bid manager

A bid manager is a professional who leads and coordinates the work of responding to tenders and public tenders. Think of the bid manager as the conductor of an orchestra -- the person who ensures that all elements work together to produce a winning bid.

Key responsibilities

A bid manager has several important tasks:

• Assessing which tender procedures the business should participate in
• Coordinating the team responsible for preparing the bid
• Ensuring that all qualification criteria and requirement specifications are met
• Leading communication with the contracting authority
• Quality-assuring the final bid before submission

For example: When an IT company receives a notice about a large public tender, the bid manager is the first to assess whether the company should participate. They consider factors such as resource requirements, expertise, and the likelihood of winning.

Tools and systems

Modern bid managers use digital tools to streamline their work. These may include:

• Tender portals like Doffin for finding relevant tenders
• Tender alert systems to stay informed
• Project management tools for coordinating the team
• AI-powered tools like Cobrief for analyzing and responding to tenders more efficiently

Success factors

A skilled bid manager must:

• Have a strong understanding of award criteria
• Know when to engage subcontractors
• Understand the rules around contract conclusion
• Be able to lead teams under time pressure

A bid manager plays a crucial role in helping businesses win more tenders and grow their revenue in the public market. With the right expertise and modern tools, they can make complex tender processes more manageable and increase the probability of success.