Tender Writing Questions Answered: Procurement Guide

UK Government Procurement: Tender Questions Answered

The path to success in UK government procurement demands more than just offering excellent products or services. The procurement landscape presents a rich tapestry of opportunity - with approximately £290 billion of annual public spending - yet many organisations find themselves overwhelmed by its complexity, formality, and rigorous requirements.

The tender process represents a journey that tests not just what you offer, but how deeply you understand the public sector context, how thoughtfully you've considered potential challenges, and how confidently you can articulate your unique value. Each quality question within a tender document, or method statement, provides a window into what truly matters to the buying authority - their concerns, priorities, and vision for successful delivery.

This guide walks you through the most significant tender questions you'll encounter when bidding for UK government contracts. Rather than offering generic templates, we explore the thinking behind these questions, what evaluators are genuinely seeking in your responses, and how to draft answers that address their needs while highlighting your distinctive strengths and experience.

Contract Management and Governance

Public sector contracts represent long-term relationships built on trust, accountability, and performance. The questions in this area seek to understand how you'll manage these relationships effectively throughout the contract lifecycle.

Ensuring Contract Compliance

When evaluators ask "How do you ensure full compliance with all contract terms, KPIs, and SLAs throughout the contract lifecycle?", they're probing beyond surface-level assurances. This question examines whether you have systematic approaches to maintaining standards over time, not just during the honeymoon period of a new contract.

Strong responses demonstrate robust contract management frameworks that include proactive monitoring systems, clear accountability structures, regular performance reviews, and well-defined escalation procedures. You might describe how your organisation uses technology to provide real-time visibility of KPI performance, with automated alerts when metrics approach threshold levels.

Beyond systems and processes, this question also reveals your organisational philosophy about contract compliance—whether you see it as a box-ticking exercise or a fundamental commitment underpinning your delivery model.

Governance and Accountability

The question "What measures do you have in place to ensure contract governance and accountability at all levels of delivery?" examines how your management structure supports transparent decision-making and clear responsibility.

Public sector organisations operate under intense scrutiny, with multiple layers of accountability. They need partners who understand this context and can mirror appropriate governance within their own operations. Your response should outline your governance framework, including committee structures, reporting lines, and delegated authorities.

The strongest answers show how accountability cascades through all levels of your organisation, from senior leadership to frontline delivery staff. You might explain how your governance approach aligns with the client's own decision-making processes, showing clear touch points and escalation routes between the two organisations.

Managing Complex Delivery

For contracts involving multiple service elements or locations, the question "How do you coordinate multiple workstreams across different geographic regions while maintaining service quality?" tests your ability to manage complexity without compromising performance.

Effective responses typically describe your management structure, coordination mechanisms, standardised processes, and quality assurance systems. The key is demonstrating how you balance consistency with the flexibility to respond to local variations or unique circumstances.

This question often reveals whether your organisation has the maturity and experience to handle complex contracts. Rather than presenting theoretical management models, draw on real examples that demonstrate your track record in coordinating multiple workstreams while maintaining high standards across all delivery areas.

Proactive Contract Variation Management

Change is inevitable in long-term contracts, making the question "How do you proactively manage contract variations to prevent scope creep and cost overruns?" particularly important to public sector buyers operating under strict financial constraints.

Your response should outline a structured change control process that includes impact assessment, clear approval pathways, documentation, and transparent cost calculations. Emphasise how you help clients anticipate potential changes early and manage them proactively, rather than reactively responding when changes become urgent.

The best answers go beyond process descriptions to demonstrate commercial awareness and partnership approaches. You might describe how you conduct regular "horizon scanning" with clients to identify potential requirement changes months in advance, allowing for proper planning and budgeting within public sector financial cycles.

Strategic Exit Management

Even at the bidding stage, forward-thinking buyers ask about the end of the relationship: "What contract exit strategies do you have in place to ensure a smooth transition at the end of the contract?"

This question tests your professional approach to contract management and reveals whether you see the relationship as a true partnership or merely a transaction. Describe your exit management process, including knowledge transfer, asset handover, staff considerations, and documentation requirements.

The strongest responses emphasise your commitment to maintaining service quality throughout the contract lifecycle, including during transition periods. Detail your experience in supporting seamless transitions, whether to another provider or back to in-house provision, demonstrating your professional approach to this often-neglected aspect of contract management.

Contract Mobilisation

The beginning of a contract represents a vulnerable period for both parties. A smooth mobilisation builds confidence and trust, while problems during this phase can damage the relationship before it's fully established.

Structured Mobilisation Approach

The foundational question in this area - "What is your approach to contract mobilisation, ensuring that all staff, resources, and processes are ready from day one?" - examines your planning capability and attention to detail.

Public sector organisations need confidence that service users won't experience disruption during transition periods. Your response should outline a structured mobilisation methodology with clear phases, milestones, responsibilities, and quality gates. Show how you'll ensure all elements—people, processes, systems, and assets—are prepared for service commencement.

