Bids are not comparable
Bidders priced different quantities and inclusions; comparing bottom lines is meaningless.
Advisory & Project Recovery B4
Tender management: a defensible contractor selection
A tender with non-comparable bids does not identify the best contractor — it identifies whoever priced the least scope. We normalise the bids and make the award defensible.
How it is bought
- Format
- Fixed-price express product
- Duration
- 4–8 weeks
- Fee
- Fixed price per deliverable package
- Who it is for
- Investors and lenders — before a deal, or when a project is in doubt
- Projects
- 2 projects
We reply within 1 business day. A commercial proposal follows within 5 business days of the scoping meeting.
In substance
What this service is
The main source of cost growth in construction tenders is an incomplete bill of quantities. Bidders adopt different assumptions, the winner is whoever excluded most scope, and the difference returns as variations. We close that gap at the documentation stage.
When you need this service
The bill of quantities is incomplete
Part of the scope is undescribed and the gap is closed by variations after award.
Award criteria were never fixed
The decision follows price while capability, resources and programme go unassessed.
The award must be justified to a board or lender
A transparent procedure and documented comparison are required.
Bidder capability is unverified
Experience, resources, financial standing and current workload were never checked.
What we do
Tender documentation
Scope of works, bills of quantities, quality and acceptance requirements, contract form and procedure rules.
Prequalification
Experience, resources, current workload, financial standing and reputation verified.
Bid evaluation
Bids normalised to a common scope, assessed against technical and commercial criteria, with hidden exclusions and risks exposed.
Negotiation
Commercial and technical negotiations to firm up scope and terms.
Award support
With First in Law we prepare a balanced contract and hand the project into delivery.
Deliverables
Deliverables
The specific documents, reports and management products that remain with the client.
- Complete tender documentation pack
- Bills of quantities
- Prequalification report
- Normalised bid comparison
- Negotiation records
- Justified award recommendation
- Draft construction contract
Client outcomes
Comparable bids
Comparison is made on identical scope rather than on headline price.
Fewer variations
A complete bill of quantities removes the bulk of future cost growth.
Documented justification
The award can be defended to shareholders, the board and lenders.
A balanced contract
Liability, acceptance, retention and warranties are expressed as mechanisms that function.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Not answered here? Write to us and we will respond on your case.
4–8 weeks from documentation start to award recommendation, depending on package size, bidder count and the work needed on the bills of quantities.
No. We run the procedure, normalise the bids and issue a justified recommendation. The decision and the signature remain with the client.
Yes. Design tenders have their own logic: evaluation weighs documentation scope and depth, the lead engineer's credentials and the issue programme, not price alone.
Related services
A6
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Procurement, tendering, contracts, change orders and claims.
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B1
Project Audit
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Technical Customer
We manage the project on the owner's behalf — from the land plot to commissioning.
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B6
Cost & Schedule Review
An independent review of budget and schedule in 2–4 weeks, before the decision.
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Shall we discuss your project?
Tell us about the asset and the current stage — we will propose a working format and team composition. A commercial proposal follows within five business days of the meeting.
We reply within 1 business day. A commercial proposal follows within 5 business days of the scoping meeting.