Choose the right supplier, and be able to explain why.
When a building system or a major contract needs replacing, we run the whole process for you, from the first survey to handover. We never bid for work on a tender we run, so our advice stays on your side.
Replacing door entry or lift lines before the 2027 switch-off? Read the guide →- Independence
- Never a bidder
- Scope
- Survey to handover
- Who it’s for
- Boards, agents, owners
- Advice on your side
- We never bid for work on a tender we run, so we gain nothing from which supplier you pick.
- Bids you can compare
- Every supplier prices the same specification, so the quotes line up side by side.
- A decision you can explain
- A written recommendation that your board, owners or leaseholders can follow and check.
What we can help you replace.
Systems that cost a lot to get wrong and are hard to change once they’re in.
Intercoms, fobs, gates, visitor access and cameras for offices, blocks of flats and estates.
Phone systems, lift lines and alarm lines that need to move off analogue lines before the January 2027 switch-off.
Leased lines, broadband, cabling and WiFi for offices, shared buildings and residents.
Licences, email, Teams and file sharing, specified for the way your team works and priced like for like.
Moving off old servers, or choosing where your systems should run and what that will cost.
Protection, backup and recovery that would stand up to a cyber insurer’s questions.
How a project runs.
Each stage ends with something you can read and a decision for you to make, so you’re never committed further than you want to be.
- SurveyWhat you have, what goes wrong with it and what it costs to keep running.
- OptionsThe realistic choices compared, including what each will cost to maintain over its life.
- SpecificationA tender pack that every supplier quotes against, so the quotes match.
- TenderWe find suitable suppliers, run the site visits and answer questions, sharing every answer with every bidder.
- RecommendationBids scored against criteria agreed with you at the start, with our reasoning in a short report.
- HandoverWe oversee the installation, check the finished work and sign it off with you.
Common questions.
Have you run a tender like this before?
Yes. We recently ran one to replace the door entry system on a residential estate in Cardiff: eight bidders, four clarification notices shared with every bidder, and a written report to the board at each stage.
Why use a consultant instead of asking suppliers for quotes?
Suppliers each quote for something slightly different, and each recommends what they sell. One specification means every quote covers the same work, so the cheapest bid is the cheapest for the same job, and the running costs are visible before you sign.
Will you bid for the work yourselves?
No. Our only interest is that you choose well.
We’re a residents’ management company. Does this fit with Section 20?
Yes. We time the tender to fit the statutory consultation, invite any contractors your leaseholders nominate, and provide the estimates and written reasoning your managing agent needs. Your managing agent or solicitor runs the consultation itself.
We own a building with several tenants. Can you help?
Yes. The specification separates the shared systems, such as door entry, building WiFi and the cabling between floors, from what each tenant uses, so costs can be split fairly and new tenants are easier to connect.
We’re a charity or school with our own purchasing rules. Can you work within them?
Yes. We follow your policy on the number of quotes, approval limits and conflicts of interest, and give your trustees or governors a written record of how the decision was made.
We’re a regulated firm. Can you build our compliance needs into the tender?
Yes. Requirements from your regulator or insurer, such as where data is stored, who can access it and what gets logged, go into the specification, so every bid is checked against them.
Our contract is up for renewal. Is it worth going to tender?
Not always. We can compare what you pay and what you get against the market, and tell you whether a full tender is worth it or whether renegotiating with your current supplier is the better move.
Do we have to commit to the whole process?
No. Each stage ends with a report, and you decide whether to go on. Some clients only need the survey and options; others want us through to handover.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size of the job. A straightforward replacement can be settled in a few weeks; a full tender for a large site usually runs for a few months from survey to award.