Tender guides · Written by Wallis Tenders · Reviewed 1 October 2026
Choose work you can deliver
Start with a service you already provide well. Write down your delivery area, available staff and the size of project you can take on alongside existing customers. Include travel, equipment, insurance and the time needed to prepare the bid. A local maintenance contract and a national supply requirement need very different resources.
Find the right opportunity
CanadaBuys publishes federal tender opportunities. Wallis Tenders helps you search these notices by work and province or territory. This guide focuses on federal buying. Wallis Tenders also includes selected provincial and municipal notices; see our coverage page for the connected collections. You can also search the official service directly without a Wallis Tenders membership.
Check the submission route early
Read the notice to find out how to register, obtain documents and respond. Some opportunities use SAP Business Network through CanadaBuys, while others specify another route. Complete the registration required for that opportunity well before closing. A Wallis Tenders account helps you find and save work; it does not register you with the buyer or submit a bid.
Make a bid-or-pass decision
List every mandatory requirement before estimating your chances. Look for relevant experience, delivery locations, language, security requirements and any eligibility or Canadian-content conditions in the current documents. Do not assume that all federal opportunities use the same conditions. If a requirement is unclear, use the notice’s stated clarification process.
Build the response around the evaluation
Create a short table matching each requirement to your answer and evidence. Use relevant examples with your actual role, delivery dates and outcomes. Price the complete scope, including mobilisation and ongoing support. Confirm currency, taxes, payment milestones and any options from the buyer’s pricing instructions.
Leave time for submission and changes
Track the clarification deadline, mandatory visits and final closing time separately. Wallis Tenders displays Canadian closing times in Eastern time with EST or EDT shown; convert this to your local time and check the original notice. Revisit amendments, submit through the specified system and keep the submission confirmation.
Your quick checklist
- Can we meet every mandatory condition?
- Have we registered for the buyer’s submission route?
- Does each scored requirement have clear evidence?
- Have we checked amendments and the exact deadline?
Further reading
Procurement rules and requirements differ between notices and jurisdictions. Use the current buyer documents and applicable official guidance for your bid.