Excellent news for our asbestos client who have told us about success with a tender for a housing association in Greater Manchester. We worked with the client on developing the responses to a large detailed tender, allowing them to submit a strong bid. It’s fantastic that they were successful and even better that they are an SME securing work – showing that you don’t have to be a big company to win the work

Brilliant news for our asbestos client who have been accepted as an approved supplier to a number of high profile high street names, such as Pizza Hut, Arcadia Group, Superdrug, Punch Taverns and Spirit Pub Company. We drafted the responses for the client and thy now have access to a huge range of new clients. As a SME, it is great to see them have the opportunity to sustain and grow the business.

Our security client has just informed us that their Invitation to Tender (ITT) has been a success. As a result they have secured a new contract with a public authority in Yorkshire. We worked closely with the client to develop a professional response to both the Pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) and the ITT.  We’d like wish our client the very best with the new contract and look forward to continuing to work with them.

Tom Anderson, one of Thornton & Lowe’s Directors, is heading out to China today to further pursue our leading healthcare scheme, Collective Care Consortium (http://thorntonandlowe.com/services/collective-care-consortium). After being shortlisted for a consultancy project we were invited to Shenzhen to further develop the opportunity with the leading healthcare measurement and analysis organisation. Whilst there Thornton & Lowe will also be attending a prestigious Hong Kong Healthcare Exhibition with over 2500 exhibitors to further build relationships with leading and innovative technology based companies from across the world who could add value to the UK market.

Excellent news for one of our clients who have been successful with the PQQ stage with for a security tender with a London based public authority. We helped with writing the PQQ in January and will be providing additional support for when the ITT is distributed. to the client.

If you would like to speak with one of our team regarding your PQQs/ITTs and tenders, give us a call on 0845 862 0154

A recent article was published online recently indicating that the government were taking steps to improve opportunities for SMEs to compete for public sector business. The article suggests that a “centralised system” will be launched that will make it “easier and cheaper” for SMEs to bid for contracts.

We deal with a huge number of SME clients, most of who will openly comment on the difficulties faced in securing public sector work. Going beyond their own capacity to complete an actual tender, our clients often report on how complicated and convoluted the whole tender process can be.

It’s always promising to hear when the government are taking action to support SMEs and to generate growth with sustainable business.

For the full article, click here.

One of our clients has recently achieved the CHAS accreditation. Our client is a SME who designs and builds swimming pools. We provided support to our client for them to achieve this. We frequently see requests for CHAS accreditations in PQQs and ITTs, so having this will now open doors of opportunity for our client.

We’ve just been reading about the Public Services (Social Value) Act and what this means for buying organisations, such as housing associations.

We always see sections in PQQs and ITTs relating to a company’s strategy on corporate social value or responsibility, so it is no big surprise that this Act has come in to effect. It’s a good move towards helping SMEs securing contracts with public sector organisations who have struggled to do so in the past. Let’s watch this space!

To read the Act, click here

A recent article published online discusses the improving access to finance for SMEs. The article highlighted the number of SMEs in Europe and the benefits that they bring, mainly employment and supporting economic growth.

If SMEs have more access to finance, they will be able to compete for tenders, consequently increasing their chances for growth and development.

Certainly, a challenge faced by many SMEs in the tender process is the financial stability. If this access to finance is developed then naturally we will see more SMEs bidding for both public sector and private sector tenders.
For the full article, click here.

A number of proposals for procurement reform have been scrapped including the idea of setting up ‘national oversight bodies’ in each EU member state to regulate public procurement. In its Procurement Policy Note – Progress Update on the Modernisation of the EU Procurement Rules, the Cabinet Office reveals a number of amendments and summarises the latest progress.

The proposals on having to split tenders into Lots to enable SMEs to compete have also been abandoned. Authorities will however be encouraged to split into lots where appropriate. One proposal that would potentially assist SMEs is that the minimum annual turnover should not exceed three times the estimated contract value. The UK government considers this should not be the default position.

The Policy Note reports on the progress so far covering the following areas:

• Increased Flexibility
• Strategic use of public procurement
• Reducing documentation requirements
• Frameworks
• SME access
• E-procurement
• Governance
• Other issues.

To read the whole Procurement Policy Note, click here.