‘Please confirm below your organisation’s professional qualifications and industry accreditations’
Many bids will ask the above question, or a variant of it, as part of quality scoring your submission, with ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) accreditation being a common request. ISO accreditation shows potential customers you align to internationally recognised standards they can trust. This can mean your bid will score higher, improving your chances to win the bid. In the Organisation’s own words, the ISO is:
An independent, non-governmental organisation made up of members from the national standards bodies of 164 countries.
The ISO develops and publishes international standards to ensure materials, processes and services are fit for purpose. In our experience, three of the most commonly requested ISOs relate to management standards, which are:
ISO 9001 – Quality Management System (QMS)
A Quality Management System accredited to ISO 9001 standard demonstrates to customers that you are able to provide products and services that consistently meet their needs, in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System (EMS)
Having ISO 14001 accreditation shows that you manage your environmental responsibilities in a systematic way. This is of value, for example, when supporting government departments and their agencies meet their responsibilities under the Greening Government Commitments.
ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management (OH&S)
ISO 45001 helps show customers that you have implemented and maintained a system to manage and minimise work related injuries and ill health.
I don’t have ISO accreditation – what do I do?
Some bids make ISO accreditation compulsory – to either already hold it, or to achieve accreditation prior to service commencement. Whilst holding ISO accreditation will make your bid submission more attractive, not having it does not inherently mean you will be unable to win. Sam Nimmo, our Sales and Account Manager will be able to discuss with you whether you have a realistic chance of winning without it.
Should you work with us, we will work with your subject matter experts to see how we can best answer ISO-related questions. This may include:
- Detailing how your management systems align with ISO standards – you may already meet the standards, but haven’t got around to being accredited yet.
- List alternative accreditations or qualifications – certification from other professional bodies may show potential customers you can meet their needs.
- Outlining your plan and timescale to achieve ISO accreditation.
For more information about our successful approach to bidding, or to discuss a potential bid we can help you on, give our Sales and Account Manager, Sam Nimmo, a call for a no obligation chat on 01491 902021, or email him at sam.nimmo@kittleassociates.com.
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