October is full of fun and spooky activities to get involved in. Whether its trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, leaf peeping, or even bidding on new government opportunities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Halloween is a very popular holiday in the U.S. and with 2021 spending projections for consumers estimated to reach an all time high of $10.1 billon according to NRF.com, it certainly shows how much people enjoy this holiday and all the activities that comes with it.
As much as consumers spend on Halloween, we can’t forget that the government also spends money on Halloween activities, as well as other fall activities and projects. It’s important for your business to keep a look out for these opportunities in the months surrounding if they’re asking for products or services your business sells. Here are some examples of closed and awarded bid opportunities for the fall season:
- 2021 Fall Tree Purchase & Planting
- Provide a Turn-Key Haunted Attraction Program
- Halloween Fabrication and Installation
- Halloween Tent Rentals
- Annual Fall Flowers
- Com Rec Halloween Candy
No matter the industry, even it if it spooky, there is a government opportunity waiting for your bid submission! There are thousands of opportunities issued a year in all sorts of different sectors, so if you’re not bidding already, it’s a great time to start. In this article we’ll discuss some tricks and treats on how to prepare your business for upcoming bidding opportunities if you’re new to bidding.
Start out small
When beginning to bid on government opportunities you may feel overwhelmed by the process. There’s a lot that goes into writing a successful bid proposal. The federal government, as well as state and local governments issue lots of big opportunities that can be worth millions. You don’t want to get in over your head in the beginning. It may be smart to look at the opportunities asking for a smaller amount of products or services that will allow you to get your feet wet. If you’re a first-time bidder, you may want to start with looking locally for state and local needs within your area.
Bid on what you can provide
One of the most important things to do when getting ready to bid is to make sure you can fulfill all the requirements being requested. Be sure to carefully read the entire bid package including the specifications, delivery instructions, events, eligibility requirements and more. When government agencies issue solicitations and specifications, they are looking for a solution and a response that meets those requirements. During the open question period, you can always ask if another manufacturer can be substituted, or a different size or substitute would be allowed; however, often the research has already been done and the agency knows exactly what they are looking for, so they may not allow substitutes. Always read the documents and any related addenda to know if your product/services meet the specifications.
Keep an eye out for solicitation updates
Just like the seasons change, bid opportunities can change as well. When changes are made to an opportunity it’s called an amendment or an addendum. Some solicitations can have many amendments while others may have none at all. This often occurs when there’s corrections, additions, or deletions made to a bid. This can happen on any type of bid, at any level of government. It’s important to know when these changes happen and to stay on top of them, so you don’t miss out on something important. Using a bidding service that tracks these changes and notifies you of them is one of the best ways to find out quickly about these updates.
Don’t wait until the last minute to bid
Submitting a bid on time is one of the most important steps. After doing all that hard work of putting your response together, you don’t want to miss out on a fair chance at winning the contract if you have a late submission. Government agencies will not accept late submissions either when mailing in your response or using electronic bidding (ebidding) through a service such as bidnet direct. If you’re submitting a bid electronically, the best option is to upload your bid at least a day before the close date. When the solicitation deadline occurs, it is automatic and the buyer nor the bidding system can’t accept your response. Again, as this one is important: do not wait until the last minute to bid!
Subscribe to a bid notification service
You can be notified of government bids that relate to your business in the targeted area of just a single state or nationwide. Using a bid notification service is a great way to stay ahead of the game. Instead of spending most of your valuable time trying to search for bids across various government websites or announcements within newspapers (yes, some government agencies still utilize those!), you can have daily bid notifications sent to your inbox with targeted business opportunities from both bidnet direct’s participating member agency buyers and other buyers throughout the state.
Treat your business and start bidding
Now that you know some tricks on how to get started in government bidding, it’s time to treat yourself and take a crack at submitting a winning bid. There are thousands of opportunities out there in a variety of different industries for businesses large and small, and if you follow these tips, or tricks, it should make the process much smoother. October is full of helpful bidding tricks and treats so don’t be frightened this fall to start your bidding journey!
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