Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Central Window Cleaners on February 06, 2007, 02:09:53 pm
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I have been asked to tender for a contract with the council for window cleaning. Can anyone advise what this will require please?
Also how do i find out about other contracts for tender with the council and any other companies etc?
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Council Tenders have to be law go for the lowest quote! many window cleaning companies around here put in a very low quote just to get the work, then sub out to some idiot how do it next to nothing.
I quoted a council tender once! spent a week on just quoting, then I found out the company that had won it quoted half what I did, council tenders! wouldn't touch them with a pole!
Andy
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I registered on a website which provides daily listings of council contracts available within your local area. You are only allowed to register once unless you pay a subscription but unless you want to work all over the country its fine by me.
www.supply2.gov.uk
Be aware that you will get it daily and it contains plenty of work that you will not be interested in. Having worked in the public sector before contracts are awarded on several key areas and not only cost so keep at it and quote what you need to to earn a living otherwise you it defeats the object of working for yourself.
Hope this helps
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i done the same spent 4 days pricing work 4 a 2 year contract, what a waste of time the council employee i went round with wasent sure which windows got cleaned & which dident then halfway through the last day they went home left me to it!, they said the windows were cleaned every mnth( as if half of them looked like they hadent been done in yrs)cos the previous window cleaner seems to hav got away with missing loads of windows, thats maybe why his price was cheaper.
iam not expensive by any means but cud not get any where near ther price,
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well said mike and poleman, that just about covers it all. lowest quote is mainly the decider
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Thanks for the info guys. How do you find out how much they paid the last cleaner, will they normally tell you?
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Yep, they're almost always won on price and silly ones at that.
Tendering for work is not the best way to get good profitable business unless you don't intend to offer the full service they require.
The way contract cleaners get around this for office work is by offering a Gold, Silver and Bronze service. That way if the customer goes for a low quote, the contractor has already lowered the expectations of the client. Maybe it's worth considering for window cleaning!?
It works for us when we sell WFP systems - they can have Concept 2o, Ionic or Brodex ;)
Regards
Mike
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Thanks for the info guys. How do you find out how much they paid the last cleaner, will they normally tell you?
They told us by letter that we did not win and said in the letter of the price that got the tender, me thinks they are trying to get it down even more by giving the price ::) but that's not happening (well not with me) as there are more windows than window cleaners ;)
Andy
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At the moment in our area there seems to be more window cleaners that windows.
There are so many cowboys setting up with a ladder and a bucket it is hard to keep building our round with the prices they are giving.
That's why I was interested when they asked me to tender as these guys would not have the insurance etc to meet the requirements.
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hi Central
Is it just for 1 building or all council owned.Nuneaton council sent me all the details for all buildings last year.Due to all the hassle i didnt bother looking at it.A mate of mine spent 2 solid weeks quoting and put in his price.the council apparrently went with a quote almost a third of what he put in.I take it the present contractor hasnt done the work.
wayne
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Hi Wayne,
long time since we spoke at George Eliot School.
It is for a number of cummunal areas, still waiting for the tender. She did say that the previous guys had not done a good job.
Just thought it was worth looking as I have never tendered for work before.
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Hi Central
It wasnt me who you spoke to at George Eliot,think you may have me mixed up with somebody else.I do live near the school though.I drive a citroen relay(blue).
Wayne
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Hiya Wayne,
this is Tony Thornton are you Wayne Warmington, who has a cousin Carl Warmington who I went to school with. We use to all hang around the cadwell park with Ady Hall and friends.
Tony T
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yes Tony im that wayne,but there was 2 carl warmingtons.1 was my brother(31) and there was 1 in my year(36 now) but he was no relation.I live opp the park in hilltop.
wayne
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How long have you been window cleaning then?
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Hi Tony
Started 7 years ago,me and another guy bought a couple of rounds but he got lazy so I bought him out 3 years ago.Got myself a WFP and have never looked back.
wayne
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I know what you mean I bought this business to keep my son in law in a job but turnout to be a much better job for me that I expected after 16 years fixing computers. How much did it cost you to WFP? Keep looking at it but can't quite afford it at the moment.
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Tony
I bought a tuckerpole system with poles(3)and a 360ltr tank but after 12 months needed a bigger tank so sold 360 and bought a 820ltr one.In all ive spent about 4 grand but well worth the investment.
wayne
p.s who was it you spoke to at the school then?
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I think his name was originally Carl Island (36) in my form. £4k is quite a lot of outlay have you covered that it the time saved and extra work?