that the Tender Lead thinks broadly, considering the big picture, covering all elements and being creative. The strategy for the procurement will underpin the entire process so it’s essential to get this right and to allow plenty of time to cover every aspect in the required detail. Tender activity will then flow from the tender strategy.
   
• Good Project Management Skills: These are essential as the process involves coordinating the tender working party (TWP), establishing milestones and managing communication across the TWP, bidders and other stakeholders.  The Tender Lead needs to be organised to ensure timelines are adhered to, have excellent attention to detail particularly in terms of producing tender documentation, and be adept at administration.
   
• Analytically Minded: A good Tender Lead will need to be adept at analysing competitive bidding processes, of paramount importance at the evaluation stage of the process. The ability to evaluate bid responses effectively against scoring criteria and objectively draw out unique selling points for individual bidders will result in awarding to the best supplier(s).

These skills can be acquired, to a degree, from training but will largely be developed through practice and experience of being involved in tender activity. What better way to obtain this than joining a UKUPC tender working party!