Prepare a winning tender response

Public sector tenders are evaluated against published criteria. Understanding how to structure your response and demonstrate value is key to winning contracts.

Tender response and standstill periods

Minimum timelines for responding to public sector tenders and standstill after award.

Standard tender response period: Minimum 25 calendar days
Reduced period (with prior notice): Minimum 10 calendar days
Standstill period after award: Minimum 8 working days

The tender response period can be reduced to 10 days if a planned procurement notice was published 40 days to 1 year before the tender notice.

The standstill period gives unsuccessful bidders time to challenge the award decision before the contract is signed. Contracts below the light touch threshold (£663,540) do not require a standstill period.

Selection questionnaire

Before your technical bid is evaluated, you must pass the selection questionnaire. This confirms you meet basic requirements:

Company registration and legal status
Financial standing (typically 2-3 years of accounts)
Relevant experience and capability
Insurance and certifications required for the contract
Declarations about criminal convictions and professional misconduct

Under the Procurement Act 2023, you only need to show you will have required insurance in place at contract award, not at bid stage. This reduces upfront costs for SMEs.

Quality submission

The quality section is where you differentiate yourself. Answer method statement questions clearly and directly:

Structure answers to match the evaluation criteria
Use specific examples from relevant experience
Quantify benefits and outcomes where possible
Demonstrate understanding of the buyer's needs
Explain your approach, not just what you've done before
Include relevant qualifications and accreditations

Social value requirements in public procurement

Mandatory social value weighting for central government contracts.

Minimum social value weighting (central government): 10% of tender evaluation
Mandatory from: October 2025
Applies to: Above-threshold central government contracts

Social value considers how the contract can deliver wider benefits such as:

Creating jobs and training opportunities
Supporting SMEs in the supply chain
Reducing environmental impact
Tackling economic inequality

Bidders should demonstrate how they will deliver social value outcomes relevant to the contract.

PPN 002: Social Value Model

Pricing submission

Public sector pricing must be sustainable - abnormally low prices may be rejected. Consider:

Follow the exact pricing format required
Include all costs - hidden extras damage relationships
Price realistically for the contract term
Factor in inflation for multi-year contracts
Consider the cost of mobilisation and exit

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing mandatory requirements (automatic rejection)
Generic answers not tailored to the specification
Exceeding word or page limits
Late submission (never accepted)
Inconsistency between quality claims and pricing
Failing to demonstrate understanding of the requirement

Submit a tender for a public contract

Process for preparing and submitting a competitive tender response.

Review tender documentation thoroughly – Read the specification, terms, conditions and evaluation criteria carefully. Note any mandatory requirements and how tenders will be scored.
Complete the selection questionnaire – Provide company information, financial details, relevant experience, and declarations about criminal convictions or professional misconduct.
Prepare your quality submission – Answer method statement questions demonstrating your capability, approach, and added value. Reference relevant experience and qualifications.
Complete the pricing submission – Follow the exact pricing format required. Ensure your prices are realistic and sustainable - abnormally low tenders may be rejected.
Check compliance before submission – Verify you meet all mandatory requirements. Missing a requirement often leads to automatic rejection.
Submit before the deadline – Electronic submission via the procurement portal. Late submissions are rejected regardless of circumstances. Allow time for technical issues.
Await evaluation and feedback – The authority evaluates against published criteria. Whether successful or not, you are entitled to feedback on your tender.

Procurement Act supplier guide

If you're unsuccessful

Public sector buyers must provide feedback on unsuccessful bids. Use this to improve future submissions. You can request:

Your scores against each criterion
The reasons your bid wasn't successful
The characteristics of the winning bid (not the identity)

The standstill period gives you time to challenge the decision if you believe the process was flawed.

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Prepare a winning tender response

Selection questionnaire

Quality submission

Pricing submission

Common mistakes to avoid

If you're unsuccessful

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🧪 Business Context Testing

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Selection questionnaire

Quality submission

Pricing submission

Common mistakes to avoid

If you're unsuccessful

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