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Tag: IT support tenders

The Ins & Outs of Bidding for an IT Support Contract

Posted on by John Hudson

Read our insights on tendering for an IT support contract! 

An IT support contract acts as a crucial cog in the machine of IT procurement. According to Statista, it’s estimated that the IT services industry will generate revenue upwards of £82 billion in 2022. So, it’s no wonder people find it daunting to bid in this sector. Well, you’ve found just the right people. In this blog, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions and walk you through sourcing and winning IT support contracts.

Confused about IT support contracts?

An IT support contract validates agreements between two parties, where one provides technical support to the other. For mutual benefit, the contract terms must be concrete, without room for misinterpretation.

Details in an IT support contract can be vastly unique, ensuring that no two are the same.  It should go without saying, but without IT support, a company’s efficiency and working capabilities are seriously hindered.

What’s in it for the buyer? 6 benefits of IT services

Having IT support offers several outstanding benefits to a buyer. Competent technical support ensures daily operations run smoothly. Some of these benefits could be included in your bid to further entice the buyer. The benefits of IT support include the following:

1.     Cost-effective experience and expertise

IT support impacts positively on your overhead costs and profits. In-house IT specialists may cost more if you consider the yearly salary and allowances. Outsourcing offers you access to a team of highly experienced experts in providing both remote and onsite IT support.

As a result, you get high-end, professional IT services at a reduced cost. Training your IT staff on specialist skills may be a great idea. However, having an entire team of experts at your disposal will help you save more money.

2.    Support and flexibility

IT support services provide payment flexibility for business owners or company executives. They can select the best IT support contract that suits their business operation. In addition, buyers may choose a 24/7 IT support plan if they require minimal downtime and high continuity.

3.    Business centralisation and service combination

An IT support contract offers packages that may contain several services. It allows employees to have a single port of call when experiencing technical issues. It provides centralisation for all applications. Buyers can easily manage all their applications and servers within one access space and improve staff productivity.

4.    Disaster recovery

A disaster recovery process is an integral component of an IT support contract. It also helps prevent future disasters.

5.    Resilient infrastructure

One benefit of an IT support contract is that it provides efficient IT management. It also offers improved data protection and security. Buyers can get a secure and safer digital infrastructure by contracting a professional IT Support Team.

6.    Update software and future proof services

An IT support contract ensures disaster recovery and cyber security details by ensuring all software is updated. Buyers can get access to future-proofed and backed up data which is an effective plan for data recovery.

4 signs of a thoroughly considered IT support contract

When you’re searching for the right contracts, there are key components that showcase a valuable buyer. These include the following:

  1. What you need to provide (inclusions)

An IT support contract should contain all the expectations from the buyer. It should also contain all hardware and software covered by the contract. There are different tiers of support, and the contract should specify which IT support level you’re expected to offer.

  1. What you’re not liable for (limitations and exclusions)

Aside from knowing what is expected in the IT support contract, knowing what services are excluded is also critical. The buyer may exclude some services from the contract agreement due to different uncontrollable circumstances. For example, theft, unauthorised modifications, or damage caused by fire or natural occurrences may be excluded.

So, a good sign of a well-thought-out contract includes the buyer’s contingency plans. How they minimise system downtime when faced with desperate situations.  Ultimately, when the buyer contacts you, you shouldn’t be the first, second and last line of defence.

  1. Payment schedule

One of the buyer’s primary obligations as the outsourcing party is to provide a payment schedule. In essence, the payment schedule should spell out all payment terms. In addition, it should contain information on the payment date, payment method, and actual payment to be made.

  1. A middleman between your company and the IT support buyer

It is vital that a contact link is provided to liaise with the buyer. The middleman should be accessible at all times to prevent communication breaches.

Resolution and response time – what you need to know

Response and resolution time are two critical quality markers when you’re delivering an IT support contract. Response time is how long it takes for you to confirm receipt of the buyer’s concerns. However, resolution time is the duration for fixing the issue.

The resolution time may vary because it depends on the complexity or severity of the issue. You should include a well-defined timeline or breakdown of the expected resolution time for multiple issues. The more issues you showcase, the more confident the buyer will be in your abilities.

What is the difference between SLA and an IT support contract?

