How do you bid for construction tenders in Nigeria?
Construction and civil works tenders ask for more than goods tenders do: proof that your firm and your people are qualified, that you have done similar jobs, and that you have the equipment to do this one. Here is what Nigerian works tenders typically ask for, and how to be ready.
Professional registration
COREN, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, registers engineering practitioners and licenses consulting and contracting engineering firms to practise in Nigeria. Works tenders commonly ask for the CVs of key staff with their professional registrations: COREN for engineers, and the equivalent bodies for quantity surveyors, architects and builders.
What a works tender asks for: an example
A 2025 works advert from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital asked bidders for, among other things:
- CVs of key staff with COREN, QSRBN, ARCON or CORBON qualifications;
- at least three similar jobs in the last five years, with award letters, valuation and completion certificates, and photographs;
- a list of plant and equipment with proof of ownership or lease;
- a reference letter from a bank;
- separate, sealed technical and financial bids, with the financial bid also supplied in Excel.
Federal tenders also ask for the usual company documents: see what you need to bid for federal contracts.
Bills of quantities and the standard bidding document
Works tenders are priced against a bill of quantities (or bill of engineering measurement and evaluation) in the bidding documents. Price every item; a missing rate can make a bid non-responsive. In May 2026, the Director-General of BPP said there is only one Standard Bidding Document from BPP, and that not using it renders a contract invalid, so expect federal works tenders to follow its structure.
Two-stage opening
Many works tenders open technical bids first. Only firms that pass the technical evaluation have their financial bids opened; the rest get them back unopened. A strong technical bid (complete documents, relevant past jobs, the right people and equipment) is what gets your price read.
Build a project file now: for every completed job, keep the award letter, valuation certificates, completion certificate and good photographs. Similar-jobs evidence is the requirement contractors most often can't produce in time.
How TendaRadar helps
TendaRadar sorts tenders by trade, so construction, road and civil works, electrical, and water and sanitation jobs are each on their own page: see the current construction tenders and road and civil works tenders. Choose your trades and states and new works tenders reach you on WhatsApp, with time to gather your documents.
Official sources
- COREN: registration of engineers and engineering firms
- Example works tender: University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, 2025
- BPP on the Standard Bidding Document (NAN, May 2026)
- Public Procurement Act 2007, full text (copy published by NERC)
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, and each tender's own advert and bidding documents set its requirements: always read them, and check with the buyer or a professional if you're unsure.