A tender is only as good as the information it is built on. This guide sets out what developers and asset owners should define before tendering fit-out work so that bids are complete, comparable and easy to evaluate.
What makes a tender scope clear
- Drawings and specifications at a level suited to the stage of design.
- Performance requirements where a specific product is not mandated.
- Site information: existing conditions, access, working hours and building rules.
- Interfaces with other contractors and clear boundaries of responsibility.
- Programme dates and the milestones that matter.
- Exclusions: what is supplied by others.
Giving every tenderer the same information
Issue one package and answer every clarification to all tenderers in writing. If one bidder receives information that others do not, the comparison stops being fair.
Evaluating alternatives
Decide beforehand whether alternatives are welcome and how they will be assessed. A clearly priced base offer plus separately described alternatives keeps the comparison clean.
Evaluation criteria and what to agree before award
- State the criteria and their weighting in advance.
- Clarify assumptions, exclusions and programme with the preferred bidder in writing.
- Agree the change process, inspection points and handover requirements before the contract is signed.
Questions clients ask
How should lifecycle maintenance be considered?
By asking for product information, access for servicing and care guidance as part of the tender requirements.
Which decisions must be made before mobilisation?
Finish selections that drive long-lead orders, the approval route and who authorises changes.
How SADEED responds to tenders
SADEED answers tenders against the issued scope, lists assumptions and exclusions, and raises clarification questions in writing through the stated route.
Preparing a fit-out tender?
Related guides
- What Procurement Teams Should Look for in a Fit-Out Contractor Proposal
- How to Compare Two Fit-Out Quotations Fairly
- The Commercial Fit-Out Process: From Approved Scope to Handover
- Design & Build programme
- Request a site visit
Last reviewed: October 2026. This guide is general information; requirements vary by property, scope and authority.