About bidding for EEM (Efficiency East Midlands) Frameworks
EEM is a not-for-profit organisation. Their operations extend across the entire UK. When bid writing to EEM, it’s important to understand that they service the entire public sector, from Councils to NHS Trusts and academies. This means that the goods and services you are proposing will need to appeal to these buyers.
The EEM issues a range of tenders, frameworks and also ‘call-offs’ which we help businesses respond to and win. EEM is a great option to grow your business in the public sector. Our professional bid writers can help you business apply for business with EEM. We will help you:
- Project manage your bid.
- Write your application.
- Create any supporting documentation you don’t have.
- Help you conduct a bid/no bid decision
- Guide you through the tender process in terms of bid/no bid decisions.
- Write and complete the section questionnaires (SQs), invitation to tender (ITTs) and award questionnaires.
- Ensure your bid response meets the mandatory criteria.
The focus on SMEs in EEM (Efficiency East Midlands) Frameworks
With the EEM framework, there is a very strong focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This presents a great opportunity for our SME clients who are looking to sell to the public sector. Firstly, there is proof in their supply chain that they support and appoint SMEs. Secondly, it’s a great opportunity to get public sector experience, and use that experience in your bids and tender applications for other frameworks. By bidding for a framework with EEM that makes it easy for SMEs to succeed, it points them in a much stronger position (with public sector experience) to bid for other frameworks and public sector contracts.
Our team of bid writers have helped lots of SMEs write successful tenders to EEM. EEM have implemented initiatives that make it easier for SMEs to bid for their contracts including:
Examples of the initiatives EEM Frameworks have in place to make it easier for SMEs to win frameworks:
- The potentially to become an awarded supplier at any time. The EEM has a strong focus on Dynamic Purchasing Systems. This means that certain frameworks are always open to new suppliers and there is enough ‘room’ due to no supplier volume limitation – for small and medium enterprises to be awarded.
- They have a structure approach in terms of their different frameworks. They have a focus on local suppliers. This is reflected in the fact that frameworks are broken down into geographic lots. The benefit is that it enables them to appoint a number of different SMEs in different areas and not have to appoint one major supplier for a number of different areas.
- Great notice for mini-tenders. This is helpful for small businesses that don’t have the resources to drop everything and complete a bid. There is ample time to respond.
Strategies and guide to help you win EEM DPS and Frameworks
Strategies our team will employ to help you win include:
- Ensuring you focus on your SME status if you are an SME and highlight any advantages. If you are not an SME, you need to blunt the arguments of SMEs by talking about how you are a dynamic business that will support local SMEs and suppliers and provide a robust service. This helps you score well and negate some of the advantages SMEs have by talking about how by appointing your business, the client will get similar advantages and benefits.
- Demonstrate your understanding of the public sector and the different public sector departments and clients which purchase through EEM. Show that you understand and have insight into their specific needs and challenges and are a credible supplier who can relate to and easily service a broad range of public sector clients.
- Read through and create a checklist for each of the requirements. Go through the specifications and the evaluation criteria. Make sure each of the specifications are addressed and that your responses reflect the evaluation criteria, not just the questions. It’s also a good idea to cross check the specifications with the evaluation criteria in case anything is missing and should be referenced.
- Research the EEM’s goals and priorities. Make sure that you incorporate and integrate these goals and priorities into our bid. I.e. reference them throughout your bid and show how your bid aligns with these goals. It is better to spell it out to them rather than imply anything.
- Create a plan for each response. Response structure is critical to scoring well. Create a template or framework response for each question before you write the response and make sure you cover all aspects of the question. Some questions read like a simple question have two or three parts within them.
- Ensure you show what makes you different. These are called USPs or sometimes win-themes in the bidding world. If you want to win an EEM framework or DPS, you need to highlight what makes you different, and also highlight the benefits this will bring to public sector clients procuring through the EEM.
- Include evidence throughout your bid. Facts and figures, examples and case studies add credibility to your bid. Integrate these as much as possible.
- Comply with all the mandatory criteria and provide the supporting documentation required. Make sure that your bid is well written and does not have any spelling or other errors.
- Make sure you understand and have a practice run of using the portals which you will need to use in order to submit the bid. For example, if you need to submit the bid, ITT, SQQ or response through Geometra (used by EEM for DPS Agreements) or Xantive (used by EEM for tendering), then you should get to know the platform so there are no last minute issues.
Writing a quality social value response to win an EEM Framework or bid
In order to win an EEM framework award, you need to write a compelling and tailored response to their social value questions. You can read more on responding to Social Value in our practice guide here.
Our team of bid and tender writing consultants have viewed the feedback from EEM of many of our clients, and a key theme is of course social value. There is a very strong focus on environmental sustainability and you need to ensure that one of the ‘themes’ or ‘win themes’ of your bid is Social Value and environmental sustainability.
