Latest Bid Writing – Frameworks for Construction Group

/in /by

GMS Business Development has recently completed a 14 month commission to assist the Contracting and Consultancy subsidiaries of Newbury based Helix Group in securing places on numerous Frameworks.

In Autumn 2019 I was invited to contact Helix’s joint managing director Nic Davies to meet up and explore how GMS might contribute to the Group’s highly ambitious business goal of becoming an approved supplier on 20 no. new frameworks by the end of 2020. They also had the joint goal of these frameworks being predominately, but not exclusively, for affordable housing.

Nic and I discussed how these goals might be achieved and we agreed:-

  • GMS would attack the first 2 or 3 applications on fixed three day commission,
  • Thereafter GMS would be employed a regular two days per week at a fixed daily rate,
  • This arrangement would allow GMS to additionally become involved in the quality submissions of project specific tenders,
  • A rigorous joint examination of each opportunity would determine if we should “Go For It”,
  • Geoff would make contact with the consultants involved with these frameworks and tenders if I had dealt them with previously.

Examples of a Successful Helix Framework Applications

From then until September this year, from a mixture of published notices and suggestions from contacts, and taking into consideration Helix’s capabilities:-

–  We had identified 34 no. live frameworks,

–    We had identified 15 no. “Open Tenders”,

–    Affordable Housing, Defence & Health,

–    We had discounted about half of these,

–    The Group was on 11 no. new Frameworks,

–    Helix has commenced 2 no. specific projects, 

–   6 no. submissions were awaiting results,

Additionally there were 5 no. live applications at the “Being Written” stage.

These frameworks and projects covered:-

Construction,                 Project Management,              Cost Consulting.

Read more

Latest Bid Writing – PQQ for Consultants

/in /by

I’ve recently pressed the “Submit Response” button on a large PQQ via Delta eSourcing’s portal on behalf of my client John Lester Partnership.

In July I received a call from JLP’s director, Eleftherios Patsilides (Lefty), inviting me to assist JLP in writing their bid for inclusion on a major University’s Consultants Framework. He and other staff members were about to go on annual leave and it was only a few days until the deadline.

After an earlier chat with Lefty in June my curiosity had prompted me to register with the University as GMS, download and imbibe the documents including the on-going clarifications and updates. This had left me prepared for Lefty’s later invitation.

I met with Lefty the day after his invitation and we agreed:-

  • I would jump onto the Bid Writing, via JLP’s registration,
  • Take possession the process,
  • Compose what was necessary and
  • Submit it in time.

 

Leicester University’s Consultants Framework

The information requested covered 17 separate forms including the usual business details, processes, project specific descriptions and references as well as in-depth Technical Ability section for each category being applied for.

In the absence of Lefty I had to pester his fellow director, Adrian, for a bit of initial assistance with some of the more technical responses and, additional, revamp JLP’s Company Organogram.

 

The section on Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery necessitated me, additionally, writing a formal Policy Statement that will now be incorporated into JLP’s business processes.

 

A Small Selection of Other Recent Bid Writing, PQQ’s, Tenders Submitted

   

 

Read more

New Client for GMS Business Development

/in /by

I’m delighted to announce that I have taken on a new part-time regular commission for Customer First Business Solutions Ltd in Bedford.

I’ve known Stuart Channon, Customer First’s managing director for a number of years having first met him when he was I.T. Consultant for two of my previous clients. Since then I have carried out two research exercises for the his company focusing on how I.T. and CCTV is procured by clients owning, operating and/or managing the following:-

1) Occupied education facilities and

2) Care homes.

Earlier this year, following a further exploration of the need for and, importantly, the legality of overt surveillance within existing care homes, Stuart decided there was opportunity to employ my freelance services to expand on Customer First’s CCTV arm’s exposure to the Care Sector.

 

Customer First Business Solutions

CFBS was formed in 2005 by Stuart Channon to provide IT Services (Data and Hardware Installations), IT Support, (trouble-shooting, maintenance, Out of Hoursetc.) and CCTV.

The company has since grown by focusing on “joined-up” solutions to its clients’ IT business challenges and now employs installers and IT support staff.

With a strong background in both the management of people and data, CFBS’s objectives for its clients are clear …

  • Understand your problems and challenges,
  • Provide meaningful and effective solutions,
  • Provide reliable ongoing support.

Please feel free to give me a call on 07864 161621 (or Stuart on 01908 533002 / 07939 587545) if there is anything you think we might help you with. Even if it’s just to “pick our brains” or a no obligation consultation.

Read more

We have launched our new website!

/in /by

After seven years of working for numerous main contractors, sub-contractors and construction consultants I have finally made time to completely revamp my website, I hope you find it interesting.

The exercise also served to remind me of the wide variety of commissions I have undertaken since 2012 in addition to the many different construction disciplines I have been involved with during this time. I am looking forward to updating the site regularly myself and to producing a news item each month.

If it’s not too “soft” I want to thank here all those individuals in our diverse and fascinating industry who, since I left PAYE, have placed their faith in my ability and commissioned me to work with them. I’d spent 30 years in main contracting but I have since certainly learned a lot additionally about the drivers and challenges that other organisations, such as designers, project managers and sub-contractors are subject to. As just one example I have recently been approached by a company specialising in the design and installation of CCTV Surveillance in the healthcare sector – more about this in future newsletters.

Read more