A tender is an offer to perform work and/or supply goods at a given price, usually made in writing. Most tenders for construction work result from an invitation to a number of contractors, who are supplied with the necessary documents on which to base their tendered prices, and a set of conditions of tendering to ensure validity of their tenders.
The tender documents should clearly identify how the winning contractor will be selected ie 100% on price, or a more detailed criteria such as 20% previous project history, 20% programme, 20% staff suitability/qualifications and 40% price.