What is a public tender?

A public tender, to put it without turns, is basically the way the government has to say: "Let's see, who offers me the best treatment for this project or purchase?" It is no mystery of black magic, it is a procedure used by public institutions to buy things, hire services or do works. The grace of all this is that, in theory, anyone who meets what they ask can participate. No compadrazgos, at least on paper; The idea is that there is real transparency and competition, without traps or favoritism.

How does it work? The public entity launches an open call, something like a "sought supplier!" big. Interested companies send their offers, following the rules they put in a document called Pliego of Conditions (that role that nobody reads at all, but should). Then, those of the administration review the proposals and decide who takes the contract. Obviously, he wins the one who offers something good, beautiful and adjusted to what they asked for - and that he does not have trouble or social security, that they look at him with magnifying glass.

If you are a company and want to launch yourself to this, you better understand how the tender roll is going and soak well the laws that apply in your country. For example, in Spain all this is quite tied by the Public Sector Contract Law. Nothing to improvise, there are rules for everything and if you jump, or dream of winning.

Eye, participating in a public tender is not just sending a role and waiting sitting. We must demonstrate that you are solvent, both technical and financially. And yes, you have to be clean with the treasury and social security, which is not escaped by one. You also have to put together a proposal that highlights between the competition, both technical and economically. If not, or bother.

The specifications is the Bible of this whole process. There they tell you what they are looking for exactly, how the offers will score, what requirements they ask and what obligations bring the contract. You have to read it with magnifying glass, because a failure, a mistake, and you stay out of the game.

In summary: The public tender is the formula used by the State to choose from who does business, looking for the best possible offer. If you want to get on that train, prepare to meet all the requirements and to work a proposal of ten. And, please, do not underestimate the power to read the small print. That's where the traps usually hide.