Definition
Form of Tender
The signed declaration confirming your offer and its validity period.
The Form of Tender is a short, formal declaration document within an ITT pack that a supplier signs to confirm their bid price, confirm acceptance of the contract terms, and certify that the submission is genuine and not the result of collusion. It is a mandatory part of most tender returns and missing or incorrect completion can lead to disqualification.
What the Form of Tender typically confirms
Although short, the Form of Tender carries legal weight: signing it confirms the supplier's bid price stands, that the offer remains open for a stated validity period, and that the bidder accepts the buyer's terms and conditions unless variations have been formally raised elsewhere.
It also usually includes an anti-collusion certificate, confirming the bid was prepared independently without improper contact with competing bidders.
- Confirmed bid price or reference to the pricing schedule
- Bid validity period
- Acceptance of contract terms and conditions
- Anti-collusion and non-canvassing certificate
- Authorised signature and company details
Common completion errors
Common mistakes include leaving the form unsigned, having it signed by someone without authority to bind the company, referencing an out-of-date price after late changes to the pricing schedule, or simply forgetting to submit it at all as a separate document.
Because it is short, bid teams sometimes deprioritise the Form of Tender until the last minute, which increases the risk of an avoidable, purely administrative disqualification.
How it relates to the rest of the submission
The Form of Tender should be treated as the formal cover declaration for the whole tender return, consistent with the pricing schedule and any qualifications noted elsewhere in the submission; inconsistencies between the form and the rest of the bid can raise concerns during evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is allowed to sign the Form of Tender?
- It should be signed by someone with the authority to legally bind the bidding company, such as a director or other authorised signatory, as stated in the instructions to tenderers. Signing by someone without this authority can create problems if the bid is successful.
- What happens if I forget to submit the Form of Tender?
- Many buyers treat the Form of Tender as a mandatory document, and omitting it can result in the bid being deemed non-compliant or rejected outright, even if the rest of the submission is strong, so it should always be checked off explicitly before submission.
- Can I amend the Form of Tender's standard wording?
- Generally no; buyers usually expect the Form of Tender to be completed and signed as provided, without amendment. Any concerns about the terms it references should be raised as a clarification question during the tender window, not resolved by editing the form itself.
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