Table of Contents
Securing office cleaning contracts can give a boost to your cleaning business. You may be wondering where to even start if you’ve never bid on a contract before. Luckily for you, we’re here to give you tips and advice to help you get onto the path of success.
Office cleaning contracts could be used for a number of reasons such as:
There are many benefits if you secure office cleaning contracts. One of the biggest benefits of applying for government cleaning contracts is that they have the potential to be long-term. Some bids can be “spot bids” which means they only last as long as the job. Others can be months or even years. This can be a great way to secure long-term income for your cleaning business.
If you’re applying for government office cleaning contracts, there are a few things you need to do. As a vendor, you will first need to register with the government before you can start bidding on contracts. You will need your:
Your DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number for the physical location of your organization. This can be found on the Duns and Bradstreet website.
The NAICS code stands for the North American Industry Classification System. Your company will have a primary NAICS code or multiple, depending on if they have multiple services or products. You’ll need to match your commodities to a NAICS code. To find your NAICS code, you can refer to the U.S Census Bureau.
To do business with the government, you must be registered with SAM. SAM is the government’s System of Award Management (SAM). Your registration as a vendor will eliminate the need to enter the same details over and over. This improves efficiency when doing business with the government. You will need both your NAICS code and DUNS number to register.
Both the local and state governments have a need to solicit office cleaning services. They will issue a solicitation notice in order to procure these. There are various solicitation notices which are as follows:
An RFI stands for Request for Information. It’s commonly used by procurement teams as an initial research stage before issuing an RFP. It can also be referred to as Sources Sought. An RFI allows a buyer to carry out market research before issuing a solicitation.
An RFP stands for Request for Proposal and it’s the most common form of solicitation for government bids. For this, buyers are looking for high-quality responses to their questions. They’ll be expecting you to demonstrate how you will deliver then contract and why you’re the best for the job.
If you struggle to convey your excellence on paper, an RFP Writer can help. They’re experts in writing winning bids for businesses. They know how best to convey your organization to buyers in line with the specification. A Government Contracts Consultant can help optimize your success when bidding on public sector RFPs.
RFQ stands for Request for Quote and is a type of solicitation focused primarily on pricing. Here, the contracting authority may require you to answer questions about your business experience. You should have competitive pricing as that is typically the focus of an RFQ.
IFB means Information for Bid. If this is issued, the commissioner knows how they want the contract to be delivered. Therefore, they don’t need quality responses and only require suggestions. Vendors can’t negotiate the contract and it’s often awarded to the lowest priced bidder that meets the minimum requirements.
Be prepared to be asked for proof of experience when applying for office cleaning contracts. Often, buyers will ask for up to three previous contract examples. They should be similar in scope and style to the office cleaning contracts you’re applying for.
It’s not unusual for them to also ask for the contact details of these references. This is just to check that you’re not making anything up. So, it’s best to use jobs you did well on and showcase your company’s abilities. Remember to back up what you’re saying with evidence and to stick to the word count.
If there’s an option to go on a site visit for your office cleaning contracts, take it up. Site visits can be greatly beneficial to your bid. They can help you get a feel for the space. They may help you give more accurate pricing on your bid, too. You’re able to ask questions and see it for yourself.
When applying for office cleaning contracts, it’s always a good idea to do your homework on the buyer. They may have certain obligations they need to meet when it comes to sustainable/eco-friendly cleaning products. This is particularly the case if they’re a government entity. Will the buyer supply the cleaning products, or will you be able to provide your own? Are yours more efficient than their current supplier? You will likely need to clarify and state this within your response.
Each buyer is different and will have different needs which will result in different requirements. Read the bid documents carefully. They contain useful information that you can include in your response. The statement of work (SOW) will include a specification of the exact requirements for the cleaning tasks needed. You must reference this in your method statement for office cleaning contracts. It will demonstrate to the buyer that you are aware of their requirements, and you can deliver them.
When applying for office cleaning contracts, be realistic in what you can achieve. Don’t apply for a contract that’s over half your annual income. Be realistic about your resources and whether you’ll need to outsource.
Hopefully, this advice will help you get on the path to success winning office cleaning contracts. Remember to have previous experience where you can. It’s always worth going on a site visit if it’s offered and doing your homework on the buyer.
Reading the specification can help you tailor your bid to the buyers’ requirements. Lastly, remember to be realistic with what you can achieve. Don’t go for the big contracts if you can’t afford to.
Sometimes you don’t have the resources or expertise in-house to write a winning bid. Luckily for you, we provide three bid and RFP writing support services. Our Bid Writing Consultants have over 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. We can help you see success with your next bid.
Our RFP Writing service is the perfect solution to ensure that you submit a high-quality bid, even when you’re busy. Our writers will break down the solicitation documents, allowing you to see what the bid and the contract involves. This will help to ensure that you have all the specified evidence and meet the requirements of the contracting authority.
Our RFP Writers will then craft persuasive, high-quality responses, attach supporting evidence and even submit the bid on your behalf. Upload the solicitation documents for a free quote.
Have you already written a bid but need a second pair of eyes to review your work? Our RFP Mentor service will do just that. Simply send over your bid responses and the solicitation documents.
Our writers will then assess your work, ensuring that your responses are in line with the specification. They will also check for any spelling or grammar errors. You can then submit your bid with confidence. Upload your work for a free quote.
Do you need help with preparing a bid proposal? Proposal Ready can help businesses that are new to bidding or those in need of rejuvenating their content.
Our Bid Consultants will create:
All information and data on this blog site are for informational purposes only. Hudson Outsourcing LLC makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity, of any information. Hudson Outsourcing LLC will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided AS IS with no warranties and confers no rights.
Hudson Outsourcing LLC will not be responsible for any material that is found at the end of the links that may be posted on this blog site.
Because the information on this blog is based on Hudson Outsourcing LLC’s own opinion and experience, it should not be considered professional financial investment advice. The ideas and bidding strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional. Hudson Outsourcing LLC’s thoughts and opinions will also change from time to time as the market changes and as Hudson Outsourcing LLC develops.
