DCI Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Throughout the public sector, thousands of contract opportunities are published every month to inform suppliers of impending competition via a call for initial expressions of interest from potential bidders.
DCI will not only provide you with a daily email containing contract opportunities that are relevant to the products and services that you provide, but it will also be an essential market intelligence tool, allowing you to monitor competitor activity. DCI covers up to 50% more public sector contract opportunities throughout the UK and Ireland than any other source, including the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
You only require one service to source all potential contract opportunities: DCI - the ultimate daily email contract information search service.
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What is DCI?
BiP Solutions' DCI service provides you with contract opportunities tailored to your company's particular products or services and delivers them by email every working day. DCI searches through thousands of public sector contract opportunities received by BiP Solutions and identifies those that fit your company's unique requirements, as defined in a profile you create to describe the type of contracts you wish to bid for, allowing you to conduct searches in your own time.
DCI also provides you with access to BiP Solutions' entire current open contract information database 24 hours a day via a DCI website service.
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How comprehensive is DCI?
DCI is the UK's most comprehensive tender information service available. It can track tender opportunities for your company not only from the UK but throughout the world, and includes all European tenders published in the OJEU.
We GUARANTEE that no other service can match the amount of contract/tender information that you can track through DCI every day - this includes OJEU/TED notices and all other UK-based services.
DCI Online searches through:
- EC Tenders (OJEU/TED)
Containing EU contract announcements from around Europe, including the OJEU
- Contrax Weekly (CW) incorporating PSP
Containing the supply of goods, works and services for: Central and local government; health, police, fire and education boards; utilities companies and offshore exploration companies
- Government Opportunities (GO)
Service-related contracts within Central and Local Government
- MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin (DCB)
For the supply, and service and works contract requirements of the UK MoD
- Defense Contracts International (DCI)
Providing defence-related contracts from around the world
- US Federal Contracts as issued through the US Department of Commerce
DCI : a truly global service.
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Why should I choose your DCI service rather than services offered by others?
If you are in business to succeed you need to have information on as many current new business opportunities as possible. BiP Solutions's database of open UK contracts is the biggest there is. We publish up to 50% more UK opportunities than any other supplier. Not only do we publish more notices than anyone else, we publish them faster. This is because hundreds of UK public bodies use BiP Solutions's notice creation services, and so notices are published by us within hours of them being issued, unlike the days it can take to get published by the OJEU, which is the only source of notices used by most of our competitors.
So, if you want to receive more leads faster, the choice you make has to be a BiP Solutions service and DCI is the flagship service we offer. DCI delivers the notices you want, whilst still allowing you the option to view other notices at any time of your choosing.
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How many contract notices does DCI search through on an average day?
DCI Online searches through approximately one thousand contracts every working day, matching them to your own unique business profile, and then emails you on a daily basis with any contract announcements relevant to your company.
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Does DCI search both contract notices and awards?
When compiling your personal profile you have the option to search for new contract notices and/or contract awards. By selecting contract awards you will be able to identify subcontracting opportunities and monitor the activities of your competitors. To receive both contract notices and contract awards indicate Search Both on your profile. If you choose to receive both contract notices and contract awards these will be divided into categories in your results.
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Can I search for past notices?
Using the contract announcement search service within the Members Area you can search for contracts published in the past three months.
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When do I receive tender notices that match my profile?
Receiving your tenders direct via the DCI service is easy. Every day before 10am you will receive an email containing all new notices received by BiP Solutions that match your profile.
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How do I build my DCI Profile?
A DCI profile consists of three main criteria: Keywords, CPV Codes and Countries. On submission, your profile will automatically be fed into the main DCI system and used to provide you with matching contract opportunities, which will be emailed directly to you on a daily basis. You may update your profile online as many times as you want, completely free of charge, using the username and password issued to you upon registration.
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Can I set my profile so that some types of contract are not supplied?
Yes, DCI filters out contracts which are not relevant, and allows you to input key words, allowing you to spend more time concentrating on the contract opportunities which are going to win you new business. For example, you may work in the construction industry and have the keyword 'construction' contained within your profile but you may not deal with the construction of roads. By including 'roads' in the Omit Keywords section, you will only receive contracts related to construction that do not contain the keyword 'roads'.
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Can I set my profile so that I receive all notices from specific organisations?
Yes, with DCI not only can you elect to receive notices of specific supplies, services and works you can also elect to receive notices from specific organisations. You can even ask DCI to notify you of contracts that have been awarded to your competitors, thereby providing you with a unique market intelligence service.
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How does the online service work?
With DCI you not only receive a daily email containing new contract/tender opportunities but you also have 24-hour direct online access via the DCI website to all of BiP Solutions' contract announcements, allowing you to search and track thousands of live contract and tender opportunities at no extra charge. You can search through open contracts, awarded contracts, suppliers, issuing authorities, issue dates, locations and many more search terms. Once found, notices can be viewed, printed or stored.
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You talk about CPV codes - what are they?
CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) codes have been specially developed by the European Union for public procurement. CPV codes help to provide the most reliable and accurate method of locating relevant contract opportunities.
By using the searchable database, select codes relevant to your products and services and paste them into your profile. You can conduct as many searches as necessary. Please remember to paste your selected codes after each search. CPV codes which are contained within your profile will be highlighted in your results.
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Does DCI search by keywords and phrases?
To reinforce CPV codes, you can enter additional keywords and phrases applicable to your products and services. These words can either be complete or open-ended, eg. 'comput' will find contracts containing the word 'computer', 'computers' or 'computing'. When searching for a phrase, you can again search for a complete phrase or leave the last word of the phrase open-ended, eg. 'Management Consult' will find contracts containing the phrase 'Management Consultancy', 'Management Consultants' or 'Management Consulting'. If you want to find exact words only, eg. contracts which contain the words 'Management' and 'Consultancy' (but not together as a phrase) then you would need to insert these words individually under Exact Keywords (see next section). Keywords and phrases which are contained within your profile will be highlighted in your results.
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Can I use exact keywords, abbreviations, acronyms, company names, etc?
You can search for abbreviations, acronyms and company names as well as exact keywords. This section is also case-sensitive. These words cannot be left open-ended and DCI will only search for exact matches. If you were to insert the word 'pen' it would exactly match the word pen and not find contracts which contain words such as 'penicillin', 'pending', 'penetration' and 'pension'. By inserting a company name you will be notified of contracts that have been awarded to your competitors. NB: Please ensure your selection is as specific as possible. It is not advisable to use words such as 'service', 'information', 'journal', 'maintenance', etc. These words are too generic and will provide you with irrelevant information. Exact keywords which are contained within your profile will be highlighted in your results.
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Can I monitor my competition?
Yes, enter your competitors' names in the Exact Keywords section. Please remember to include any abbreviations.
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Can I specify my interest in notices from specific countries?
Yes, simply select those countries you want to receive contract notices from. You can choose from the list provided and make it your choice as limited or comprehensive as you wish. If there is a country which does not appear in the list provided, you can enter it as a keyword.
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Can I scroll through the contract notices received?
You can scroll through the contract notices (open and awarded) contained within your profile by using the Next and Previous links.
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Can I print individual notices?
You can print individual contract notices (open and awarded) which have been issued in your daily email. Simply click on the Print Online link to go to the individual contract where you can print in the normal manner.
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What statistics are provided?
To ensure that your profile is working for your organisation, use the statistics which are contained at the bottom of every email that is dispatched to you. There will show you how often keywords or CPV codes are included in the contracts delivered to you. You may choose not to receive statistics. To specify your choice click on Preferences within your profile.
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In what format is the information provided?
Following completion of your DCI profile, you will receive your contract opportunities as HTML files. However, you may choose to receive these as text only or zipped-HTML. Please click on Preferences within your profile if you wish to change delivery format.
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May I request additional email addresses?
You may specify that contract announcements matching your profile be emailed to as many email addresses within your organisation as you require, at a charge of £100 + VAT (€145.51) for each additional email address to cover the licence extension.
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May I request additional profiles?
You may choose to build more than one profile for your organisation.
For a breakdown on costs please email dci@bipsolutions.com or call the DCI Help Desk on 0845 270 7065 for further information.
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Do I have control over my profile?
After registration, you will be issued with a unique username and password. This will allow you to access your profile and update it as often as necessary. You can amend any aspect of your profile except your company name.
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Do I receive access to other BiP Solutions services?
No. As a DCI Subscriber, you will receive access to Mod Defence Contracts Bulletin (DCB) Free Resources area
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Is DCI support provided?
As a DCI subscriber, you will have access to FREE support for both technical and contract information assistance and we will even build your profile with you.
If you require further information or any assistance, please email dci@bipsolutions.com or call the DCI Help Desk on 0845 270 7065.
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What if I lose my password?
If you lose your password you can log on to the Members Area of DCI and complete the 'Forgotten my password' section. Your details will then be emailed to you.
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What is the cost of an annual subscription?
An annual subscription to DCI normally costs £960 plus VAT per annum. However, we are currently offering new subscribers a first year subscription at only £760 + VAT per annum (€1105.88) - a saving of £200 (€291.02).
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Can I receive a free trial of DCI?
Yes, we offer you the opportunity to receive DCI for one month so that you may evaluate the benefits this unique service provides.
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Can I transfer from my existing BiP Solutions subscription to DCI?
If you already subscribe to a BiP Solutions publication that DCI searches we will credit the remaining amount of your current subscription towards the cost of DCI at your written request.
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How do I subscribe to DCI?
Should you wish to subscribe to DCI, you may do so online at www.tendermatch.com. You will receive a one-month free trial before you commit yourself to an annual subscription. During the free trial you will be able to amend your profile as often as you wish to ensure that it accurately describes the tender notices that your company is specifically interested in. Thereafter you are free to amend your profile as you see fit.
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Remember, through DCI you will gain access to more contract announcements, and faster than through any other supplier, GUARANTEED