online tender management
The Litmus Tender Management System (LTMS)

Establishing revised service specifications and contracts. Pre-qualification, tender issue and site meetings, analysis of returns and final presentations through to mobilisation. Bidding process is managed via our online tender management system.

The Litmus Tender Management System (LTMS) is a unique application which was specifically designed by Litmus to manage food service and soft FM tenders projects online. Litmus owns the software code and hosts the system on its own discrete web server housed in a specialist web hosting centre in Harrogate, N. Yorkshire.

The application is 100% secure using encrypted secure socket layer (SSL) technologies.

Clearly, one of the driving factors for our developing the system was to reduce the effect on the environment by reducing the amount of paper used in the distribution and receipt of documentation. In addition, it delivers unparalleled benefits to clients in that it automatically analyses the financial aspects of the bids received immediately upon the bid closing. We are then able to publish a web based dashboard to allow the client to view the bids in detail either immediately or following our audit teams' review of the bid positions.

We prefer to have the audit team look over the bids prior to client release so that they may make any necessary adjustments - usually brought about by a contractor miscalculating "Issues" costs or Employers' NI contributions. We will also, in conjunction with the Partner, produce a written report commenting on the bids received and making any necessary recommendations. This is uploaded to LTMS and is available for download by the client when the dashboard is published.

Whether a bid project is undertaken "traditionally" or via LTMS, the task of developing a detailed specification that entirely reflects clients' requirements remains unchanged.

As well as writing the specification, we gather all related documents that will enable contractors to complete their bid (all such documents will be made available for download within the system). Normally, the information collected will include but not necessarily be limited to:

• staff TUPE details (for each site)
• the various terms and conditions of employment
• existing tariff and menus
• proposed contract
• historial sales data

The financial aspects of a bid are built up within the system and are flexible enough to accommodate the most complex of financial circumstance. Once all documentation has been uploaded, the financial parameters for each site set-up and the specification signed off by the client, the Project is launched.

When the project goes live, our client and all the contractors selected to bid are emailed advising that they should access LTMS using their advised secure logon details. Contractors then respond to the bid online, submitting their response within the time frame set.

As previously mentioned, upon conclusion of the bid project, the analysis team assesses the responses and make any necessary adjustments. When satisfied that the bid analyses are correct, the project is released by way of a client dashboard which provides the facility to view the analysis report and all aspects of the individual bids. Bid analyses may be viewed in graphical, tabular and KPI formats.

The best way to appreciate the power of LTMS is to have a Litmus Partner demonstrate the system to you. Please contact us to make the necessary arrangements.

The Litmus Partnership Limited  Alfa House  Doman Road  Camberley  Surrey  GU15 3DN