Guest Article by David Zhang, founder of INTERLUNAR
When I first started INTERLUNAR, the world of government and large corporate tenders felt like a fortress. It seemed like a game reserved for massive companies with dedicated departments for sourcing, writing, and managing bids. As a solo founder and later the leader of a lean team, my time was my most precious resource. The thought of manually sifting through dozens of portals every day just to find an opportunity, let alone win one, was completely overwhelming.
I knew there were valuable projects out there, but the barrier to entry felt impossibly high. How could a small studio like ours possibly compete? The turning point for us was realising that we didn’t need a bigger team; we needed better tools. We needed to leverage technology to level the playing field. That’s when we found TenderBoard.
Creating Our ‘Lean Tendering Machine’
TenderBoard provided us not only with a list of opportunities but also a comprehensive system. It transformed our approach from reactive and scattered to proactive and incredibly efficient. Today, our tendering process is a well-oiled machine managed by my account manager, Gloria, and me. It’s straightforward, effective, and allows us to focus our energy on what we do best: delivering great creative, digital, and strategic work.
Here’s a look at our simple, five-step workflow:
- Daily Scan & Shortlist: The first thing we do is scan TenderBoard for opportunities relevant to our services from GeBIZ, TenderBoard’s exclusive buyers and tenders from other sources. The platform’s aggregation and precise categorisation save us countless hours. Instead of scouring for opportunities, TenderBoard presents us with a curated list of potential projects. We quickly shortlist the tenders that align with our expertise, like social media campaigns, website development, or design services.
- Picking & Choosing: For each shortlisted tender, we do a thorough review. We scrutinise the deliverables, technical requirements, qualification criteria, and submission deadlines. TenderBoard neatly organises all of these within the platform. This step is crucial for deciding if a project is a good fit.
- Crafting the Proposal: This is where our team’s creativity shines. We begin work on the proposal document, compiling case studies, designing samples, and articulating our strategy. Because we saved so much time on discovery with TenderBoard’s automated tender tracking feature, we can invest more of it here, in the part that actually wins the deal.
- Pricing & Submission: While the team perfects the creative and technical documents, I handle the pricing schedule and administrative documentation. My focus is on providing value that is both competitive and sustainable for our business. Once we finalise our assets, we submit the entire package.
- Track, Follow Up, and Wait: After submission, the waiting game begins. TenderBoard is invaluable here, helping us track the status of all our bids in one place. We know when to follow up and can easily manage communications if a client shortlists us and requests a presentation or a revised proposal.
This lean process allows us to punch well above our weight. We even use it for business development. If we find a tender for which we’re not currently qualified, we save the organisation’s contact information to build a pipeline for future outreach. It’s about playing the long game, too.
The Results Speak For Themselves
Does this approach actually work for a small agency? Absolutely.
Using this exact system, we’ve been privileged to win and deliver projects for some incredible organisations. We designed and delivered skills-based workshops for the National Library Board, created social media activations for the Singapore Cancer Society, and even designed instructional guides for the Singapore Red Cross Society.
Recently, we secured a significant term contract with the Singapore Management University (SMU) through Tenderboard. Winning a multi-year tender with a prestigious university was a massive validation of our process. It proved that you don’t need to be a corporate giant to earn the trust of one.
For any solo entrepreneur or small business owner who thinks tendering is out of reach, my message is simple: you can do it. You just need the proper leverage. For us, TenderBoard is that leverage. It’s the partner that handles the heavy lifting of discovery and organisation, freeing us up to be the agile, creative, and passionate team that clients want to hire.
Learn More About TenderBoard’s Supplier Portal
Leverage technology to help you with your tendering process. TenderBoard’s Supplier Portal automates tender tracking and provides you with data analytics to help you win more deals.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- Tender Tracking: TenderBoard aggregates 40+ open tender sites on a daily basis. keeping you updated on opportunities from platforms like GeBIZ, Ariba, and Zycus, all in one place.
- Past Tender Aggregation: Gain competitive intelligence by researching tender trends from buyers in Singapore. Access up to 7 years of past tender data to uncover insights and formulate winning strategies.
- Tender Performance Reports: Track your RFQ and tendering metrics, and benchmark against your competitors’ performance as you plan your company’s strategy and tender approach.
Writer Bio
David Zhang is the founder of INTERLUNAR, an award-winning boutique digital transformation consultancy and design agency that makes emerging technologies and productivity tools accessible to students, professionals, and organisations.
