What buyers usually ask for
- Site lists, areas and cleaning frequencies
- Staffing levels and supervision
- Quality audits and reporting
- Chemicals, equipment and environmental practices
- WHS, inductions and police checks where required
- Pricing per site, per visit or per square metre, as the schedule sets
How to stand out
- Show the hours and frequencies per site, not just a total
- Explain how you cover absences and after hours call outs
- Name the supervisor and your audit routine
- Use referees from similar sites
Where to find them
Check AusTender, your state portal and council tender pages. See where to find tenders in Australia.
A go or no go check for this kind of work
- Can you staff the sites at the hours and frequencies asked?
- Do you hold the insurances and any licences required?
- Do you have a similar contract to show, with a referee?
- Can you meet the response times and reporting?
- Does the price allow for travel, plant and supervision?
Common mistakes
- Pricing a lump sum when the schedule asks for rates
- A methodology that does not match the staffing in the price
- Ignoring transition from the current supplier
- Missing site specific risks
Commercial and office cleaning tenders
Commercial cleaning tenders and office cleaning tenders cover offices, schools, councils, hospitals and strata buildings. Councils and government agencies advertise on their own portals. Property managers and strata managers often invite cleaners directly, so keep your capability statement ready to send.
Questions
Do I need special certifications for cleaning tenders?
It depends on the buyer and the work. Check the mandatory requirements in each tender; some ask for quality, safety or environmental systems.
Can a small cleaning business win government tenders?
Yes. Many contracts are sized for small and medium businesses. Choose tenders that match your capacity and location.
What makes a methodology stand out for this work?
Specific numbers for crews, frequencies and response times, tied to the actual sites in the tender.
Should I visit the sites before pricing?
Yes, when you can. Site visits often reveal access, size and condition issues that change the price.