Government is beginning to verge on the criminal when it comes to their entire management of the tendering process. We were recently awarded what seemed like a fairly sizeable tender for an event but had less than four days to put together the event. There was no shortlisting process, no site inspection, and the tender brief did not specify what kind of venue one would be working with. What then transpired was that these government officials wanted everything suggested in the proposal (and more) with the end result being that the event cost significantly more than what we quoted for. There seems to be a complete disregard for processes; appalling planning which then falls on the head of the appointed agency (sometimes it becomes blatanly clear that the whole point was to appoint an agency as a potential "fall guy" should everything go belly up. I think there needs to be a consultative Workshop between marketing comms agencies and government Procurement/marketing individuals because standards are falling rapidly in this industry. Ultimately, good agencies will turn their backs on government tenders for good.

It doesn't seem to help. Guess which parastatal had all four pitching agencies back yesterday to re-present more than two months after the original presentation...

At this meeting the Client, head of marketing at a major Gauteng regional government department, addressed some 40 advertising agencies invited to pitch. She said, "We are not prepared to put up with your s&*t!". It was a Friday afternoon and we had to pitch the next Monday morning. Almost all of the agencies did not pitch. We were shocked and insulted by the belligerent manner in which we had been addressed. Never in thirty years of experience both here and in the UK have I have ever been exposed to such derogatory remarks. I did note some months later that she had been suspended on suspicion of awarding tenders illegally.

I wish they'd fire all of them and recruit from private sector hoping those newly appointed wont fall for the same temptations. Its disgraceful.

I believe Thendo has hit the nail. Perhaps one of the reasons some of these discrepancies continue could be an indication that there is a huge gap between companies within the industry. We are communicators and by default we're suppose to talk more within. Also one of the problems within the industry is that pr or marketing companies as well as corporates and government departments and parastatals continue to recruit personnel without the requisite professional skills 'tertiary level' as a result even HR people set-up pr companies these days. If we continue to applaud the exodus of skilled professionals from the public sector how can we then expect to have competent practitioners to adjudicate on our tender proposals? Thanks.

It is scary as we, people who are new in this field hear about how its all about who knows who rather than who can deliver well according to the customer's spec.

I strongly believe this needs to change if people are to understand the value and need of a good communications foundation which companies build themselves on, the value of communications strategically, rather than a 'nice to have' function and it all begins with the proposal stage! It needs to be treated professionaly, timeously and objectively. With this I also mean the feedback to all bidders, whether successful or not!

Great article. One we've all wanted to write and not quite as politely.

I think one of the key points of the public sector procurement process is that potential value is destroyed. The agency costs to be competitive and often is called to deliver against a completely different requirement.

Finally - I think it's time to blacklist some departments. (although many deserve what they get - saw in yesterday's paper a R4.7m p/a laundry tender awarded to a supplier with no washing machine.)

I have stopped pitching for government business as I've learnt through experience that they are ill-prepared; send out poor and inadequate 'briefs'; have already decided who they're going to award the business to and are going through the motions; are fishing for ideas and strategies (i.e. they get you to do their job for them, for free). The time, energy and money spent is wasted. It's far better focusing on business which will yield returns.

They should be able to shortlist an agency based on credentials and client references.