Winning More Bids: How to Craft a Killer CV and Biography for Tender Submissions

Piers Riley
Feb 5
4 min read

Do tender CVs even matter?

In short, yes. Tender CVs can solidify your capabilities in the evaluator’s eyes. They’re looking for a team that can deliver what they say, and this is your chance to remind them about your background. Ultimately, it’s about giving clients that extra dose of confidence in you and your proposal.

A CV for tender submissions is great for:

Credibility and trust: Showcasing your team’s skills and experience (with testimonials, if possible) acts as proof of your capabilities. You’re not just winging it – you’re the perfect team for the job.
Easing the evaluator’s workload: Well-presented CVs highlight your strengths and experience, making it easier for the client to spot them.
Compliance: CVs answer the information a tender asks for, such as your team member’s names and responsibilities, educational backgrounds, industry accreditations, and previous relevant experience. Cross-check the selection criteria to ensure compliance.

Bid submission CV tips

Actionable advice to help you impress evaluators. Best of all: You probably don’t need to overhaul your entire CV. Most of these bid submission CV tips involve some light tweaks – but have a big impact.

Tailor CVs to the tender

There’s no need to write CVs from scratch for every tender, but it’s worth tailoring them to match the wording and requirements.

For example, if the tender request specifies a role title, use that (even if it doesn’t match the title used in your organisation). This helps evaluators to spot whether requested roles are covered.

It might be worth restructuring CVs, too. Put your most relevant experience above the fold (close to the top!)

Keep it skimmable

Clarity is key in your CV for tender submissions.

List qualifications and training in bulleted lists – it’s much easier for the evaluator to skim and absorb that way.

The overall format should be consistent and polished. If you want to include a professional headshot, they usually go in a top corner on the first page.

Focus on achievements, not just duties

Wherever possible, highlight the outcomes you helped achieve on your projects. Things like cost savings, time efficiencies, and other project successes help you stand out more than simply listing tasks. Be upfront about how you made a difference to a project.

Do try to back up any claims. Phrases like “results-driven” just sound like clichés without context.

Stick to relevant projects

Clients don’t want to wade through pages of information that isn’t directly relevant to the tender in front of them.

Go for 3-5 relevant projects – ideally, include projects similar in scale, type or sector. Add details like your role, scope of work, and outcomes to paint a clear picture of each project.

Add references

If space allows, add 2-3 referees links to the projects mentioned. This helps to boost trust and traceability, and is just one simple way to stand out from the crowd.

Quick tips for writing a professional biography in NZ

First vs. third person: Most professional biographies are written in third person. For example, “Piers is a director and client account manager”, instead of “I am a director and client account manager”.
Key points to hit: Your biography doesn’t have to be a whole novel, but it should include key elements like your name, current role, major achievements, relevant experience, skills, and a personal touch. Tailor it to the evaluators, wherever possible.
Tell a story, not a list: While CVs are list-heavy, your biography is more of a narrative. Let the reader get to know you. Showcase your unique contributions to past projects, to demonstrate why you’re the perfect fit for this project.
Avoid technical jargon: Your biography is a chance to show off your skills – not your vocabulary. Technical jargon can make your bio harder to read, so your audience might just give up.
Proofread the bio: Ask a colleague or an AI tool like ChatGPT to proofread your bio before submission. Keep an eye out for spelling and grammar mistakes, and overly wordy sentences. The bio should flow smoothly, and be waffle-free.

The proof is in the proposal: A KBS case study

A civil construction client engaged Kiwi Bid Support to support a high-value government tender where personnel capability was a heavily weighted evaluation criterion. While the client had strong on-site experience, their existing CVs and bios were inconsistent, overly technical, and did not clearly align with the tender questions or evaluation framework.

Kiwi Bid Support worked with the client’s project team to:

Re-structure CVs to directly mirror the personnel requirements in the RFP
Translate technical experience into evaluator-focused language
Highlight role relevance, outcomes, and project value rather than task lists
Ensure consistency across all personnel CVs and project biographies

The revised CVs were included into the tender response, clearly demonstrating role suitability, relevant experience, and team cohesion.

Outcome:

The tender was shortlisted, with positive evaluator feedback specifically referencing the strength and clarity of the proposed team
The client was subsequently awarded the contract, securing new work in a competitive procurement process