Requirements before you bid
Standards & Compliance
Cyber Essentials, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, carbon reduction plans and the accreditations buyers commonly ask for.
Guides in this hub
regulation
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.
regulation
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.
guide
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.