From schools to sewage, from vector control to police departments, bidding programs allow vendors to scout for contracts with one simple profile. Depending on the size of the region and the enrollment status of each agency, that could include RFPs from up to 500 different project-procurement entities.

What are the benefits of a digital bid network?
If you’re not yet familiar with government procurement, the benefits of bidding networks may not be immediately apparent. However, this type of network is a gateway to a variety of perks. As mentioned above, it allows small business owners to save time and fill out one centralized profile to connect with hundreds of procurement agents.  Even better, the software will send you notifications to new requests for proposals (RFP) that fit your business profile. You already have enough on your plate running your business, hunting in multiple places for government projects is not the best use of your time. You’ll be able to stay organized with one central application hub, downloading RFP documents and then submitting your proposals online. You can also get some competitor insight by seeing who else has downloaded the bid and submitted responses. By engaging with this type of service, you’ll be able to make the most of your time while prospecting for your next project. 

Why do it this way?
You may think to yourself, “Why apply for so many departments when I specialize in certain services?” The short reason is that you never know what one department may need, but it’s unlikely that you’ll know each department’s specific posting location to check for RFPs. It’s also cumbersome to check multiple listings over and over again. Additionally, if you haven’t been able to secure a government contract yet, you may simply need to find the right project to get your foot in the door. While the school system and police departments are large, well known, and often checked, other smaller agencies that you may not be thinking of could help you land your first government gig. By registering with all of the procurement entities in the county, you may be able to find that sweet spot project that can get you on the path to more government work.  

Let the opportunities come to you
There are a variety of departments and procurement entities right in your county. With one simple electronic bidding profile, you’ll be able to register to automatically receive bid notifications from hundreds of decision-makers looking for their next contractor. 

Have you already used electronic bidding software, like DemandStar, to register with your county or state? What government agencies did you find through the network that you wouldn’t have thought to pursue individually?

The post Registering for Government Contracts One County (or 500 Employers) at a Time appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.

RFP instant notifications
While it is recommended that vendors search for available contracts on their own, DemandStar knows that you’re busy running your own business and managing projects and employees. Building your pipeline so that you’ve got the next job lined up is imperative but can sometimes fall to the wayside when there’s so much else to handle. DemandStar helps you find future jobs by sending government opportunities that match your qualifications right to your inbox with instant notifications. 

Online responses and eBidding
When all the forms and documents you need to complete are in one place, you’ll be able to quickly respond and bid on RFPs right from your vendor portal. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you want to apply for a new project, either. Simply look through your previous bids and select one that’s close and updated as necessary. Having an easy-to-use online portal means never having to start from scratch. 

Competitive intelligence
The more information you have, the better! A competitive intelligence feature can provide immense benefits to vendors, especially those just starting out in government procurement. This will allow you to see which other vendors have downloaded the bid documents and submitted a response. Use this information to learn about the competition and then create a bid that will stand out

Bids posted directly from governments

There is plenty of bid scraping sites that pull bid details every once in a while from government websites and compile them for you. But these quickly go out of date as buyers update details and respond to queries from other vendors. With a dynamic process, it’s always much better to source your information from a procurement platform with a direct connection to governments. DemandStar for instance is updated directly by government buyers. Businesses can source opportunities with confidence knowing that they are receiving the most updated information and are therefore more competitive.

Are you looking for ways to proactively or passively get notifications about new government projects? Get started on DemandStar for free with free auto-notifications from one government agency near you!

The post The Benefits of the DemandStar Procurement Network appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.

1. Don’t skip the basics
Just like with a paper proposal, you’ll want to make sure to complete some basic best practices. This includes doing research, following all the instructions, and turning the bid in on time. While eBidding does facilitate quick replies, businesses that take the time to research what’s most important to the department or procurement agent will find themselves with a more focused and detailed proposal. Additionally, following the instructions and meeting the deadline will help the procurement agent confirm you match their needs and are serious about securing the job. 

