Bidgen vs a traditional bid-writing agency
Bidgen is a premium-quality, human-led alternative to a traditional bid-writing agency. We work as an extension of your team, and the service is built for small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs) that want tendering to become a regular source of new work. In the agency quotes and buying conversations we see, traditional agencies charge £4,500 to £20,000 for a single tender, with complex, high-value tenders at the top of that range. You get one bid owner, and more writers and reviewers when deadlines overlap, at a significantly more cost-effective rate. Some agencies write a single response; others provide an ongoing managed team. Compare the proposals you have received: who will do the work, what they will deliver, what your team must provide and how the arrangement works between tenders.
Before you choose
Who this helps
- A shortlist of providers offering different scopes
- A business moving from occasional help to continuing bid support
- A team checking whether a project quote covers the full response
Points to check
- Do not assume another agency only writes one-off bids.
- Claims about lower cost need comparable quotes and scope.
- An ongoing service still needs a clear capacity agreement and client approvals.
Check what each proposal is actually selling
One provider may quote for the written quality response; another may include opportunity review, evidence interviews, a bid plan and submission preparation. Both can be sensible offers for different needs. Ask each provider to show where their responsibility starts and ends.
If the bid is already under way, describe what exists and what is unresolved. A proposal should reflect the current draft, evidence and decision gaps, rather than price a standard package that assumes you are starting from scratch.
Meet the people who would deliver
Ask who will lead, write and review the work, what relevant assignments they can discuss and how they will learn your delivery model. Confirm any subcontracting and the process for changing the team.
A useful conversation is to take one real question from the pack and ask what information they would need from you before drafting it. Listen for specific questions about delivery, proof and the scoring instructions. A confident sales presentation alone does not answer those questions.
Compare quality controls you can observe
Look for an agreed answer plan, a check against the tender instructions, factual approval by your specialists and review by someone able to challenge the draft. Ask how review comments are resolved and how the final files are checked.
References can help you assess responsiveness and accuracy. If a provider quotes a win rate, ask which bids are counted, over what period and what role the provider played.
Understand the work between submissions
For an ongoing relationship, agree whether the service covers monitoring, qualification, maintaining evidence, buyer research and preparing for expected tenders. Ask what happens during a month without a suitable live bid.
Bidgen can coordinate that work between bids as well as the tenders we agree to run. Other providers may offer similar arrangements. Compare the proposed working routine and outputs, including notice periods and access to records if the relationship ends.
Use one scope to compare price
Request a written breakdown covering management, interviews, drafting, revisions, independent review, formatting and submission support. Check how a new lot, an extension or an additional question changes the fee.
Bidgen quotes for the work involved and the people needed to do it. If you are choosing now, send the full pack and ask shortlisted providers to identify both their deliverables and the work they expect your team to complete.
Common questions
01How does Bidgen describe its service?
We provide a human-led bid team, with a named bid owner coordinating the agreed planning, writing, review and preparation work. The client supplies and approves evidence, decides price and contractual commitments, and authorises the final submission.
02Is an ongoing arrangement necessary?
No. It depends on whether you need work between bids and continuing capacity. A defined project can suit a single tender; an ongoing arrangement should be supported by a credible pipeline and useful recurring tasks.
03What should we ask a reference?
Ask who did the work, how issues were raised, whether drafts were factually reliable, how revisions were handled and how much client time was needed. Those answers help you assess the proposed working relationship.