Submitting a bid, step by step

1. Find and read the tender

Open and selective procedures are published on simap.ch (PPA Art. 48 para. 1). The publication states, among other things, the service, place, type of procedure, deadline, languages, eligibility and award criteria and where to get the documents (PPA Art. 35).

TEXFY shows these details on one page and checks whether the tender fits your services and cantons.

2. Get the documents

The tender documents are generally made available at the same time and electronically; access is free of charge (PPA Art. 48 para. 2). On simap.ch you need a bidder account for this. Some tenders refer to another platform or directly to the contracting authority.

3. Ask questions

Clarify open points within the deadline for questions stated in the tender, on simap.ch often through the question forum. The answers are generally made available to all bidders: read them before you submit.

If you want to challenge a requirement in the documents whose significance is clear, you must do so together with the tender, not only after the award (PPA Art. 53 para. 2).

4. Prepare and submit the bid

The bid must be submitted in writing, in full and on time as specified in the tender; electronically only if the tender provides for it (PPA Art. 34). If it requires two envelopes, you submit the service and the price separately (PPA Art. 35 let. l).

Keep to the order and the forms of the documents and enclose all the evidence requested. Significant formal errors or significant deviations from binding requirements can lead to exclusion (PPA Art. 44 para. 1 let. b).

5. Opening and evaluation

In open and selective procedures, at least two representatives of the contracting authority open all bids received on time and record, among other things, the names of the bidders and the total prices (PPA Art. 37 paras. 1 and 2). At the latest after the award, you may inspect this record on request (PPA Art. 37 para. 4).

The bids are then checked and evaluated against the award criteria announced (PPA Art. 29).

6. Award and appeal

The award is published or notified to the bidders with brief reasons: type of procedure, successful bidder, total price and the decisive features and advantages of the bid (PPA Art. 51). In open and selective procedures it appears on simap.ch (PPA Art. 48 para. 1).

If you disagree, you can file a written appeal with reasons within 20 days of notification (PPA Art. 56 para. 1).

Checklist

• Note the deadlines: questions, site visit, bid
• Download all documents and watch for corrections
• Check the eligibility criteria and the evidence requested first
• Read the award criteria and their weighting, and shape the bid accordingly
• Check forms, order and signatures
• Plan the submission with time to spare