Preparing the published article.
Joint Bidding: Splitting Scope and Risk
Consortium bids fail when the split is decided after the award.
Agree four things in writing
| Item | What to settle |
|---|---|
| Scope split | Who supplies which equipment, works and services |
| Interface | Who owns the boundary and who signs it off |
| Liability | How losses are shared between partners |
| Payment | How the client pays and how it flows to each partner |
Where joint bids go wrong
- The consortium agreement contradicts the main contract.
- Nobody owns the interface, so both partners assume the other has it.
- The lead partner carries joint liability with no internal recourse.
- Technical documents leak between partners without a confidentiality agreement.
Joint bidding does not change the client obligation. The split is an internal arrangement.