How Competitive are Your Proposals

We were involved in bidding out a few necessary projects recently. We only asked for two bids from our preferred contractors.

It was amazing how much one of them was much more expensive than the other. And they didn’t care! The arrogance filled the room and certainly did not make a great impression.

When embarking on the effort to make a proposal, you would believe most firms want honest feedback. And much of that feedback surrounds affordability versus other bidders. Not every proposal is equal, some use better materials, some use cheaper labor, some use more staff. However, if you want to win more bids than lose them, assess your competition, ask for feedback if you win or lose. That information is critical to building the next proposal or even deciding if you want to bid on it or not.

If you are the one seeking the bids, always ask at least two to three firms. Compare the components. Consider the contact and their temperament, is it compatible with yours? Trying to work with someone where you are oil and they are water, likely won’t be worth the stress, no matter the price. If the successful bidder complements your personality, your journey to complete the project will likely be a much better experience. And when you write out that final check, you won’t feel bad about giving your money to them. You should want to reward a job well done, not be relieved they are out of your life!

Business is competitive. Personality, temperament, and budget competitiveness all have their part to play. Consider all these components.

Be well.