Civil contractors deserve a bid team. Most can’t afford one.
I spent ten years writing tenders inside two Tier-2 civil contractors. We had three full-time bid writers, an in-house graphic designer, and a programme of work that meant we were always submitting. The win rate sat at around 40%.
When I left to start TenderBuilt in 2025, I noticed the SMEs we used to subcontract from didn’t have any of that. The MD was writing the methodology in the truck on the way to a site visit. The methodology was three pages of generic copy from a template their accountant had given them. They were losing — and they thought it was the price.
It wasn’t the price. It was the response. TenderBuilt exists to fix that. We bring Tier-2 bid quality to the contractors doing the actual civil work — drainage crews, earthmovers, road maintenance teams. The companies who employ between five and fifty people and are bidding on tenders between $50K and $2M.
- 10+ years bid writing in Tier-2 civil — pavement, drainage, earthworks
- Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering, University of Sydney · 2004
- Cert IV in Procurement & Contracting
- Masters of Applied Finance, Macquarie University · 2011
- Published guides on tendering, prequalification, and procurement — see the Resources library
Aerospace engineer + finance background isn’t the obvious resume for civil tendering. But tender panels score three things — technical rigour, commercial sense, and clear writing.
Aerospace taught me the first. Finance taught me the second. Ten years in Tier-2 bid rooms taught me how to make all three land on the page.
Civil contractors already have engineers. What they often lack is someone who can put what those engineers know into the language a procurement panel scores against.
Four principles. No exceptions.
Stated up front so clients know what they’re getting — and what they’re not.
Fixed fees. Always.
Every engagement is quoted up front and locked at engagement. No hourly billing. No scope creep that turns into a surprise invoice. If we underestimate the work, that’s our problem — not yours.
Civil only.
We don’t write tenders for IT consultancies, cleaning companies or training providers. We write civil construction tenders. The vocabulary, the standards, the evaluation criteria — they’re our daily language.
Your voice. Your win.
We write from your voice, not ours. The methodology workshop in week one captures how your foremen actually run a job. Specific plant items, real sequencing, the standards you cite by clause. Generic responses lose.
No retainers. No lock-in.
Engagements are by the tender, by the quarter or by the year — whichever fits. There’s no minimum commitment. Most clients move from Project to Programme on their own once the win rate starts compounding.
Credentials & affiliations.
| Body / Standard | Detail | Current to |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | Tender writing process certified · audited annually | Mar 2027 |
| TfNSW Prequalification | Supplier on consultancy register · category C (Procurement Advisory) | Sep 2026 |
| Buy.NSW | Registered supplier · ICT & Professional Services panel | Active |
| SafeWork NSW | Construction Induction (White Card) · current | 2028 |
| Professional indemnity | $5M PI · QBE Insurance · certificate available on request | Jul 2026 |
A small team. On purpose.
TenderBuilt is deliberately kept small so the writing stays consistent. Every tender is handled end-to-end by TenderBuilt’s principal consultant.
Founder & Principal Consultant
10+ years bid writing in Tier-2 civil. Writes every tender. Runs the methodology workshops in person where possible.
Priya Anand
Civil engineer turned bid writer. Owns technical methodology, programme narrative and ITP / hold-point sections.
Mara Llewellyn
Owns prequal applications, RFT compliance schedules, and final lodgement across Buy.NSW, VendorPanel, ICN and council portals.