Bickleigh, Devon
Ventro Group
As the Bid Estimator you will be joining the Bid Team. You will be responsible for the preparation and issuing of cost quotations in response to clients tenders, in order to assist with securing work for the business and meet company sales objectives.
It will be your job to consider all pertinent information about each project and decide how much it would cost to meet the client’s needs. This will involve bidding for the work alongside competitors. Quality is also considered alongside the price, so the winning bid isn’t always the cheapest one (the bid writers you will be working alongside will be coordinating the quality aspects).
The job involves assessing material, labour and equipment requirements for the project and analysing different quotes from sub-contractors and suppliers.
This can involve everything from a one-off scheme to regular maintenance projects, which will be completed over several years. Your role will be concerned with getting the best price that will win the contract in a competitive bidding situation, while ensuring that the contract can be carried out profitably.
This may involve ad-hoc site visits (within England and Wales) to accurately determine project and costing requirements.
Key Skills / Responsibilities:
Scrutinise the pricing/specification so only what is asked for is allowed so cost is not inflated unnecessarily. Make assumptions to reduce cost where permitted
Develop an intelligent, competitive, price-to-win strategy on each bid, considering notional quantities and usage
Take a commercial view when pricing tenders. Consider the whole deal in a realistic manner. For example, there may be some rates within the specification that have a high cost/impact on the total taken to evaluation. But you will know from experience that some only come in to play rarely. It might be a requirement to replace a serviceable unit which you know to be repairable 90% of the time. Instead of costing for a replacement on every unit, the commercial view in this example is to cost for 10% replacements and 90% services.
Schedule of Rates (SOR) are common. SORs are price lists for a contract. Sometimes the SOR will show an evaluation weighting against certain items aim to be very competitive on high-score/highly-weighted prices.
You will be trained in what are the high frequency items and those that crop up occasionally. Use your knowledge to create prices that are attractive. Lower some items and increase others. You should make the same (or better) margin long-term. You want to offer a set of rates that will get you top marks.
Prepare work to be quoted by gathering proposals, drawings, specifications, and related documents
Create quotations based off both Site Survey and Tender (ITT) Documentation, considering any additional works, i.e. hindrances, access issues that may affect costs during the project
Develop a coherent and consistent tender submission with the use of key estimating assumptions
Clarify with the client via the tender portal where necessary, or if possible explain/limit what has been allowed for, assuming a best-case scenario
However, also identify where tenders must be submitted without qualifications/assumptions to report this to the Bid Team leader in view of asking for clarification/taking a commercial view/walking away as part of the bid/no-bid decision
Identify labour, material and time requirements
Prepare and submit quotations and cost summaries for work
Liaise with Sales and Contracts teams regarding technical information
Proofread all quotes to ensure accuracy first-time every time (buddy system).#
Resolve issues
Review and evaluate cost quotations
Ensure timely completion of quotations 3 days before tender deadline
Understand scope of work to bid
Manage bid pricing from all suppliers (and subcontractors where necessary)
Obtain competitive quotes from suppliers and subcontractors and negotiate best rates for the opportunity in question
Meet initially with the assigned bid writer for understanding of the opportunity and our win strategy
On quote completion, prepare cost analysis to present to the bid writer
Methodically apply uplifts as per scope and geographical area
Issue handover documents to operations team following contract award
The successful candidate must be/have:
- Attention to Detail to identify all costs
- Fast Learner and Adaptable
Ability to work within tight tender timeframes and work well under pressure
Ability to work well in a team environment as well as work individually in prioritising tasks
Ability to understand floor plans and CAD Drawings.
- Commercially aware, Creative and Alert to possibilities and potentials, i.e. potential cost-savings and/or up-sell opportunities
- Advanced knowledge of Excel
Ability to analyse Information
Strong Maths and IT skills
Strategic Planning
Excellent verbal and written communication
Excellent organisation skills
Problem solver