The most frequent mistakes
- Submitting after the deadline date and time, or ignoring the time zone.
- Missing a mandatory document or signature.
- Putting prices in the technical offer when two envelopes are required.
- Not using the forms in the documents.
- Offering a bid validity shorter than required.
- Using the wrong currency or leaving out costs (taxes, transport, insurance).
- Not meeting a technical specification, or changing it without saying so.
- Proposing key experts without the minimum experience required.
- Sending the bid to another address or through another channel than stated.
- Sending a generic bid that does not answer the terms of reference.
The remedy
Before submitting, check the bid against the list of requirements in the documents, line by line, ideally by someone other than its author.
Today, Humanitarian Tenders lists 1,102 open tenders, including 401 invitations to bid (ITB), 313 expressions of interest (EOI), 49 requests for quotation (RFQ) and 43 requests for proposals (RFP).
Frequently asked questions
Can I correct a bid already submitted?
It is often possible to modify or withdraw a bid before the deadline, following the procedure in the documents. After the deadline, it is usually no longer possible.
These guides describe the most common practices. Each buyer has its own rules: the rules in the tender documents always prevail.