Write Winning Bids in Facilities Management
If you work in facilities management, you'll know just how competitive tendering can be. From tight deadlines on lost marks to unclear scoring and last-minute panic, submitting a successful Facilities Management Bid can feel overwhelming at times.
At Wordsmith Projects, we've written hundreds if not thousands of Facilities Management bids over the past decade and time and again, we see bids fall short for the same 5 reasons. The good news? If you fix these, your bid win rates will significantly improve.
Ask your Bid Writer to include Evidence in your bid
Public and private sector buyers alike want proof, not promises. Generic statements like “We deliver outstanding service” just won't cut it. To score well you need your bid writer to present measurable and tangible evidence, including:
SLA performance data
CAFM system reports
Response and resolution times
Shift fulfilment and staff absence records
Contract specific case studies including evidence of innovations
The more tailored and relevant your evidence, the more compelling your submission will be.
Ask your Bid Writer to present a clear Service Delivery Model
Facilities Management bids often fail because evaluators can't picture what delivery actually looks like on the ground. Your bid writer needs to clearly set out:
Staffing levels including shift patterns
Materials, equipment and consumables
Cleaning schedules and patterns
Staff Training
Specific mobilisation details
Health and Safety considerations
Innovations that drive productivity and continuous improvement
If the buyer can’t see how you’ll deliver the service on the ground, they won’t be confident in awarding the contract.
Ask your Bid Writer to check Compliance and Accreditations
Compliance is non-negotiable in Facilities Management bids. If your bid is missing key health and safety documentation, risk assessments, or proof of accreditations like ISO9001,14001 and 45001, it may be rejected outright.
Buyers need reassurance that your systems and processes meet industry standards and that their site(s) will be safe, compliant and well managed.
Make sure your Pricing Model matches what the Bid Writer is building into your written Proposal
A common mistake? Submitting a delivery model that doesn't match your pricing. If you propose 5 operatives but budget for 3, or promise daily cleans with only weekly costs, the buyer will spot the inconsistency. That creates risk and risk loses marks. Make sure your estimator is talking to your Bid Writer when building the delivery model.
Ask your Bid Writer to shout loudly about your Social Value Contributions
Social value in Facilities Management often carries a high weighting, sometimes 15% to 20% of the total score. Buyers want to see measurable and tangible commitments in your bid such as:
Local recruitment and apprenticeships
Local supply chain that supports the local economy
Carbon reduction and sustainability initiatives
Community benefits programmes
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Your social value offer must be meaningful, specific, realistic and aligned with buyers’ priorities to be competitive.
Want to improve your chances of winning more bids?
These five areas could be the difference between winning and losing your bid, and as bid writers who specialist in Facilities Management, they’re all areas we support clients with every day. At Wordsmith Projects we’ve been helping FM businesses write stronger bids, increase their win rate, and grow revenue through strategic tendering for over a decade. Whether you need bid writing support, templates, or if you need a review of a current mission, we've got the bid writing tools to help you.
Visit the free resources tab on our website www.wordsmithprojects.com or get in touch for tailored facilities management bid writing support via our contact page, email or phone.