Tender rules

On June 2, DBL, an information and knowledge management company launched the Caribbean’s first online business to business portal : tenders.co.tt.

Founded by Quinten Questel, who is also the company’s managing director, the website promises contracting companies the opportunity to post and view quality bids on a wider local, regional and international market.

“We want to revolutionise the way in which companies deal with tenders and consulting opportunities,” he said.

Questel said he saw the need for the website because the only way business people were able to access tenders was to go through the long, drawnout process of flipping through the newspapers and, when they finally found what they were looking for, it would have been an opportunity missed or the deadline would have been too soon.

“For service companies and consultants, tender.co.tt will present them with easy access to published tender notices all in one location,” Questel said.

Digital Business’ Senior E-Business Analyst, Ria Gopaul emphasised that this site gives companies immediate access to a wide range of tender notices posted from all industries, ranging from energy companies and Government ministries to the private sector. “Tendering,” she said, “is the fairest way for buyers to ensure they have received the best offer from the market.”

In addition to being efficient, the site is also cost-effective, Gopaul said. According to their research, tenders placed in local newspapers can cost from $1,700 to over $2,000 per day accordings the size, while tenders.co.tt, she noted, only charges as a little as $10.00 per day

“Customers can subscribe to either two of the available packages, Silver and Gold, to view the tenders in detail,” she said.

Gopaul explained that the silver membership package is for those who may not want to post tenders but who want to search tenders and consulting opportunities, view full details of all tender notices and to receive weekly e-mail alerts, whenever a new tender matches their registered search criteria. This package, she said, cost US$575 or approximately TT $3500 per year, with access to unlimited full tender notices. The gold membership, on the other hand, is ideal for companies to post unlimited tenders and consulting opportunities, manage their tenders and to post their company’s profile and contact information. The cost? US $1115 or TT$6700 annually.

Registration on the website is quite simple.

Firstly, the user can browse to find TT tenders and consulting opportunities, then fill out a subscription form to begin the viewing and posting tender notices. The website itself is quite simple. Users can learn more about the tendering process, get guidelines on how to register and to access information on the packages. They will also be able to view their payment options: company cheque, cashier’s cheque, money order or wire transfer.

By subscribing to the website, Gopaul said, persons can use their registration username and password to view detailed tender notification from all industry segments, including agriculture and food, construction and engineering as well as printing and packaging, energy, security, finance and environment.

She added that various types of tenders can be posted on the website, including requests for Expression of Intent, general procurement notices, invitation to bid and invitation for pre-qualification.

The system, she said, is also built to assist companies to access fast, accurate and reliable information, as subscription allows members to receive tender alerts via e-mail as contracts arise, ensuring that valuable tender opportunities are not missed.

“We not only offer placement of full tender notices but also the facility to place request for quotations for everyday items,” she said.

Tenders.co.tt, she emphasised, is also looking into offering services that will help companies manage contractors who are awarded tenders by ensuring that auditing for reviews is included in the system.

The company has already had inquiries from countries outside the region, with Guatemalan officials having expressed an interest in how they can use and access the website.