Do Your Homework

For larger projects and contracts, the City requires prospective bidders to attend a pre-bid meeting.

At the pre-bid meeting, a representative from the relevant agency will share information about the project requirements, timeline and proposal. This meeting is your opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Even if you decide not to bid on a particular project, pre-bid meetings are a great place to make connections and meet potential partners.

For first-time bidders, meeting with a representative of the relevant City agency or department is an important part of the bidding process. City staff are always happy to answer questions and listen to suggestions. Agencies look to vendors like you for innovative ideas. After all, you are the expert in your field.

Meeting with agency representatives also helps put a face to a name, which can help during the bidding process. It’s also a great way to learn about other upcoming opportunities and resources.

Make sure to do your research before you meet with an agency representative. Learn what the agency does and how they typically handle contract work. This can help you formulate good questions to ask the agency representative.

If you are a small vendor, you should ask about what kind of experience is needed for a particular contract, or if there are any other special requirements.

Agency representatives have limited time, so use your meeting to focus on learning and listening instead of a sales pitch. If you aren’t prepared to do the work, be honest. If you think your work could be valuable, request a follow-up meeting.