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Tendering Guides for Australian Contractors
Expert, no-fluff explainers of how Australian tendering actually works, evaluation panels, security programs, panel renewals and the mechanics nobody writes down. Written by practitioners who submit tenders for a living, not by a marketing team.
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Start with the guide closest to your next tender
Start here · Tendering 101
What is a tender? Australian tendering explained
Plain English answers to the questions everyone asks first. What a tender is, how EOIs, RFQs, RFPs and RFTs differ, what sits inside a tender pack, how a panel scores it, and why most first submissions lose on compliance rather than price.
Guide 01 · Local government
How council tenders are scored in Australia
Who sits on an evaluation panel, what the weightings in the RFT actually mean, and why civil tenders are commonly decided 30–50% on things that aren't price. Includes conforming vs non-conforming, Victorian specifics, and how to get a proper debrief.
Guide 02 · Defence
DISP explained: defence industry security for SMEs
The Defence Industry Security Program is the gate most businesses must pass through before defence work becomes winnable. What membership involves, how SMEs typically start, and how DISP connects to ASDEFCON tenders and AIC plans.
Guide 03 · Facility management
The FM panel renewal playbook
Government FM panels renew every 3–5 years, and the rebid is won or lost long before the RFT drops. Why incumbents lose, what evaluators look for the second time around, and how challengers break in.
Guide 04 · Capability statements
How to write a capability statement for Australian tenders
Turn your capability statement into a scored document. Map evidence to criteria, avoid corporate history fluff, and give evaluators exactly what they need to shortlist you.
Guide 05 · Choosing a partner
How to evaluate a tender writing or bid management partner
The difference between word polishing and evaluator-first bid management, eight questions worth asking before you hire, and the warning signs that should give you pause.
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