TheArtofBidding.com is dedicated to the art and science of moving goods and services to market. Our web site visitors are business managers responsible for their companies' supply chain activities. This information is sponsored by the African American Supplier Engagement Collaboration (AASEC) that serves a wide range of supply chain management issues for large and small enterprises.  

The AASEC is in place to enhance supplier inclusion through the increased flow of goods and services by providing current information from initial sourcing all the way through to delivery to public and private sector end-users. The AASEC shares vital information of purchasing opportunities from production planning, order processing and fulfillment, inventory management, transportation, distribution, and professional service requirements.

For some, this information on proposal estimating will be a refresher on how to submit an effective pricing plan, however, for other companies this may be just the information to create that winning response.  All buyers seek to make the best investment when selecting outside resources. The supplier selection results from demonstrating efficiencies and generating the highest level of customer satisfaction at the most responsible lowest cost.  In general all major buying entities look at the strategic, tactical, and operational functions of prospective suppliers.

[Click here to review current subcontracting opportunities on the BBA's web site]











STRATEGIC:
This involves the high level strategic decisions concerning the whole organization of prospective suppliers, such as the size and location of manufacturing sites, partnerships with other suppliers, products to be manufactured and sales markets.











TACTICAL:
Tactical decisions focus on adopting measures that will produce cost benefits such as using industry best practices, developing a purchasing strategy with favored suppliers, working with logistics companies to develop cost effect transportation and developing warehouse strategies to reduce the cost of storing inventory.











OPERATIONAL:
Decisions at this level are made each day in businesses that affect how the products move along the supply chain. Operational decisions involve making schedule changes to production, purchasing agreements with suppliers, taking orders from customers and moving products in the warehouse.