2. Customize for the best connection
eBidding allows businesses to take previous proposals and copy/paste information into each new bid. While this may work for some line items, it’s certainly not a best practice for the entire proposal. Customize your proposal to make the best connection with the procurement agent. This will prove that you are paying attention and not just bidding for the sake of bidding. Customize by addressing the procurement agent and department by name, tweaking your content and language to be specific to this project, and linking out (Yeah, you can use links in an eBid!) to similar projects you’ve completed.

3. Review, review, review
Have you ever shot off a quick email or text message and then realized you had a few typos? It might not be a big deal with family or friends but is certainly not ideal for professional communication. The temptation to click submit right after filling out an eBid can be tremendous, especially when you are excited to win the RFP. Stop! Make sure to proofread and review your bid before submitting it. Just like with a paper proposal, you may want a co-worker to review it or come back the next day with fresh eyes and proofread it yourself. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and specialized industry terms should all be used properly. If there are simple proofing errors in your proposal a procurement agent may feel like you’ll rush through their project without attention to detail as well, so make sure to review before you submit.

Your winning eBid
Learning how to write an RFP and submit online is easy! In order to increase your chances of landing that next eBid, follow these three simple steps. Complete the basics like a professional, customize the content to stand out, and review before clicking send. These small changes can make all the difference in winning an eBid.  

What best practices have you found for creating your eBids?

The post Three Steps to a Winning eBid appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.

Benefits of eBidding system in Georgia

Georgia is booming, with several areas experiencing rapid population growth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, not only is Atlanta one of the fastest-growing large cities over the last decade, growing by 18.7 percent, but small Southern towns grew by 6.7 percent. With an increase in population both in Atlanta and in the suburbs, it can be challenging for local agencies such as cities, school boards, municipal water authorities, and even public health and safety departments to find the vendors and products they need. As conventions have been postponed or canceled, traditional procurement networks might not always be the best fit for local procurement. Here are a few benefits of eBidding systems for local Georgia agencies.

Find more local and nationwide vendors
It can be hard to find local vendors, especially now. Georgia procurement agents may be looking for a supplier, and not realize that a more capable vendor is located a hop, skip, and a jump away in Augusta or Savannah. eBidding is a great way to reach a wider range of more diverse vendors, as often vendors that match the RFP parameters receive an email direct to their inbox alerting them to the opportunity. Additionally, for those procurement needs that don’t require an on-site vendor, local Georgia agencies can connect with vendors across the U.S. to get the best fit at the lowest price.

Let the algorithm do the work
A growing city can need a lot of procurement assistance. From new construction to larger product orders, procurement agents in Georgia are likely to be busy! Tapping an eBidding platform will give procurement agents access to an algorithm that will save them loads of time. Procurement agents will be able to select a variety of criteria including certification requirements or budget parameters and allow the system to only deliver those bids that meet the set standards. Instead of pouring overbid after bid, this type of scalable feature can be as broad or as precise as needed, giving procurement agents the tools they need to save time and receive the best matches.

Digital is easier for vendors
Digital RFPs can also make it easier for local and small vendors to respond, providing an opportunity to connect with options across the state of Georgia who may not be able to see your job posting board. By embracing a digital process, procurement agents enable vendors to use a streamlined system where they can save and alter previous bids for a more rapid response time. Also, once a vendor has been selected, procurement agents can send out an update through the system so vendors aren’t left wondering if the selection process is ongoing. 

Complimentary account
Georgia procurement registry can become easier and many eBidding providers, like DemandStar, will provide governments and small businesses with free accounts. This means there are no added costs to local government agencies, and that many vendors can connect for free as well. If you are a Georgia procurement agent that has tried an eBidding system to help you meet the increasing needs of your department, get free access to DemandStar vendors today.

The post Local Agency eBidding Benefits in Georgia appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.

What sectors are likely to see the 2021 stimulus package through the infrastructure plan?
State and city governments have been hit hard by the pandemic at every turn. Almost every type of project from construction, technology, security, insurance, cleaning, and beyond is going to see some injection of federal aid or funding. We can anticipate the 2021 infrastructure bill will also include green initiatives, as the current administration made it clear that climate change remains a priority. Money will flow into various departments which will be used not only to cover operation costs over the last year but also for overall improvements.

