FAQ's
Q1: So what is this tendering process anyway?
Q2: How do I tender for work?
Q3: Why should I use DOTGOV?
Q4: Which authorities do you deal with?
Q5: What are the benefits of working with the Public Sector?
Q6: Where do I get my contracts from?
Q8: How do I know if I won a contract?
Q9: I'd like to know more, how do I find out more information?
Q10: Can I see a Sample Tender provided by the Public Sector?
Q: So what is this tendering process anyway?
A: Gordon Brown has stated that he wants more business given from Public Sector organisations to Local Businesses. Additionally the recent announcements in respect of the Economic slowdown have added £13 billion to the purse for Public Sector work. This is to help the local economies remain buoyant during these difficult times and is already having significant impact for some of our customers.
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Q: How do I Tender for work?
A: Each tender is different from the last. Each Authority has its own particular set of criteria for determining how to handle the tendering process. When you see the contracts on DOTGOV's portal, you will see clearly what the next step of the process is. Follow this through and you will be tendering for work in no time.
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Q: Why should I use DOTGOV?
A: DOTGOV is licensed by the European Union to handle contracts on behalf of public sector bodies. Our official license number is LIC-TED-GB-397 (2008). As such we are legally entitled to present the information on the contracts we have to our clients. We also offer other services not provided by other companies, including:
- Subcontracting Opportunities
- Procurement Officers SME search
- Your own dedicated webpage enabling you to provide details to the Procurement officers in Local Authorities, so they may contact you directly regarding Tenders and other work that they may have which they cannot put to tender.
Additionally we will shortly offer these other services:
- Host your website with us
- Convert your webpage on the portal here to your Company Website.
- Have a presence on the internet that you may have been too busy or worried about creating before.
- Virtual Office to handle calls and diary management on behalf of your company.
Q: Which authorities do you deal with?
A: Every Local Authority in the country and every Public Sector body is now required to list their contracts and we are licensed to handle the work on their behalf.
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Q: What are the benefits of working with the Public Sector?
A: Public sector organisations are good honest reliable customers:
- They have to be fair, honest, open, transparent, and professional in the way they choose suppliers and in any dealings with them as they are subject to inspection at any time
- They are less likely to be subject to issues with payment as they are not as subject to market forces
- They are required by law to pay promptly in line with agreed terms written into the contract
- Many pay their accounts within 30 days (or any other agreed credit period) of receiving a valid bill or invoice, and there is a stated target in place to aim for payment within 10 days for SME's
Succesful companies who work with the Public Sector often find that their dealings with the Private sector become easier as the Company has gained respect from such enterprises.
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Q: How do I get started?
A: Either use our registration form here, or if you prefer, contact our customer services team and speak to one of our representatives here, who will be able to answer any of your questions and register your company for you.
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Q: Where do I get my contracts from?
A: We email relevant contracts to you on the day they are released by the Issuing Authority. Typically you receive this information before lunchtime and are then in a position to consider how suitable it is to your company to tender for the work offered.
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Q: How do I know if I won a contract?
A: The Issuing Authority is responsible for this side of the operation so we do not hold records on this. The communication between you and the procurement officer responsible will give you a good indication of your success. Do let us know if you do win a contract, and you could be the subject of a news article here on the website. We'll ask you a few questions about how you have found the process, and how this will affect your business.
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Q: I'd like to know more, how do I find out more information?
A: Contact our customer services team and put your questions to them. They will be able to answer most questions immediately, but if they do not have the information to hand, they will return your call once your query has been fully researched.
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Q: Can I see a Sample Tender provided by the Public Sector?
A: We provide some sample Tenders here which will give you some idea. NOTE: These contracts have expired but they are real. They may not necessarily reflect your particular industry or specialisation. These are shown so you understand the nature of the work, rather than the specifics of a particular contract for a specific job.
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