A Service Level Agreement is also called the Master Service Agreement. Although they’re both part of the tendering process it differs from an IT support contract. The IT support contract is a legally binding agreement between the buyer and you. The SLA, however, outlines the specific details of the responsibility of each party.

It also shows the expected and acceptable service. Finally, the SLA outlines the consequences of not meeting each detailed requirement. Both parties can revise the SLA without revising the contract.

3 tips for success in IT support contracts

  1. Proofreading and quality – It should go without saying but the buyer will expect a high level of grammar. Presenting sub-par writing simply won’t impress the buyer and might do damage to your reputation. So, simply reading through your work with a critical eye can do wonders for catching stray errors. Alongside this, get friends and colleagues to read through your work. And if you want a professional edge to your writing, get a Bid Writer to help. Our sister company, Hudson Succeed, offer this service through Tender Mentor.

 

  1. Statistics – Substantiating your claims with data and graphs can go a long way in winning the buyer over. Elements such as resolution and response time can be tracked and recorded to showcase your efficiency. However, it’s important to find the balance between data and text so that you don’t overwhelm the buyer with statistics.

 

  1. Relevant case studies – Testimonials and case studies can be a winning factor in your bid. However, there’s a catch – they need to be relevant. Irrelevant case studies can confuse the buyer and communicate a rushed effort. A good rule of thumb for collecting evidence is offering incentives.  This could be discounts, or unique service offerings on the bid proposal.

In summary

We’ve reached the conclusion to this blog on tackling tenders for IT support contracts!

Now you’ve got a solid idea of what to expect when it comes to bidding for these contracts.

We’ve covered quite a lot of material, and now you know:

  • What represents a valuable buyer of IT support contracts
  • About the benefits of IT support services, which you can weave into your bid
  • The impact of resolution and response time and how it affects your business
  • The difference between master service level agreements and IT support contracts
  • How important proofreading is
  • Collecting statistics and balancing them with text
  • Using relevant case studies to get the best utility out of them.

Bidding support

The tendering process is long and complex but the team are here to assist you in writing bids.  You can outsource the role to our dedicated Hudson Succeed Team. They have 60 years of bid writing experience and an 87% success rate. Their team have secured contract wins totalling over £3billion for our clients.

Tender Ready

Their Tender Ready programme is designed for those who have never tendered before. This 4-week programme works with you to ensure you have everything in place to tender successfully.

Tender Improvement

Tender Improvement can help if you’re already tendering but aren’t seeing success from your current efforts. Their Bid Writers will assess your previous submissions and supporting documents. They’ll give you feedback and guidance on how to improve, helping you to secure your next IT support contract.

Tender Mentor

If you’ve written an IT support tender and need someone to proofread it – Tender Mentor is for you. A Bid Writer will double-check it’s in line with the specification and free of any grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tender Writing

If you’ve found the perfect tender but don’t know where to start – They can help. Send the specification over to us and our Bid Team will do the rest. They’ll let you know what they need from you and provide you with a full breakdown. They’ll even submit it on your behalf, leaving you more time to focus on your business.

Want to save even more time?

Upgrading to Discover Elite will ensure you never miss a tendering opportunity, even when you’re busy!

The Ultimate Time-Saving Tool offers your business:

  • An annual subscription to a maximum of two Discover portals of your choice.
  • Up to five bid breakdowns per month to help you make your bid or no-bid decisions.
  • Weekly phone calls with your Account Manager to discuss viable IT support leads and tendering opportunities.
  • Award and pre-market engagement notices monitored on your behalf.
  • Public and private buyer portal management including registering, password management, downloading documents and assessing viability based on your bid strategy.

What can Technology Tenders do for you?

We source technology tenders on a daily basis, manually searching through hundreds of sites across the UK. We know how important it is to source the right tender for your business.

You can sign up to our Technology Tenders portal and start receiving business leads today. Our Opportunity Trackers manually upload new live tenders daily. You’re able to filter the results by keyword, location, budget and more. You no longer have to rely on inaccurate CPV codes to find the right opportunity for your business.

Below are previous IT support tenders sourced on our portal:

Dev Ops Engineer 1

Disclosure Scotland – Scotland – Budget: £7K

DWP Place – Senior Service Now Developer

DWP –  DWP Place – North West – Budget: £7K

Connexus Tender for ICT Help Desk Service Software

Connexus Homes Limited – West Midlands – Budget: £30k

UREGNI – MMU IT Support 2022-25

Utility Regulator – Northern Ireland – Budget: £189,000

 Digital Portfolio Operations Support

Ministry of Justice, Digital & Technology, Prisons Digital – London – Budget: £3,000,000

On Technology Tenders, we source contract opportunities for:

Get in touch to find out more information.

