BT plc - Support for a significant government communications contract
Client overview: Aran Advisors partnered with BT to refine its proposal for a significant Government communications contract, valued in the high hundreds of millions of pounds. Faced with the challenges posed by a tight deadline and contributions from a team of over 100 individuals including key subcontractors from diverse backgrounds, the Aran Advisors team compiled a detailed, coherent and compelling bid document.
Challenges presented: The project encountered numerous challenges, not least our client’s underestimation of the document’s length and graphics requirements. The process was further complicated by the need for extensive revisions as well as the late finalisation of vendor selections and technical details. Our team also had to contend with limitations in file transfer and document upload capabilities, which threatened efficient workflow and collaboration.
Our approach: Aran Advisors implemented a disciplined editorial and review process to address these challenges. This included reverse-engineering a compliant structure for the proposal, re-editing content for consistency and style through multiple draft phases, and significantly enhancing the graphical content provided. The team’s approach was characterised by adaptive problem-solving, such as redrawing technical graphics for clarity and ensuring consistency in presentation despite the diversity of contributors. We prioritised regular communication and coordination with BT’s team to maintain a seamless workflow and effective version control throughout the project.
Outcomes: Despite the initial setbacks and the demanding nature of the project, Aran Advisors’ expertise and strategic approach resulted in the timely submission of a polished and comprehensive bid document. The final proposal not only met but exceeded the initial requirements, incorporating around 1100 pages of detailed, coherent content, and over 170 well-crafted graphics. The successful collaboration between Aran Advisors and BT’s bid management team was instrumental in overcoming the challenges and achieving a submission of exceptional quality.
“We retained Aran to help with a large complex bid with a challenging timescale. The Aran team provided a structured service which comprised reviewing content, ensuring compliance and final editing. They were responsive and worked closely with our team and partners to ensure a quality bid was submitted. The Aran people were helpful and went above and beyond for us and became part of the team for the duration of the bid”.
Duncan Warne Bid Director, BT Plc