This is key, because it’s not just about writing a quality response to Social Value. It’s about integrating Social Value through your entire bid to ensure there is key messaging through your bid.
If in doubt, our team can help you ensure Social Value and sustainability practices are integrated throughout your bid.
What EEM frameworks are available and how to find them
You can easily find EEM Framework opportunities through Contracts Finder and Find a Tender. IN addition, for DPS Agreements, EEM use an online tool called Geometra. Once you are tendering, you will find EEM use a portal called Xantive. If you are having any issues using these portals, our team can assist.
EEM Framework applications currently available include:
Planned Maintenance
- Buildings Maintenance and Compliance DPS
- Communal Entrance Doors Framework
- Cyclical Decoration, Decorating Materials & Tenant Options Vouchers Framework
- Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Damp Proofing, Mould Management and Associated Works (DPS0004)
- Digital Aerials Framework
- Electrical Repairs, Maintenance & Installation Framework
- Facilities Services Framework
- Heating & Hot Water Systems Framework
- Insulation and associated works Framework
- Labour Services DPS
- Lift Installation, Refurbishment, Servicing and Maintenance Works Framework
- Property Improvement and Decarbonisation Works Framework
- Property Maintenance DPS
- Roofing Services Framework
- Stairlifts, Hoists and Disabled Adaptations Framework
- Windows and Doors – UPVC, Composite & Composite Fire Door Sets Framework
EEM Materials Frameworks
- Decorating Materials Framework
- Domestic and Commercial Appliances DPS
- Electrical Materials Framework
- General Building Materials Framework
- Joinery Materials Framework
- Kitchen Units (Supply) Framework
- Managed Solutions for the Supply of Materials Framework
- Plumbing and Heating Materials Framework
- PPE & Site Equipment Framework
- Specialist Materials DPS
EEM Sustainability Frameworks
- Consultancy Services DPS
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Framework
- Electrical Works Framework
- Heating & Hot Water Systems Framework
- Insulation and associated Works Framework
- Property Improvement Works Framework
- Roofing Replacement and Repairs Framework
- Whole House Retrofitting for Zero Carbon Homes Framework
- Windows and Doors – UPVC, Composite & Composite Fire Door Sets Framework
- Zero Carbon Solutions Framework
EEM Compliance Frameworks
- Asbestos Surveys & Removal Framework
- Fire & Intruder Alarms and Fire Protection Equipment Framework
- Passive Fire Protection Framework
- Water Services Management (Legionella Bacteria Control) Framework
EEM Services & Consultancy Frameworks
- Consultancy Services DPS
- Drainage Services and CCTV Inspection Framework
- Electronic Payment Services Framework
- IT Reseller Framework
- Pest Control Framework
- Printing, Fulfilment & Mailing Services Framework
- Waking Watch Services Framework
EEM Construction Frameworks
All EEM construction frameworks are DPS solutions.
- Construction Management Services DPS
- Demolition DPS
- Development and Construction DPS
- Modular Homes Manufacture & Installation DPS
Client testimonials
We are a construction maintenance business operating in the East Midlands. We are often required to tender for work through the EEM including responding to DPS and framework applications. Tsaks Consulting has been great in supporting us to be awarded to these frameworks. In our industry they are highly competitive and everybody wants to be appointed to an Efficiency East Midlands framework. You need to comply with everything and put forward a comprehensive response which details experience and capabilities. The bid writers at Tsaks Consulting know how to fir a high scoring response in a small word-count. They come back to us throughout the writing process with questions and clarifications and requests for more evidence. This is great as the end product is fantastic and I know that when I’m using Tsaks Consulting for the bid, everything is on track and well managed. I would recommend them to any construction or maintenance business across the UK looking to win more frameworks or DPSs.
Brian T | East Midlands Construction | East Midlands
We provide electrical, plumbing and general maintenance services. We engaged Tsaks Consulting to help us with an Efficiency East Midlands framework application which we really wanted (and needed) to win. The result was excellent. They are professional and expert bid writers. Jason was great. They know the process inside out and they know what you need to write and how to write it. They are also excellent at helping with managing the bid and chasing everyone up for the information you need to provide. It’s a transparent process and is worth every cent. Tsaks Consulting is excellent and they helped us create and submit a compelling response to the ITT, SQQ and Framework.
Call our team of bid and tender writers today to talk about how we can help you win Efficiency East Midlands frameworks and awards. Our team here at Tsaks Consulting has helped many small, medium and also large businesses win and be awarded frameworks and DPS with EEM.
Our writers have a good handle on what they are looking for and the best techniques adopt to write a compelling submission. We provide bid writing services in East Midlands and have helped many clients get appointed to the EEM framework and write an win East Mids tenders.