Reply to: Anyone ever won anything on DigitalMarketPlace?

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

Yes. Currently a supplier on 3 gov't frameworks.

Impressive, congratulations. So I take it from what you've said that you only bid on the individual specialist contracts and not the team ones then? From what I can gather, some of the contracts posted asking for a team can vary dramatically in scope.

For instance there's a 50k gig on there at the moment that could be done by 1, maybe a max of 2, people. Whereas there's another gig that clearly needs a multi-million pound consultancy.

Penny for your thoughts on how to win these gigs?

[m0n1k3r]

Out of interest, how do you know that? Have you applied for these opportunities before?

Yes. Currently a supplier on 3 gov't frameworks.

[northernladuk]

Out of interest, how do you know that? Have you applied for these opportunities before?

I am happy to disclose the P&L if it means a shot at a gig. I'm surprised that they do this as they essentially disqualify all suppliers who opt for abbreviated micro company accounts?

And that's probably in their risk range. They are looking for financially stable companies so being classed as small probably makes them a risk. It also means they can't fully invetigate their financial situation so in the bin they go. If you want gov business don't opt for abbreviated accounts.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

Yes, that's to begin with. Filing abbreviated/filleted accounts without the P/L is also a good pointer to a small/unqualified supplier.

Out of interest, how do you know that? Have you applied for these opportunities before?

I am happy to disclose the P&L if it means a shot at a gig. I'm surprised that they do this as they essentially disqualify all suppliers who opt for abbreviated micro company accounts?

[m0n1k3r]

That's interesting. I am involved with bid writing for one of these consultancies, so attempting to learn some of their tricks.

How would the contract issuer ever know that you had £250k in the bank - end of year accounts on CH?

Yes, that's to begin with. Filing abbreviated/filleted accounts without the P/L is also a good pointer to a small/unqualified supplier.

[northernladuk]

That's interesting. I am involved with bid writing for one of these consultancies, so attempting to learn some of their tricks.

How would the contract issuer ever know that you had £250k in the bank - end of year accounts on CH?

They'd provide due diligence and ask for evidence.

[ladymuck]

That's interesting. I am involved with bid writing for one of these consultancies, so attempting to learn some of their tricks.

How would the contract issuer ever know that you had £250k in the bank - end of year accounts on CH?

Credit search on the company will reveal quite a bit too. Been a while since I ran one so can't remember exactly what is included.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

I've been involved in a couple of projects that have been won on the marketplace. I was told the org I worked for have specific criteria to weed out the small-time one man band operators. One rule was a min of 250k cash in the bank.

Currently involved in a project that was offered at 1.2 million. I can't see how the firm delivering the project will make any money unless there is a juicy support contract to run the service afterwards.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few recruitment agencies pretending to be consultancies bite off more than they can chew.

There is a similar marketplace for research projects and one company I know take on projects at a loss just to keep them ticking over in quiet times.

That's interesting. I am involved with bid writing for one of these consultancies, so attempting to learn some of their tricks.

How would the contract issuer ever know that you had £250k in the bank - end of year accounts on CH?

[eek]

I've been involved in a couple of projects that have been won on the marketplace. I was told the org I worked for have specific criteria to weed out the small-time one man band operators. One rule was a min of 250k cash in the bank.

Currently involved in a project that was offered at 1.2 million. I can't see how the firm delivering the project will make any money unless there is a juicy support contract to run the service afterwards.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few recruitment agencies pretending to be consultancies bite off more than they can chew.

There is a similar marketplace for research projects and one company I know take on projects at a loss just to keep them ticking over in quiet times.

As I've commented on before - provided the contract covers the cost of the employees wages that's more than enough.

[coolhandluke]

I've been involved in a couple of projects that have been won on the marketplace. I was told the org I worked for have specific criteria to weed out the small-time one man band operators. One rule was a min of 250k cash in the bank.

Currently involved in a project that was offered at 1.2 million. I can't see how the firm delivering the project will make any money unless there is a juicy support contract to run the service afterwards.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few recruitment agencies pretending to be consultancies bite off more than they can chew.

There is a similar marketplace for research projects and one company I know take on projects at a loss just to keep them ticking over in quiet times.

[BigLadFromBeeston666]

Got accepted last week. Some very juicy contracts on there. If anyone has been successful with this in the past, I'd be keen to get some tips.

As others have said, it seems chock full of recruitment firms without a scooby doo, but a library of CVs from desperados.

[ladymuck]

The entire point of ensuring I'm on the list is that if something interesting appears I can go for it and not have to pay an agency x% for doing sod all.

And, if an agency approaches you, a 30 second check on the DOS platform will tell you if it's something you can directly apply for.

[eek]

One recruitment agency asked me to fill out their bid papers, I told them to FO

The entire point of ensuring I'm on the list is that if something interesting appears I can go for it and not have to pay an agency x% for doing sod all.

[Eirikur]

I got accepted for DOS5.

Won't win anything as it's chock full of recruitment firms who put up the jobs on Jobserve on the off chance they're successful.

Funnily enough a current gig I'm working on was won by a recruitment firm on Digital Marketplace.

One recruitment agency asked me to fill out their bid papers, I told them to FO

[ensignia]

I got accepted for DOS5.

Won't win anything as it's chock full of recruitment firms who put up the jobs on Jobserve on the off chance they're successful.

Funnily enough a current gig I'm working on was won by a recruitment firm on Digital Marketplace.