The short answerBuyers want to know who will actually do the work. Name the key people, their roles on this contract, their qualifications and their experience on similar work. Keep tender CVs short, usually one or two pages, and tailor them to the role and the buyer's criteria.
What a tender CV includes
- Name and role on this contract
- Relevant qualifications, licences and tickets
- Years of experience in this type of work
- Three to five relevant projects and their role in each
- Availability for this contract
Mistakes that lose marks
- Naming people who will not work on the contract
- Long CVs with no link to the role
- Expired licences or certificates
- No backup for key roles
A short tender CV layout
- Name, proposed role and availability
- Qualifications, licences and tickets, with expiry dates
- Years of relevant experience
- Three to five relevant projects: client, value, their role
- What they will do on this contract
A simple CV layout evaluators can scan
| Part | What to include |
|---|---|
| Role on this contract | The exact role named in the tender, and time committed |
| Relevant experience | Three to five similar projects, with your person's role on each |
| Qualifications | Licences, tickets and degrees that the tender asks for |
| Why this person | One or two lines linking them to the buyer's needs |
Keep each CV to the page limit, and only name people who will do the work. Swapping key people after award can breach the contract.
Questions
Can I change key personnel after winning?
Many contracts need the buyer's approval to replace key people. Only name people you can commit.
How long should a tender CV be?
Usually one or two pages, unless the buyer sets a limit.
Do I need to include CVs for every worker?
Usually only for the key roles the buyer names, such as the contract manager and supervisor.
Can I name a person I plan to hire?
Only if the tender allows it, and you should say plainly that the role is to be filled. Naming someone who has not agreed to the role is risky and can be misleading.
How many people should I include?
Include the people the tender asks for. If it does not say, name the people who will lead and supervise the work and keep the rest as a role list.