Cyber Security Tenders: Everything You Need to Know

Posted on by John Hudson

A guide to winning cyber security tenders 

An increase in government spending for 2021 means there’s never been a better time to apply for cyber security tenders.

Increased Reliance on Technology

The Covid-19 pandemic saw an increase in businesses reliance on technology with the rise of employees working from home. This saw a significant rise in cyber-security attacks as online hackers sought to take advantage of this.

There is an increasing awareness of the importance of cyber security not just in the UK, but globally. The technology sector continues to grow almost daily, and public sector organisations have become increasingly aware of their vulnerability online. Funding has now seen a steep surge and the UK government is taking the time to invest in cyber security. The UK’s cyber security industry has increased by 44% since 2017 and is now worth £8.3bn according to the government.

Increased Cyber Attacks

The UK government reported that almost a quarter of charities (26%) and almost half of businesses (46%) reported cyber security breaches or attacks in 2020. Cyber-attacks have been ever more frequent over the past number of years, including hacking and data breaches. In order to prevent cyber security attacks, the government is making large investments into several areas of cyber security.

Cyber security tenders are released in public sectors in a number of different areas such as:

  • Network security
  • Application security
  • Critical infrastructure
  • Internet of things (IoT) security
  • Cloud security

Increased Government Spending

The public sector wants to prevent data breaches, protect their hardware and software from cyber-attacks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in November 2020 that he is increasing £16.5bn to the defence spending budget. A considerable chunk (£1.5bn) of this investment is to be placed in cyber security defences. It’s also going towards the set-up of a National Cyber Force. As a result, cyber security tenders are on the up, which is great news for the technology sector.

Here are some things to bear in mind when applying for cyber security tenders:

With the increase of defence spending for 2021, you can expect to see a rise in cyber security tenders.

The Minimum Cyber Security Standard (MCSS)

The MCCS was developed by the UK government in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The MCSS aims to combat the risks posed by poor cyber security. It is broken down into ten sections covering five main categories:

Identify

Departments shall:

  1. Put in place appropriate cyber security governance processes.
  2. Identify and catalogue the sensitive information they hold.
  3. Identify and catalogue the key operational services (KOS) they provide.
  4. Understand and continually manage the need for users to access sensitive information or KOS.

Protect

  1. Access to sensitive information and KOS shall only be provided to identified, authenticated and authorised users or systems.
  2. Systems which handle sensitive information or KOS shall be protected from exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
  3. Highly privileged accounts should not be vulnerable to common cyber-attacks.

Detect

  1. Departments shall take steps to detect common cyber-attacks.

Respond

  1. Departments should have a planned and tested response to cyber security incidents that impact sensitive information or KOS.

Recover

  1. Departments shall have defined tested processes in place to ensure KOS continuity in the event of failure or compromise.

Suppliers will need to demonstrate that they comply with all ten of these requirements when applying for cyber security tenders. They are needed in order to win any contacts from the UK local or central government.

Cyber Essential Certificate and ISO 27001

A valid Cyber Essentials certificate could act as confirmation of compliance to all sections when applying for cyber security tenders. However, a Cyber Essentials certificate is not always enough. This is when an ISO 27001 certificate is needed and will likely give you an advantage over your competitors. By achieving an ISO 27001, you are demonstrating to the buyer that you take security seriously.

Are you searching for cyber security tenders?

Technology Tenders can save you time on trolling through 1000s of sites. We source tendering opportunities so that you can focus on running your business.

What makes Technology Tenders different?

We use manual tracking

Other portals rely on the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes to categorise tenders. However, they have been known to be ambiguous and file tenders under the wrong codes. This means you could be missing out on opportunities to tender.

Instead of using CPV codes, our Opportunity Trackers manually tag contracts they find to ensure they reach the right businesses. You can filter all live tenders using keywords, industry, location and budget to find the best opportunities for your business. On our portal, you’ll find relevant tenders by simply filtering ‘cyber security’.

