Choosing the Right Bid Consultant: A Guide to Success

steven2713
Jun 25
3 min read

Updated: Jul 1

Choosing the right bid consultant in NZ could make or break your proposal.

With the right partner, you’ll increase your chances of winning, take a world of stress off your own hands, and save heaps of time. It’s an investment worth making, whatever the size of your company.

At Kiwi Bid Support, clients often come to us after wasting money on low-quality tender consultant services. Do your due diligence before signing on any dotted lines. To clear things up, start with this guide on how to choose a bid consultant.

What do they specialise in?

It makes sense to choose a bid consultant with expertise that’s aligned with your business. Whether you’re in construction, recruitment, legal, government or something else, do they have demonstrable experience in your sector?

This matters because every sector has its own lingo, compliance requirements, and evaluation criteria. A firm with the right expertise will quickly grasp the complexities of your business, and be able to craft bids that hit the mark while standing out. They’ve been there, done that, won the contracts.

Plus, when your bid consultant knows exactly what’s needed, they can hit the ground running. That means faster writing, more precise bids, and dodging time-consuming mistakes.

How do they approach client communication?

When you’re researching tender consultant services, have a chat with prospective companies to make sure you’re on the same wavelength.

Ask a few questions to gauge how they plan to communicate, like:

How big is your team, and how many clients do you have? This will give you an idea of whether they can offer a personal service, and be responsive to your needs and questions.
Will you offer proactive suggestions? In other words, are they simply a task-doer, or will they seek out ways to get the best results?
What will the project look like? The best partnerships start with a structured meeting to align expectations, clarify requirements, and agree on timelines. And the best bid consultants stick to those timelines!
Who will be my point of contact? This is key because a single point of contact supports accountability and faster decision-making. Your account manager should be there to listen to you and build on the relationship.

One of our core values is trust and partnership. Part of this involves being honest and open in our communications. We analyse client capabilities and will always be transparent about the best approach for you - even if that means skipping certain tenders or going after other projects. Ultimately, we’re here to help you save time and money.

What services do they offer?

Find a bid consultant in NZ that covers all bases.

At Kiwi Bid Support, we have in-house designers and estimators. That means everything is managed in one place, and you don’t have to look for other consultants to cover tasks.

“We cover a full range of services to meet your tendering and design needs, from ad-hoc support to a fully managed service.” Piers Riley, Director & Client Account Manager

Do they have good reviews?

Anyone can talk themselves up, but your bid consultant should be able to back up their claims. Make sure reviews are clearly displayed and look for proof that the consultant has the qualities that matter most to you - whether that’s communication, speed, or expertise in your sector.

(Oh, while you’re here, feel free to check out recommendations for Piers Riley and general reviews for KBS!)