Three things vendors should do

1. Identify a procurement platform that auto-sends bid notifications. One of the best ways to learn about new RFPs and find more is through an eBidding platform. eBidding is the process through which government agencies post their RFPs online, and receive vendor bids through the eBidding portal. Making the process digital the exchange between government procurement agent and the vendor easier, keeping both parties in direct communication. If they haven’t already, vendors should create eBidding accounts and sign up for notifications of projects that match their business goods and services. That way they’ll receive alerts right to their inbox for every opportunity.

2. Extend your network. Vendors should also continue to network whenever possible. It might be hard during the pandemic to stop by your favorite procurement agent’s office, but you can still participate in virtual networking. See which projects your existing partners are working on and send follow-up emails or connect. With DemandStar, you’re able to track government projects at the county, state, and national level in order to share work with your community and assist anyway you can.  Staying digitally connected to your government procurement contacts keeps you top of mind as funds from the infrastructure plan are distributed.

3. Compete strategically with more information. Finally, vendors should use all tools at their disposal to learn about the competitive landscape. Look for an eBidding platform that offers competitive information. With DemandStar, vendors can see which other businesses have reviewed or bid on various projects. This information can help you investigate and develop the most competitive bid, and gives you a leg up for finding less competitive jobs.

Get ahead
The 2021 stimulus package is coming and if you want to be ready, you need to start preparing now. That means identifying potential partners and allies, building relationships with them, and extending your network. It also means looking into procurement platforms, like DemandStar, that will automatically send bid notifications so you can compete strategically with more information. By starting now, you’ll be ahead of the competition when the time comes for government contracts.

The post What the 2021 Infrastructure Plan Means for Government Vendors appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.

What’s in the bill?
While the bill is still in the works and a final spend total hasn’t been decided, it’s fair to guess that the main areas of spending will likely stay the same even if amounts change. According to The Washington Post, infrastructure spending is “expected to include $400 billion in spending to combat climate change, including $60 billion for infrastructure related to green transit and $46 billion for climate-related research and development. The plan also would aim to make electric-vehicle charging stations available across the country. The measure would also include $200 billion for housing infrastructure, including $100 billion to expand the supply of housing for low-income Americans.” This means that government contractors that focus on solar power, transit, engineering, green power, housing development and construction, and raw materials providers all need to be paying attention and preparing to develop bids.

Stay competitive with eBidding
Government vendors that want to get in on this massive spending can stay competitive with eBidding. Here are some features offered by eBidding platforms like DemandStar that can help:

RFP instant notifications – Once you set up your profile, you can opt to get emails sent directly to you that notify you of RFPs that fit your services. No more hunting for work, the opportunities get sent to you. 

Connect with government agents outside your area – If you’re a materials supplier or provide other services that don’t necessarily require that you’re on-site, you can use eBidding to connect with government agents across America, not just in your county or state. 

Reply online – All the forms and documents that need to be returned are all in one, easy-to-navigate spot. Also, since the documents are digital, you can look through your previous bids to select one that’s close to the job you want and update it to fit the new RFP. 

Competitive intelligence – See which other vendors have downloaded the bid documents and submitted a bid. If you know your competition, you can put your best foot forward.

Bulk supplemental supplier upload – This is perfect for small businesses or those new to government contracts. You can see which general contractors have received big projects, and then apply to them as a subcontractor. 

Get started now
If you’re looking to nab some of that $2 trillion new infrastructure bill, you’ll want to start prepping now. Even though the bill isn’t finalized, government contractors will need to be ready to go once that does happen. By creating an online eBidding profile for your business in advance, you can get acclimated to the online marketplace and be prepared to receive notifications and bid on projects right away. 

Are you already a vendor on DemandStar? How will you use the online marketplace to connect with government agents with new infrastructure bill dollars to spend?

The post Preparing to Bid in Advance of the Enormous Infrastructure Bill appeared first on DemandStar | Government Contract Bids, RFPs & Procurement.