Tendering is the process undertaken to appoint a contractor or service provider to complete physical works or provide a critical service for the completion of a project. This involves sending out all the relevant documents and drawings to nominated or interested parties who will then return a tender bid detailing amongst other things, the costs and the and time they estimate the works or services will take. These bids can then be compared or negotiated with a view to appointing one of the parties to undertake the works. The information complied during the tendering process will then become part of the contract documentation between the appointed party and the client.