IDEA: When you lose a bid, find out why you lost (price, competence, by how much $, who won, who was 2nd, when is the next bid?).

When you have a buyer call you and tell you another bidder won the project upon which you submitted a quote, ask the reasons for the decision.  Get ready because the remarks you receive will teach you more than if you won the job.

Questions to ask when you lose a bid:

• Were you more expensive and by how much?
• If you did not win, who won the bid? Ask who else was in the running because you want to know who you are going to bump into out in the market and you need to know how they bid.
• Was the buyer’s decision strictly based on price and if not, what were the other winning criteria which your company missed?
• How many bidders were there?
• Local bidders, out of state?
• Everybody licensed?
• Everyone insured?
• Was insurance even an issue?
• Was there anything negative about our losing bid or anything that could be improved according the buyer’s opinion?
• Did our proposal seem poorly prepared, poorly or vaguely written or seem to leave questions about the bid?
• Will there be more projects coming up and if so, may we be considered to bid on them if we can qualify?
• May our firm be added to the invitation to bid listing?