A Valentine’s Day love letter to good bid lead partners 🌹

Managing complex and important bids in legal or other professional services firms can be a tough gig, but working with good bid lead partners makes all the difference.

So, what makes a good bid lead partner who we love to work with? Many things, but not necessarily that they do everything right the first time or fully understand the bid manager’s role. Often it is how they respond when we challenge their thinking.

Here are some of the things good bid lead partners say and do that warm the heart, keep bid managers engaged, and contribute to our winning more bids:

😍 We just met with key client A, and they said they will be issuing an RFP in a few weeks, and we will be invited to respond. We have been pursuing this work with them for the past year. Can we set up a call with you to discuss the details and plan what we should be doing now? (Bonus points if the bid lead partner has previously let the bid/BD team know about the active pursuit.)

😍 See attached for a new RFP that just came through from client A – this is FYI for your records only as they have to invite all panel firms to bid on matters over a certain amount, but we know they will go with firm B on this one. I have already discussed this with the client, and they are happy for us not to submit.

😍 So great to have you working on this tender with us. I don’t think you’ve worked on one with this client before so let me make sure you have access to the client team microsite and I’ll give you a run down on the background to this particular opportunity. Is there anything else you need from me now for this?

😍 You’re the proposal expert – how do you think we should approach this?

😍 Yes of course you can attend – bid managers haven’t usually joined the strategy/pricing calls but you will definitely add value.

😍 You’ve spent enough time chasing this overdue content from these SMEs – let me make some calls now to get this moving.

😍 Thank you for managing this so proactively. I see we already have a placeholder for a planning session for the pitch call and that is great.

😍 The proposal is in – thank you so much! Win or lose you and your team did a magnificent job – we couldn’t have done it without you. (Bonus points if this is in an email to everyone who worked on the bid with your boss and/or the managing partner copied.)

😍 We’ve won the bid!!! Thank you so much for your brilliant work – we couldn’t have done it without your coaching and advice as well as you managing the documents. My secretary will be in touch to make sure you're free to attend the celebration lunch.

To any bid lead partner who has said something like the above to myself and my team members, please know that we have loved you for it!

Bid managers – have I missed anything that makes you (platonically) love some of the bid lead partners you work with? And are there any good bid lead partners who you were thinking of when reading this?