The Procurement Act sets the floor, not the ceiling. What the 25 to 35 day tendering periods, the 8 working day standstill and the 30 day contract details notice mean for your calendar, and where the published timetable really slips.
How long does a public sector tender take, from notice to award? Read More »
Three real council contracts weighted price anywhere from 30% to 80%, so there is no typical split to price against. What the Procurement Act actually says about an abnormally low price, why the threshold and the Scottish border change the answer, and how to fill in a schedule of rates you can defend in year two.
How do you price a public sector tender (and fill in a schedule of rates)? Read More »
Public sector evaluators score your bid against a published manual. The Government Commercial Agency guide sets out eight stages, what clarification cannot fix, and what moderation strips out. Read backwards, it is a specification for your next answer.
What the people scoring your bid are told to do Read More »
The national questionnaire never asks for ISO 9001. What “or equivalent” really means, where certification is a hard gate, and what it honestly costs.
Does a small business need ISO 9001 to win tenders, and must it be UKAS-accredited? Read More »
There are many tenders relating to the construction industry. This can include projects for design build, infrastructure and ongoing repair and maintenance.
Construction Tenders Read More »
What is a mini-competition in procurement? Buyers and suppliers still say “mini-competition”, but since 24 February 2025 the legal term is a competitive selection process. Section 45(3) of the Procurement Act 2023 says a frameworks vs DPS may only provide for the future award of a public contract following a competitive selection process, unless the
The mini-competition Read More »
In the world of tendering it sometimes feels like you need to bid mistakes for everything somewhat relevant to your business, especially if you are an SME looking to grow and meet new targets. In the world of business we often get into a mindset that if you don’t bid then you’re not working hard
How to decide what tenders to bid for Read More »
For a small business, it can feel intimidating or overwhelming trying to find success in the competitive world of public sector guide body tenders. It is no secret that lots of businesses similar to yours will want to win the same tenders as you and this is a big concern for many small businesses who
How to Win Government Tenders as an SME with 6 Top Tips Read More »
For many businesses, the process of tendering is something they do out of necessity to win contracts and deliver goods or services for public sector organisations. It is a very valuable industry, and because of this the process of winning a tender and bidding for one is rigorous and this can be off-putting to many
Everything You Need to Know about Risk Assessments in Bids Read More »