Here are some recent cyber security tenders:

Cyber Security Specialist

Scottish Enterprise- Scotland- Budget: £ 800 per day

13-07-2020 

Cyber Security: 321 Backup Solution

Birmingham Community Healthcare- West Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed

26-11-2020

Cyber Security: Critical & High Importance patching

Birmingham Community Healthcare- West Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed

17-11-2020

Cyber Security e-learning cloud based platform that educates and evaluates staff on cyber awareness

Galway City Council- International- Budget: Undisclosed

28-10-2020

What we can offer you 

Bid writing support

So, you’ve found the cyber security tenders that you want to go for but can’t find the right words? Our expert bid writers at Hudson Succeed can support you at every stage of your cyber security tender. They can answer any questions you may have about the process. From passing the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) to finalising your response.

Our bid writers have an 87% success rate and over 40 years of bid writing experience. We offer tender support through four services:

Tender Writing

Simply send the bid specification to our team and they’ll write the cyber security tender response for you. They’ll even submit the bid on your behalf.

This service is priced per bid and we provide a full Tender Writing breakdown. You’ll know how long it’ll take, what we’ll need from you and when you’ll see an initial and final draft.

Tender Improvement

Our bid writers will assess your previous tender responses and work with you to develop improved content.

Tender Mentor

Our team will analyse your content and check for any errors before you submit your tender response.

Tender Ready

Tender Ready helps businesses that are completely new to the tendering process. We offer a three-stage process and a 4-week programme.

Book a free, live demo to gain further insight into our services and see which opportunities can benefit your business.

On Technology Tenders, we post contracts for:

These are just a few categories in which we source technology tenders. We add new opportunities to our portal every day. The scope of buyers for whom you could deliver work is always expanding.

Now is the time for Technology Tenders – unlock your company’s potential.

DON’T WORRY ABOUT DISTANCE: We live in a Digital World! – International Tendering

Posted on by John Hudson

DON’T WORRY ABOUT DISTANCE: We live in a Digital World – International Tendering

This is an age-old debate here at Hudson Procurement Group. We’re constantly telling our customers to spread their wings and commence an International Tendering strategy when it comes to bidding for I.T tenders and Contracts. .

Historically, we used to take as much business as we could from our doorstep, it was, after all, deemed easier to deliver logistically and support with brand recognition. It was a major achievement to be a leading regional vendor.

But, things have changed drastically over the years and the government throws hundreds of millions into helping us SMEs to trade internationally. The world and its major cities are so much more accessible and connected with daily direct flights from the UK to the US, Dubai, Australia, China etc., especially for service and product-based enterprises.

We encourage our clients to eliminate any geographical fear when looking for business. We advise you to look at where the work is, look at the logistics of delivery and if it deems possible then don’t put in place unnecessary barriers that will hinder your company growth.  An International Tendering and Business Development strategy should be a core activity for your executive/director team until you’ve established there isn’t any profit in trading overseas.

Here at Hudson Procurement Group, we have over 1,000 clients all over the world. None of which we’ve met face to face, but it’s not important to meet them, we speak with them daily over the telephone, Skype and email and we still deliver the same value-added service regardless if they’re UK based, operate in the US or have their headquarters in India.

Our advice when looking at which tendering opportunities are right for you is:

  1. Don’t eliminate any opportunity until you’ve assessed it properly.
  2. Ensure you can make a profit, taking into consideration traveling and shipping costs if this is a required part of the work.
  3. Take a risk – sometimes these risks pay huge dividends. Just because you’re not based on their doorstep, doesn’t mean you’re not the right provider.
  4. Don’t assume you won’t be chosen just because you can’t pop to their office for a cup of tea, you’ll find that more and more people try to eliminate the number of meetings they have, not increase them.
  5. Seek advice and guidance from your local Department of International Trade. We’ve found them super useful during our research phase of opening our US office.
  6. Give us a call, we’re happy to help and to answer any questions you may have about bidding for work overseas.

CLICK HERE to see our ‘TO BID OR NOT TO BID’ blog, providing you with additional points to consider when tendering.

 We’re here to help you discover, succeed, procure and invest.

