Tender documents are the set of documents issued to tendering contractors so that all bidders price the same information on the same terms. They normally include the drawings, the bill of quantities or other pricing document, the form of tender and a formal invitation to tender.
A complete package lets contractors price accurately and the client compare tenders fairly; gaps or inconsistencies often lead to qualified tenders and later claims. A typical package includes:
- the invitation to tender and instructions to tenderers, including the return date and evaluation criteria
- the form of contract, any amendments and the contract particulars
- drawings, specification or employer’s requirements, and preliminaries
- pricing documents, such as a bill of quantities, activity schedule or schedule of rates, and the form of tender
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, the client must also provide pre-construction information so that tenderers can plan for health and safety.
Related terms: invitation to tender, tender, bill of quantities, tender evaluation.
