Tender Services
Tender services is, in simple terms, us finding the right builder for you and making sure the cost reflects the project accurately.
Once your planning and technical drawings are complete, this is the stage where builders are invited to submit formal quotations.
Handled properly, it makes costs apparent and reduces the risk of problems later on site.
How the tender process works
We begin by preparing a detailed Schedule of Works. This sets out, room by room, what’s included in the project – finishes, fixtures and the scope of work. That information, alongside the drawings, forms the tender package.
We then formally invite four or five suitable contractors to price the project. The selection is based on the size, complexity and nature of the scheme.
Builders are usually given around four weeks to return their tenders. Once received, we carry out a formal tender review.
We compare the submissions, identify discrepancies and provide a report explaining the differences clearly. It’s rarely as simple as choosing the lowest number.
Contractor interviews & recommendation
Following review, we typically invite the preferred contractors to meet with you. We conduct those meetings on your behalf.
This gives you a clearer sense of how they operate, how they communicate and whether they’re the right fit for the project. We then make a recommendation and advise on the most appropriate building contract to move forward with.
Negotiation & value engineering
A key part of our involvement is negotiation.
If the tender returns come in over budget, we don’t simply pass that information on.
We carry out a value engineering exercise to identify where adjustments can be made, without undermining the design or quality of the build.
That might involve reviewing specifications, refining details or reconsidering certain elements of scope. This stage is where much of our time is spent. We make sure the project is aligned with your target budget before construction begins.
Reducing risk before construction begins
Why we stay involved
If we’re appointed to act as architect during construction, we make sure we’re involved in the tender process.
Experience has shown that when we’re not privy to those early pricing discussions, misunderstandings can arise later, often over relatively small details.
Clear documentation and structured tendering reduce that risk significantly. It makes sure that what gets priced is what gets built.
When tendering may not be necessary
Some clients already have a trusted builder and choose to proceed directly.
That can work on smaller projects. For larger or more complex schemes, a structured tender process provides greater cost clarity and accountability from the start.
We’ll advise based on the specifics of your project.
Working with D2
For projects across Chester, North Wales and the wider North West, we manage structured tender processes for both new and ongoing schemes.
If you’re preparing to price a project – whether we’ve designed it or not – we can advise on the most appropriate approach and manage the process through to contractor appointment.