A seminar to help local contractors work through the complexities involved in writing and submitting successful tenders for future local government contracts is being developed in the Eastern Bay.

The seminar is a response to request for information about the tendering process and is a joint initiative by the Whakatane District Council, Whakatane Community Board and local consultant Opus International.

Whakatane District Council infrastructure general manager Tomasz Krawczyk says the seminar will give contractors an insight into the various contract types and processes involved and explain how evaluators assess tenders.

'The aim is to ensure local contractors have the best possible chance of submitting a winning tender and to achieve that, a team comprising staff and consultants with specialised knowledge in this field has developed a seminar outline for discussion.

'We are now inviting local contractors to attend an open evening to explore this initiative further and provide feedback on any additional subjects which may need to be covered.”

The open evening will be held at the Whakatane District Council chambers from 4.30pm on Thursday, August 7, with the seminar tentatively planned for mid-September.

All interested parties are invited to contact the Council's Team Leader Procurement and Contract Administration, Shari Jones, (tel. 306 0528, or email Shari.Jones@whakatane.govt.nz) for further information.