Understanding CPTA (Cost Per Tender Application) and Why It Matters in 2025

In the fast-evolving world of public procurement, metrics like turnaround time and win rates have long dominated the performance conversations. But in 2025, there's a new metric rising to prominence: CPTA, or Cost Per Tender Application.

What is CPTA?

CPTA stands for Cost Per Tender Application. It is the average cost incurred by a business to prepare and submit one tender. This includes everything from manpower salaries and time investment to software tools and printing costs (if applicable).

Formula:

CPTA = Total Monthly Tendering Expenses / Total Tenders Submitted in That Month

Example:

If your team of four cost a combined ₹1,20,000 monthly through their salaries on tendering and submits 16 tenders that month after evaluating say 50 tenders overall then your CPTA is:

₹1,20,000 / 16 = ₹7,500 per tender

Why CPTA Is a Game-Changer

1. It measures efficiency: High CPTA means you’re spending more to apply for each tender, possibly due to inefficiencies in your process.
2. It reveals scalability gaps: If your monthly investment remains constant but the number of tenders increases, your CPTA drops. Tracking this shows your scalability potential.
3. It reflects ROI on tools and manpower: A lower CPTA means you're using your resources smartly

Key Cost Drivers Affecting CPTA

• Number of team members
• The average salary of the team
• Time spent per tender
• Manual document preparation
• Lack of automation tools

CPTA vs Traditional Metrics

Unlike general tendering KPIs like total bids won or revenue generated, CPTA focuses on cost control and operational efficiency.

How to Lower Your CPTA

Here’s how organizations are lowering their CPTA using AI-powered solutions:

• Automate eligibility checks
• Leverage tender matching algorithms
• Use AI for document drafting
• Centralized bid document management

Minaions: The CPTA Reduction Platform

Minaions is India’s leading AI + RPA-based tendering platform designed to lower your CPTA.

Here’s how it helps:

• Reduces manual work by 80%
• Helps apply for more tenders with the same team
• Slashes CPTA from ₹7,500 to ₹1,000 per tender

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about scaling your bidding operations, CPTA must be part of your regular reporting metrics. Tracking it will help you optimize processes, allocate resources better, and ultimately win more tenders at lower cost.