Know when to bid, when to walk away, and how to plan a winning approach. Practical bid strategy advice from Bidsmithery™, written by an experienced bid writer and evaluator.
What are financial standing questions in UK tenders? It is 4.45pm, the tender is nearly ready, and somebody asks whether finance has checked the accounts. That moment can make even a strong bid feel less certain. Financial standing questions test whether your organisation has sufficient resources to deliver the contract, given its contract value, without…
A grant deadline can make even sensible people a bit giddy. The funder looks credible, the amount looks useful, and suddenly someone has blocked out Thursday afternoon for “grant writing”. Pause before the colour-coded spreadsheet appears. Eligibility is the first test, and a strong project can still be screened out if the organisation, location, costs…
What does “added value” mean in a tender? Added value is the extra benefit you will deliver beyond the core contract specification. An added value tender response should show how your approach improves outcomes, saves time or money, reduces risk, or creates a relevant social, economic or environmental benefit. It is not a longer way…
How much time should your tender response timeline allow? A realistic plan depends on the opportunity. A simple quotation or familiar private invitation may take a few working days. A standard public tender often needs around three weeks. Complex, high-value, multi-lot or partnership bids may need four or five weeks. The buyer’s tendering period is…
What is a framework agreement? A framework agreement is an approved buying route that lets the public sector purchase goods, services or works from selected suppliers. It is a commercial agreement that sets pricing, service scope and terms and conditions for future purchases, rather than confirming an immediate order. Passing the initial tender gives you…
Should you bid if you do not meet all tender requirements? Yes, sometimes. A supplier can bid where the gap is in a weighted or scored area and can be addressed credibly. But it should normally withdraw where it can’t meet a mandatory pass/fail requirement by the required date. Separate mandatory requirements from weighted criteria…
What are UK tender lots and how should you bid them? Tender lots are separate parts of a larger procurement. A buyer might split a requirement by geography, service type, customer group, value, or delivery model. Each lot may lead to a separate contract or, in a framework procurement, a place on a particular part…
Can You Bid for a Public Sector Tender Without Previous Experience? Yes. You can bid for a public sector tender without having worked with a council, NHS trust, government department or university before. Previous public sector experience isn’t automatically mandatory. Eligibility depends on the tender documents, pass/fail requirements and selection criteria. The relevant question is…
Can a Small Business Really Win Public Sector Tenders? Yes. Small business tenders can win suitable public sector work when the contract fits your capacity, experience and delivery model. Clear evidence helps evaluators award marks. In public sector procurement, buyers assess compliance, capability, evidence and delivery risk rather than company size. Small suppliers can be…
Consortium vs Subcontractor: What Is the Difference? This choice decides who faces the buyer, whose evidence gets assessed, and who carries delivery risk. A consortium brings independent organisations together to bid as a group. A subcontractor works beneath one prime contractor, which holds the contract with the contracting authority. Neither route is automatically better. The…