# Direct Help with Marine Procurement and Tender Specifications Canonical URL: https://marineminds.co.uk/blog/five-spec-lines-rib-tender/ Author: Jason Purvey, MarineMinds Ltd Published: 2 June 2026 Last updated: 2 June 2026 Read time: 8 minutes Most marine procurement problems start before the tender goes out. They start in the specification. A poorly written specification produces poor responses from suppliers, creates difficult comparisons, and almost always leads to a build that is close to what you wanted but not quite right. ## Why specifications fail The most common reason a marine tender goes wrong is that the specification was written by someone who knows how the current boat is built, not how the new boat needs to work. Copying the last specification is the fastest way to introduce the same compromises you were trying to move away from. A good specification starts with operational requirement. What does the boat actually need to do? Who will crew it? Where will it operate? What conditions does it need to handle? What does the operator need to do with it after delivery? ## What good procurement documentation covers * **Operational requirement** — The real picture of use before any specification is written * **Hull and structure** — Hull form, construction method, materials, scantlings relevant to the duty * **Power and propulsion** — Engine type, power range, drive system and fuel requirements * **Layout and fitout** — Console arrangement, seating, deck layout, access, storage, working space * **Equipment schedule** — Navigation, communications, safety equipment, lighting, deck fittings * **Operating conditions** — Sea state, speed, range, crew numbers, cargo or passenger capacity * **Acceptance criteria** — The specific measurable outcomes the boat must meet before handover ## Common specification errors * Requirements left open to interpretation — "suitable engine" rather than specific power range * Equipment described by brand preference when performance standard would serve better * Layout described by what exists on the current boat rather than what is operationally needed * No stated acceptance criteria, making it impossible to formally reject an unsatisfactory build * Tender documents that do not require suppliers to respond in a consistent format ## Getting comparable bids One of the most practical contributions an experienced procurement adviser makes is ensuring that supplier responses can be compared side by side. If one supplier quotes a full outfit and another quotes a bare boat with options, the price comparison is meaningless. The specification and tender documents need to set out what must be included, what can be offered as an option, and exactly how the supplier should structure their response. ## Build oversight Winning a good tender is not the end of the process. The build needs monitoring. Variations need controlling. Milestone visits need to happen. Snagging needs to be completed before handover, not after. A procurement adviser who stays involved through build and trials is worth far more than one who only helps write the specification. The most expensive problems in marine procurement appear between contract award and handover. ## Where Marine Minds fits Marine Minds provides buyer-side procurement support across the full process — from operational brief through specification writing, tender management, supplier evaluation, build oversight, sea trials and handover. Independent and impartial: there is no commercial relationship with any builder or supplier. --- *Jason Purvey, MarineMinds Ltd. Over 30 years in marine, engineering and B2B sales. Based in Yeovil, Somerset.* Contact: https://marineminds.co.uk/contact/ · +44 (0)7775 420393 · jason@marineminds.co.uk Related: [RIB and Small Craft Procurement](https://marineminds.co.uk/rigid-inflatable-boat-procurement/)