Explainers

definition · New suppliers

Invitation to Tender (ITT): Meaning, Contents and How to Respond

An invitation to tender (ITT) is the formal document a buyer issues to invite suppliers to submit a priced, compliant offer for a defined requirement. It sets out the specification, the contract terms, the award criteria and weightings, and the exact response format. In UK public procurement the ITT is the main tender stage: what you submit against it is what gets scored.

11 min read · Reviewed 2026-09-02

guide · New suppliers

How the Tendering Process Works

UK public tendering runs through a predictable sequence: the buyer publishes a pipeline or tender notice, suppliers pass a selection stage, shortlisted bidders respond to an ITT, submissions are evaluated against published criteria, and the contract is awarded after a standstill period.

9 min read · Reviewed 2026-06-30

comparison · New suppliers

ITT vs RFP vs RFQ

An ITT asks for a priced, compliant offer against a defined requirement. An RFP asks suppliers to propose a solution as well as a price. An RFQ asks only for pricing on a clearly specified, usually low-value purchase.

5 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-02

guide · Active bidders

How to Decide Whether to Bid

Decide whether to bid by scoring four things before writing anything: requirement fit, evidence you can prove, realistic win probability against likely competitors, and the internal cost of pursuing the opportunity.

6 min read · Reviewed 2026-06-18

guide · Active bidders

How to Write a Tender Method Statement

Write a method statement by restating what will be delivered, describing how it will be done step by step, naming who is accountable, and evidencing the claim with a comparable contract and measurable outcome.

8 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-11

guide · Active bidders

How Tender Evaluation Works

Tenders are evaluated by scoring each quality question against a published marking scheme, moderating those scores to a panel consensus, applying a price formula, then weighting quality and price to identify the most advantageous tender.

7 min read · Reviewed 2026-06-25

guide · Established suppliers

How to Price a Tender

Price a tender by building a full cost base, adding a quantified risk allowance for the contract terms, testing the number against the buyer's published price formula, and entering it in exactly the format the pricing schedule requires.

7 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-05

definition · Established suppliers

What Is a Framework Agreement?

A framework agreement is a pre-competed arrangement between one or more buyers and a set of approved suppliers, setting the terms under which future call-off contracts can be awarded without running a full tender each time.

6 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-14

regulation · All suppliers

The Procurement Act 2023 Explained for Suppliers

The Procurement Act 2023 replaced the PCR 2015 regime for new procurements, introducing a competitive flexible procedure, a wider set of published notices, assessment summaries for bidders, a central debarment list and stronger transparency duties across the contract lifecycle.

9 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-20

regulation · New suppliers

Cyber Essentials and Public Contracts

Cyber Essentials is mandatory for central government contracts involving the handling of personal or sensitive information, and is routinely requested elsewhere. Basic certification is a self-assessment verified by a certification body and can usually be completed in two to four weeks.

5 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-22

regulation · New suppliers

ISO Standards Commonly Requested in Tenders

ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 45001 (health and safety) and increasingly ISO 42001 (AI management) are the standards most often requested in UK tenders, either as a mandatory requirement or as evidence of an equivalent management system.

6 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-24

guide · Active bidders

Social Value in Public Procurement

Social value is a scored component of most public tenders, typically weighted at 10% or more, and is assessed on the specificity, additionality and measurability of the commitments you offer alongside the contract.

6 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-18

guide · New suppliers

Tender Readiness Checklist for SMEs

Before bidding, assemble three years of accounts, current insurances, core policies, relevant accreditations, two or three contract case studies with measurable outcomes, and named owners for each tender question type.

5 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-26

guide · New suppliers

Find a Tender Service Explained

Find a Tender (FTS) is the UK government service publishing higher-value public procurement notices. Contracts Finder carries lower-value opportunities and contract awards, so most suppliers need to monitor both.

4 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-28

guide · SMEs and first-time bidders

How Much Does a Bid Writer Cost?

UK bid writers typically charge £350–£800 per day, £1,500–£6,000 as a fixed fee for a single tender, or £1,500–£5,000 a month on retainer. Success fees of 1–3% of contract value exist but are rare in public procurement. The right comparison is not the fee itself but the fee against your own team's time and your realistic win rate.

8 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-06

tool · Established suppliers

Bid Writing Software: What It Does and When It Pays

Bid writing software stores approved answers in a content library, assembles first drafts against a question set, and tracks contributors and deadlines. It pays for itself for teams submitting roughly two or more bids a month; below that, a well-organised content folder and a compliance matrix achieve most of the benefit at no cost.

7 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-06

tool · SMEs and first-time bidders

Tender Response Template: The Structure That Scores

A tender response template should mirror the buyer's question set and scoring methodology, not your own service brochure. Use a four-part structure for each scored answer — approach, evidence, risk and benefit to the buyer — and keep templated material to process description only, writing all contract-specific detail fresh.

7 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-06

guide · Suppliers bidding for government and defence contracts

Security Clearance for UK Tenders: BPSS, CTC, SC and DV Explained

SC (Security Check) is a UK national security vetting level that allows long-term, frequent access to SECRET material and occasional supervised access to TOP SECRET. You cannot apply for it yourself: an employer or contracting authority must sponsor you against a genuine business need, normally after a contract or role is in place. For bidders, the practical point is that clearance sits on the critical path of mobilisation, not the bid, so tenders should be answered with an honest position on who is already cleared and how the rest will be covered.

11 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-12

guide · Suppliers selling to public sector and large private buyers

Spend Under Management: What It Means and Why It Decides Who Wins Contracts

Spend under management (SUM) is the proportion of an organisation's third-party spend that the procurement function actively controls — sourced through a competed contract, a framework or an agreed catalogue, with a named owner and a renewal date. It is usually expressed as a percentage of total addressable spend. For suppliers it is the single most useful metric to understand about a buyer, because every point of SUM growth means one more informal, relationship-based buying route being closed and replaced by a formal competition you must win on paper.

10 min read · Reviewed 2026-08-24