ASK US WEDNESDAY: “How to quote for a tender submission?”

Hi Ellen. Good question! It sounds like they have already done the bulk of the work and are hoping to hire a professional to go over the submission – is that right? I would probably charge a project fee for this type of thing. Work out how long it might take you (building in a buffer in case of changes etc) and then multiply the estimated time by your hourly rate. (If you’re not sure of your hourly rate, this post and this one will help you calculate it.)

You might want to break it down for the client on your quote in ‘stages’: re-writing, editing, proof-reading, the number of revisions you’ll allow. However, as tender submissions aren’t a typical project and typically include a LOT of checks and variables, I would definitely read Australian freelance management consultant Chris Chappell’s tender writing guide to really clarify exactly what you’ve been asked to do and to ensure you’re quoting accurately from the outset.

Once you have a rough outline of how long you think it’ll take, I would create an itemised quote and present it as a project fee. Don’t forget to include a note that it is just an estimate and subject to change if there are changes in the scope of work.

I hope that helps!