Learn What Happens After You Bid
Familiarize Yourself with the Bid Process
- Attend the bid opening session; contact the City Clerk for more information.
- Locate the Bid Tabulation online.
Be Patient During the Decision Period
- Don’t panic if the decision seems delayed. It can take longer than anticipated for the City to review a bid.
- Be careful about how and when you ask questions during this period. Make sure any inquiries are directed to the bid contact, as identified in IonWave, the system the City of Omaha uses for bidding, only.
Get Ready to do the Work
- Use the waiting period to plan for a successful project. If the contract requires you to hire additional staff, rent equipment or order materials, take this time to plan your strategy for meeting those deadlines.
Plan for your Launch
- Once you have received notice of an award, reach out to the bid contact and plan a meeting to address any immediate first steps.
- Your bid proposal may have included a project plan that detailed the first steps to follow upon award. If you have committed to preliminary events like a kickoff meeting, make sure your required documents and materials are ready to go.
- Stick to your project schedule and utilize a budget tool to help you stay on track.
What if I Lost the Bid, What's Next?
- Don’t be discouraged if you lose a contract. The bid process is a great learning experience, and your business is now a known entity to agencies and potential partners.
- Requesting a formal debrief from the procurement team is a great way to receive feedback on your submission. The APEX Accelerator is another good resource to increase your odds of success on future bids.