Guides and explainers

definition · New suppliers

What Is an Invitation to Tender (ITT)?

An invitation to tender (ITT) is the formal document a buyer issues to shortlisted or open-market suppliers, setting out the requirement, the contract terms, the evaluation criteria and the exact response format needed to submit a compliant bid.

7 min read · Reviewed 2026-07-08

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