How do I bid for a Quick Quote?

We are often asked by suppliers, “How do I bid for a Quick Quote?” The short answer is that you can’t – but through the Supplier Development Programme, you can take the first steps to understanding what a Quick Quote is, and how you can improve your chances of being invited to bid for a Quick Quote.

A Quick Quote is an online facility to request prices or a quotation. It is used to obtain competitive quotes for low value/low risk procurement exercises, or procurement mini competitions within framework agreements, from suppliers that are registered on the PCS website.

Only suppliers that are selected by the buyer to quote can access the details of the quote and submit a quote.

You will greatly increase your chances of being invited to provide a Quick Quote if:

• The buyer can find you via the Supplier Finder function on PCS – You will need to complete your Supplier Finder profile and set it to “Publish”. This way, your profile will show up in searches that include its keywords, post code or supplier category.
• You have ticked the SME box to inform the buyer that you are, in fact, a SME.
• The buyer is aware of your business offerings – networking is the key, so be sure to attend local Meet the Buyer and Meet the Real Buyer events throughout the year.
• You attend SDP’s Meet the Buyer and Meet the Buyer North events each year.

Being invited to Quick Quote

Once a buyer has found your business on Supplier Finder, and they have invited you to compete in their Quick Quote, then they will supply you with the documents that outline the criteria against which your bid will be judged.

Responding to the invitation to Quick Quote

Before you Accept or Decline the invitation, read the requirements and all the documents provided by the Buyer. Make sure the opportunity is viable for your business.

If you are unsure of any of the Quick Quote requirements, use the Q&A functionality to ask the buyer for clarification.

Quick Quote Requirements and Criteria

When using a Quick Quote procurement process, buyers need to ensure it’s a fair competition, typically between three or five suppliers.

To do so, they set their own criteria to assess suppliers. Usually, these ensure that competitors: are reliable, have the skills and the resources required, offer a competitive price and can meet specific quality standards.

If you understand and can meet the Quick Quote requirements, use your response to explain the practical details of how you will meet them.

 

For more a more detailed guide, you can access SDP’s Quick Quotes Made Easy eLearning session, after logging into your account.

 

Finally, SDP offers free training on Quick Quotes by webinar, so be sure to book “Quick Quotes Made Easy” to learn everything you want to know about the process.