The Parallel Time Tender Universe

Forgive me COAFB for... I am not sure that I am living in the same version of this thing called 'time' as some of my could have been clients.

​Let me explain. I recently submitted a tender for a public sector contract the day of tender closing only to find out after I had invested a considerable amount of time and resource into preparing my bid, that the contract had in fact been awarded before the official tender closing date.

I wouldn't want to think badly about my could have been client, so I can only presume that my company mistakenly entered some sort of Dr-Whoesque wormhole only to emerge into a parallel future universe; and one where my watch is now a distressing and bid-losing two weeks behind. 

Is this a likely explanation, or am I missing some other vital understanding? 

Best

Potential Time Traveller
Australasia

Artist's impression of a tender time wormhole. Don't be caught out!

Dear 'Potential Time Traveller'... this is a tricky one. ​

Logic would dictate that a public sector tender should never close before the official tender closing date, as to do otherwise would be failing to treat participants 'fairly and equally' (a concept that generally permeates both NZ and Australian government's - central, local, federal, state, territory - various construction procurement rules. A quick google search will provide you all the guidance you need, but for your convenience here's a link to Vic's stance on the matter.)

But never mind the rule of law designed to ensure the most effective and efficient use of tax payer's money, why would any party elect to knowingly waste a whole heap of another organisations' time?

So in conclusion, I can only deduce that you have indeed unintentionally and obliviously sped through a wormhole. Best you wind your watch forward tout suite!

In a hurry? (YES, ALWAYS!!!) No problem! Grab an ATONEMENT TAKEAWAY!​​

PLEASE TREAT OTHERS AS YOU'D LIKE TO BE TREATED
NO ONE LIKES A TIME WASTER
PROBITY IN PROCUREMENT EXISTS FOR A REASON...

And remember, ALWAYS take care of your WASTE...

• In manufacturing parlance, the act of doing work that is demonstrably not required is referred to as overproduction. In tender parlance, knowingly allowing parties to produce work that you have no intention of looking at is referred to as a massive waste of everyone's time.
• When you waste a whole heap of another party's time, you have prevented that party from utilising their time and resources elsewhere = opportunity cost = money that will need to be recouped elsewhere...
• When you act in a way that demonstrates a lack of integrity it breaks trust, damages your organisation's reputation, and may reduce your pool of bidding parties going forward. This means that next time you go to market, you may not get the quality of interest that you'd perhaps like... Next time, you may be the one that misses out.