Construction Procurement Is Different
Construction tendering has unique characteristics that generic bid software doesn't handle well. Multi-stage procurement, complex technical submissions, design development, and industry-specific compliance requirements demand specialised construction bid management software.
The Construction Playbook published by the Cabinet Office sets out 14 policies for how public construction procurement should work. Contractors and consultants responding to these opportunities need tools that understand these requirements natively.
Construction Tendering Challenges
Volume & Complexity
- Multiple stages — PQQ/SQ, technical submission, interview, best and final offer
- Large documents — Method statements, programmes, design proposals, pricing schedules
- Multi-disciplinary — Design, build, commercial, health & safety, environmental contributors
- Tight margins — Construction typically operates on 2-5% margins, making bid costs a significant overhead
Industry-Specific Requirements
- CDM Regulations — Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 compliance evidence
- Health & Safety — CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS accreditation documentation
- BIM requirements — ISO 19650 and legacy PAS 1192 compliance
- Environmental — ISO 14001, carbon reduction plans, waste management strategies
- Modern Slavery — Modern Slavery Act 2015 statements and supply chain due diligence
- Fair Payment — Prompt Payment Code compliance and supply chain payment practices
Framework Complexity
Major construction frameworks include:
- Crown Commercial Service construction frameworks
- Pagabo frameworks
- Procure Partnerships frameworks
- NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) ProCure
- Regional frameworks (YORbuild, Scape, ESPO)
Each has its own rules, templates, and call-off procedures.
How rfp.quest Handles Construction Bids
PQQ/Selection Questionnaire Management
Pre-populate the standard Selection Questionnaire with your standing data:
- Company information — Turnover, employee numbers, insurance levels
- Financial standing — Latest accounts, credit scores, parent company guarantees
- Health & safety — Accident rates (AFR/AIR), prosecutions, RIDDOR reports
- Environmental — ISO 14001 status, carbon data, waste diversion rates
- Experience — Completed projects by value, type, and sector
- Accreditations — CHAS, Constructionline, SSIP, Achilles
Update your standing data once. rfp.quest populates it across every PQQ automatically.
Method Statement Writing
Construction method statements are often 2,000-5,000 words covering:
- Approach to the works — Sequence, methodology, plant and equipment
- Programme and phasing — Key milestones, critical path activities
- Resource plan — Team structure, specialist subcontractors, labour plan
- Risk management — Site-specific risks and mitigation strategies
- Quality management — Inspection and test plans, hold points, quality standards
- Community engagement — Considerate Constructors Scheme commitments, neighbour liaison
Our AI generates first drafts tailored to the specific project, drawing from your past method statements and the project-specific requirements.
Design & Technical Submissions
For design and build opportunities:
- Design narrative — Explain your design approach and key decisions
- Sustainability strategy — BREEAM, Passivhaus, net-zero carbon approaches
- Buildability — DfMA, MMC, standardisation approaches
- Whole-life costing — Maintenance, replacement, and operational cost projections
- BIM execution plan — ISO 19650 aligned information management
Pricing & Commercial
Construction pricing is complex. Our software supports:
- Bill of quantities — Structured pricing against measured items
- Activity schedules — NEC-format milestone-based pricing
- Preliminaries — Site establishment, management, plant and facilities
- Risk pricing — Quantified risk registers with contingency allocation
- Value engineering — Alternative proposals with cost/benefit analysis
- Framework rates — Standing rates for call-off competitions
Construction-Specific Features
Subcontractor Management
- Package allocation — Assign tender packages to subcontractor database
- Quote compilation — Collect and compare subcontractor prices
- Coverage analysis — Identify gaps in subcontractor coverage
- Relationship tracking — Past performance, availability, and pricing history
Social Value for Construction
Construction social value commitments aligned with the Social Value Model:
- Employment — Local labour targets, apprenticeships, work experience
- Supply chain — Local and SME subcontracting commitments
- Environment — Carbon reduction, waste minimisation, biodiversity net gain
- Community — STEM engagement, community projects, considerate construction
- Skills — Training hours, NVQ achievements, upskilling programmes
Project Experience Database
Structured project records including:
- Project name, client, and value
- Sector and building type classification
- Completion date and duration
- Key challenges and outcomes
- Named team members involved
- Photographs and testimonials
- Relevance tags for AI matching
Sectors Within Construction
Building (New Build)
Commercial, residential, education, healthcare, and mixed-use developments. Templates for RIBA stages, planning conditions, and building regulations compliance.
Civil Engineering
Infrastructure, highways, bridges, utilities, and environmental works. Templates for ICE conditions, environmental impact, and traffic management.
Refurbishment & Retrofit
Occupied building works, heritage constraints, and energy retrofit programmes. Specific content for decant planning, phasing, and conservation compliance.
Mechanical & Electrical
M&E design, installation, and commissioning. Templates for BSRIA procedures, commissioning plans, and energy performance specifications.
Specialist Contractors
Groundworks, structural steel, cladding, roofing, and other specialist packages. Support for both main contractor tenders and direct specialist procurement.
Integration with Construction Tools
- Estimating software — Import pricing data from CATO, Conquest, or Causeway
- BIM platforms — Reference BIM models and data in your submissions
- Project management — Link to Asta, Primavera, or MS Project programmes
- Document management — Integrate with Aconex, Asite, or SharePoint
- CRM — Sync opportunities from your existing pipeline tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for small contractors as well as large ones? Yes. We serve contractors from £1M turnover responding to local authority opportunities through to tier-1 contractors managing national frameworks. The AI and content features add value at any scale.
Can I manage framework applications as well as individual tenders? Yes. Framework applications (which are effectively large PQQs) are fully supported, including re-framework applications and framework extensions.
How do you handle joint ventures and consortium bids? You can manage JV/consortium bids with separate contributor access for each partner, combined content libraries, and clear delineation of who's responsible for which sections.
What about design competitions? Design competitions with anonymous submission requirements are supported. The software helps you manage the design narrative and supporting documentation without identifying your organisation until the reveal stage.
Do you integrate with construction-specific portals? We support export formats compatible with major construction e-procurement portals including In-Tend, ProContract, and Delta. Direct API integration is on our roadmap.
Start winning more construction tenders → with AI-powered bid management software.