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I spent a whole week filling in a very complicated bid for the Torquay Primary Schools. Many fee breakdowns, combination fee breakdowns, lengthy and tailored descriptions of previous work and how we could do a great job. Essentially we decided to put everything into it and fill it in to our best ability. We even increased some of our indemnity policies, and contacted clients for written references.

2 weeks after the proposed announcement date, the council announced they had decided to pull the OJUE and the project would be re-tendered at a later date.

As a small growing practice it essentially cost us half our salary for that month.

We havent don an OJUE since for a few reasons. 1) Since April I've noticed that there has been a massive drop in OJUE, looks like the public money has stopped. 2) I scan every OJUE for any 'killer questions', such as your turn over must be +£2m etc.. 3) How can a smaller practice compete with a medium sized practice who has build 5 of the discussed project types in recent times when you have built only 2.. (it doesnt matter that the other office produces ugly boring leaking rubbish, just that they have built more..)

I do try to stay optimistic, helped by the fact that 100% of our work comes through word of mouth and repeat clients. Personally I would welcome the chance to flex my design skills in some design led competitions... Why can't Maggie run an annonymous deign competition for say 6 sites. They would get an amazing responce...