A “No” on an essential condition
Pause and investigate. Check the exact wording in the tender and whether clarification is possible before the buyer’s questions deadline. Do not assume a strong proposal can compensate for a mandatory condition.
Check eligibility, capacity, commercial fit and evidence before committing your team. A single unmet mandatory condition can matter more than several strong answers elsewhere.
Pause and investigate. Check the exact wording in the tender and whether clarification is possible before the buyer’s questions deadline. Do not assume a strong proposal can compensate for a mandatory condition.
Assign someone to confirm the point, record the evidence and set a date for the decision. If the uncertainty cannot be resolved in time, account for that explicitly in your decision.
Use your organisation’s approval process. The checklist cannot assess competitors, guarantee compliance or predict an award. Confirm the facts behind your answers and review the latest addenda.