Knowing where to look is half the battle. Find the right tenders at the right time and stop wasting energy on contracts that were never right for you.
So you’ve found a promising contract, the deadline is next week, and you’re supposed to fit the bid around delivery, school pick-up and everything else. Below-threshold contracts can offer a route into public sector work, although a smaller contract can still bring a surprising amount of paperwork. Start by understanding the rules and fit before…
It is 4pm, the contract extension needs signing, and somebody asks whether the new value means you now need to tender. That question can stop a good team in its tracks. Get it wrong and the fallout lands on your timetable, your approval route and the paper trail you’ll need to defend the decision. Get…
How do you read a UK tender specification before writing? A tender specification sets out what the buyer needs, how they expect it to be delivered and what evidence they need before trusting you with the contract. Read it alongside the invitation to tender, pricing schedule, draft contract, evaluation criteria, response templates and every supporting…
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 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…
Why You Should Take Part in Market Engagement Events Before Tenders Open. A public sector buyer or its contracting authorities may speak to suppliers and other relevant people before publishing a tender notice. Under the Procurement Act 2023, this is known as preliminary market engagement, or PME. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), preliminary market…