Below are previous international technology tenders sourced on our portal:

Certified Email Services

United Nations- International- Budget: Undisclosed

New Infrastructure for Temporary Office of UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UN Women ROAP)

UN Women- International- Budget: Undisclosed

GoJ – COO – Request For Information (Rfi) Computer Aided Dispatch Systems Supporting Emergency Services

States of Jersey- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Provision of Unified Telephony System and Support Services

The Isle of Man Government- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Technology Solutions to Engage and Elevate the Voices of Women in Peace Processes

UN Women- International- Budget: Undisclosed

Get in touch to view the latest Technology Tenders in various sub-sectors including:

I.T Tenders

IOT Tenders

Telecom Tenders

Cyber Security Tenders

IT Support Tenders

Network Tenders

Hardware Tenders

Software Tenders & many more

GDPR – Understanding what’s expected!

Posted on by John Hudson

As I’m sure you’re well aware by now, May 25th sees the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (or GDPR for short) which will be the new term used for the storing, processing and management of personal data. Basically, DPA and confidentiality processes have a new broader term to ensure all data is withheld in the most secure ways possible. GDPR is a vital update on what you currently do – (we are assuming that what you currently do is best practice and of course abides by current DPA law).

I know what you’re thinking ‘we always operate confidentially – what’s new?’.

What’s new are the heightened processes every organisation must undergo when handling data. With GDPR, there are more serious consequences if you are found to be using data incorrectly and with the majority of our subscribed clients on our various platforms all handling customer and/or public data in some form or another- it’s vital to understand the key points to this national legislation change and ensure this is adhered to fully.

Some of the key aspects your company must focus on is ensuring that all data is identified and assessed in line with new and specific protocols, processes are structured, data is mapped and constantly improved upon, as well as being stored electronically and in traditional filing systems.

With implementing data governance best practices, you’ll not only comply with the GDPR but you’ll now be able to create more business value with confidence and ensure success when contracting with future parties.

We have now found many public and private tenders are increasingly asking suppliers if they are GDPR compliant via the multiple processes above. Such questions have become apparent in a recent public tender within the creative sector (for e.g.):

  • Please confirm that you are GDPR compliant (detail relevant technical & organisational security measures)?
  • Are you maintaining Data Processing Records?
  • Do your standard contract terms include the new GDPR mandatory provisions?
  • Do you have a documented Breach Notification Process? Etc.

To maximise your scores, you would need to answer more than a simple YES!

Please see ICO’s brochure which provides further helpful information on preparing for and applying GDPR principles in your organisation[s].

We encourage all clients to take this information provided and use it to ensure any future tendering efforts aren’t spread thin merely by the lack of compliance against GDPR. Going forward, it is becoming quite clear that GDPR may soon become part of the normal questions asked in PQQs and ITTs.

Over the next few month, we will be analysing common requirements (as above) that are starting to come into effect with the changes and updates that GDPR will pose. Watch this space and remember to take a look at the brochure attached to begin what is needed for you to excel with upcoming tenders.

Get in touch to view the latest Technology Tenders in various sub-sectors including:

I.T Tenders

IOT Tenders

Telecom tenders

Cyber Security Tenders

IT Support Tenders

Network Tenders

Hardware Tenders

Software Tenders & many more

We’re here to help you grow, develop and standout!

SMEs – Catapult wants YOU at the ‘Engage 2018’ event!

Posted on by John Hudson

An exciting opportunity has arisen for SMEs that will potentially bring FANTASTIC opportunities and recognition to your company!

The Satellite Applications Catapult will be attending Engage 2018 by Digital Globe on 10–11 April 2018 and they published an opportunity stating they are on the lookout for innovative SMEs with products/services to showcase cutting-edge developments in the use of satellite data.

Engage 2018 is a two-day event designed for senior-level executives from government and private organisations leveraging geographical information to enable smarter decisions. This takes place at Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.

By attending alongside SA Catapult, you will have your own exhibition stand with your company and logo on full display in this highly desired event, as well as dedicated spaces for marketing materials to promote your business.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get your product/service heard, along with promoting your business to your target audience!

If this applies to you – then get in touch for more information and to complete a few questions in order to apply.

If you are struggling to put this across in a concise and effective manner, then GET IN TOUCH – we can help!

BEST OF LUCK!

Get in touch to view the latest Technology Tenders in various sub-sectors including:

I.T Tenders

IOT Tenders

Telecom tenders

Cyber Security Tenders

IT Support Tenders

Network Tenders

Hardware Tenders

Software Tenders & many more