This article explains how to create tenders and bids in Next Project by setting up a reusable tender template. It covers the step-by-step process of configuring work orders, selecting items to include in the offer, adding contract text, and previewing the final tender document, including available print dialog options.

The standard approach is to create a template that can be copied, so all your texts and work order lines are included automatically. Here's a walkthrough of each step and the relevant fields.

1. Create a new project and name it something like Tender template.

2. Fill in the Description of Work field in the Work order - general sub-tab. From Work Order 1 (Scope of Work), only the Customer, Customer representative, Production start date, and the text in the Description of work field are included — no order lines. The quote manager will be the Project Manager on the project. If the Seller field is activated in your database, the user entered there will be set as the Offer Responsible.

   

   Work Order module showing the General tab; note the New/Unplanned status.

3. Create Work Order 2 and fill in the Name and Calculated quantity fields in the Order lines sub-tab. You can enter free text or add articles. Keep in mind that it's the calculated quantities that will appear on the tender.

   

   Work Order Order Lines tab; note the highlighted Calculated Quantity cells.

4. In the Work Order module, select which work orders should be included in the quote. You can select multiple work orders at once.

   

   Work Order tab showing the 'Include on offer' checkbox column, highlighted by arrow.

5. If you'd like to include Hourly rates or information from a Price list, mark the relevant items as shown below. The marked items will appear at the bottom of the tender under running costs.

   

   Hourly Rate dialog — note the highlighted 'Include on offer' column and Framework agreement filter.

   

   Price List dialog showing the 'Include on offer' column checkboxes for articles.

6. In the Tenders/Contracts module, you can either write your own texts or pull them in from another tender.

   

   Tenders/Contracts page showing collapsible contract sections, all currently empty.

   To fetch a tender template, click

   

   Button for retrieving an offer template; note the action link.

   then select the project you'd like to retrieve the texts from. You can also rename sections in the quote by clicking

   

   Edit/pencil icon — indicates an editable field or action button.

   on the far right.

7. Preview how your tender document looks by clicking the PDF icon (Print) and then selecting Preview.

   

   Action toolbar — note the highlighted PDF export button on the right.

   

   Offer Report dialog showing parameter options and the Preview button highlighted.

Print Dialog Options

In the print dialog, you have the following options to choose from:

• Show complete summary only — Select this if you only want to display a total financial summary on the quote.

• Include agreement confirmation — This adds a concluding section at the end of the document with space for signatures as an agreement confirmation.

• Include attachments — Any images and documents you've marked with Include on offer will be included in the quote document. Note that only images are displayed directly. Other documents will appear with their document heading only, listed under the Attachments section — these documents will need to be printed separately.

• Show VAT — Check this option if the quote is intended for an individual.

• Show pricelist — This makes the Current account prices section visible in the bid. This section displays both the text written in the Current account prices field in the bid and the items from Hourly rate and Price list that are marked with Include on offer.

• Show form of compensation — Displays the Form of compensation form you've chosen in the tender project.

• Show project type — Displays the Project Type you've chosen in the tender project.