What differences are there between national and international tenders?

We go to the grain: When we talk about public tenders, there are basically two types that send - the national and international. And yes, there are two different worlds, believe me. If you are a company and you want to get in this eggplant, you better catch the differences, because if not, you can hit a good batacazo.

National tenders are local roll, that is, only companies from the same country can participate. All paperwork, rules and legal folklore depend on the law that touches on that site. For example, in Spain they have the famous law of public sector contracts. Here those at home usually take advantage because all ins and outs are already known, from the standards to how the market moves and who sends in each sector.

Now, if we talk about international tenders, the issue is complicated. Here the ban opens to companies from any corner of the planet. They can be launched by governments, but also heavyweights such as the UN or the World Bank. The norms are no longer so "Spanish", but are governed by international rules, WTO roll and their agreement on public procurement - Cosas de Elders, go. In addition, here you have to deal with moves such as currency change, commercial obstacles, cultural differences (you know, what for you is normal for another can be maximum rarity) and ways of doing diametrically different business.

And beware with the issue of transparency. As everyone puts hand in the matter, the rules seek to be as clear and fair as possible. Not that you can't cheat, but it costs more. In addition, the competition shoots, because you are not the only one with the desire to take the contract; Companies from a thousand countries are pointed out.

Curious detail: the language. In nationals everything goes in the homeland (Castilian, Catalan, Basque, which touches). But in internationals, if not English spicurreas, you better go to an academy, because it is the star language and there is no discussion.

As if that were not enough, nationals are usually more modest in size and budget, while internationals are fat projects, contracts that can change life to a company (or sink it, if you are not prepared).

In summary, there are great differences between a national and international tender: who can participate, the rules of the game, the language, the level of transparency, the competition and, of course, the size of the cake. So if your company wants to throw yourself in the ring of public tenders, you better understand what each guy is going ... or have a good lawyer by hand.