Effective answers demonstrate experience through specific examples of successful mobilisations, explaining how your approach has evolved through learning from previous contracts. You might describe your standard mobilisation framework while emphasising how it will be tailored to the specific requirements of this contract.

Mobilisation Risk Management

Recognising the specific challenges of transition periods, buyers ask: "How do you identify potential mobilisation risks, and what measures do you take to mitigate them?"

This question tests your risk awareness and proactive management approach. Describe your risk assessment process, including how you identify, categorise, and prioritise risks specific to the mobilisation phase. Outline typical mitigation strategies and contingency planning for high-impact risks.

The most compelling responses include examples of how you've successfully navigated mobilisation challenges in the past, demonstrating both experience and a systematic approach to risk management. You might include a mobilisation risk register template that showcases your thorough planning methodology.

Managing Incumbent Transitions

A specific mobilisation challenge is addressed by the question: "How will you manage the handover from the incumbent provider while ensuring continuity of service?"

This question recognises the potential tension when transitioning from one supplier to another, particularly if the incumbent is disappointed to lose the contract. Describe your approach to establishing professional working relationships with outgoing providers, clear information requirements, and escalation processes if cooperation issues arise.

Effective responses emphasise your focus on service users rather than commercial tensions. You might describe your "knowledge capture framework" that systematically gathers operational information even when incumbent cooperation is limited, explaining how this approach has maintained service continuity during challenging transitions.

Stakeholder Engagement During Mobilisation

Understanding the importance of communication during periods of change, evaluators ask: "How will you coordinate with stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition during mobilisation?"

This question examines your communication strategy and stakeholder management approach. Public sector contracts often involve diverse stakeholder groups with different concerns and information needs. Outline your stakeholder mapping process, communication planning, engagement methods, and feedback mechanisms.

Strong responses show how you'll tailor your approach to different stakeholder groups while maintaining consistent core messages. You might describe your mobilisation communication matrix, which identifies key stakeholders, their primary concerns, appropriate communication channels, frequency, and responsible team members.

Continuous Improvement

Public sector organisations face ongoing pressure to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. They need partners who actively contribute to this improvement agenda rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

Service Improvement Strategy

The fundamental question - "How do you ensure continuous service improvement throughout the contract duration?" - tests whether you see improvement as central to your delivery approach or merely an occasional activity.

Describe your continuous improvement methodology, governance structures, staff engagement, and how improvements are identified, implemented, and evaluated. Show how improvement is embedded in your management approach rather than operating as a separate initiative.

Effective responses outline specific improvement frameworks such as Plan-Do-Check-Act cycles, supported by regular improvement workshops, staff suggestion schemes, and improvement tracking that quantifies benefits delivered. The strongest answers demonstrate how improvement becomes part of your organisational culture rather than a mechanical process.

Efficiency and Quality Balance

Recognising public sector resource constraints, evaluators often ask: "How do you implement efficiency initiatives to drive value while maintaining quality?"

This question reflects the need to achieve more with limited resources. Explain your approach to identifying efficiency opportunities, process optimisation, and value enhancement. Show how you balance efficiency improvements with maintaining or enhancing quality standards.

The most compelling responses include specific examples of how you've applied these principles in similar contexts, quantifying both efficiency gains and quality maintenance or improvements. You might describe how you've applied methodologies to reduce processing times while simultaneously improving accuracy rates through waste elimination and process redesign.

Staff Involvement in Improvement

Understanding that frontline staff often have the best insight into improvement opportunities, buyers ask: "How do you engage front-line staff in the continuous improvement process?"

This question examines your organisational culture and whether you genuinely value the knowledge and experience of operational teams. Describe your mechanisms for gathering staff input, recognition programmes, improvement technique training, and how you empower staff to implement changes.

Effective responses demonstrate how you create a culture where improvement is everyone's responsibility, not just a management function. You might describe staff-led improvement programmes that provide training in improvement techniques and protected time to work on projects, sharing examples of staff-led improvements that enhanced both efficiency and service user satisfaction.

Service User Feedback Integration

Improvement should be driven by user needs, prompting the question: "How do you monitor service user satisfaction, and what actions do you take in response to feedback?"

This question tests whether you're genuinely user-focused or primarily concerned with internal metrics. Outline your methods for gathering user feedback, analysis approaches, how insights translate into actions, and how you close the feedback loop.

Strong responses demonstrate a multi-channel approach to gathering feedback (including surveys, focus groups, and direct engagement), regular workshops to convert feedback into improvement actions, and communication strategies that show users how their input has led to service enhancements.

Quality Management

Quality represents a non-negotiable expectation in public services. Buyers need confidence that you'll deliver consistent, high-quality services throughout the contract term.

Quality Assurance Framework

The core question - "How do you measure and maintain high levels of service quality throughout contract execution?"—examines your systematic approach to quality management.

Describe your quality management framework, including policies, procedures, standards, monitoring mechanisms, and continuous improvement processes. Show how quality is embedded in your operating model rather than functioning as a separate, bolt-on activity.

Effective responses outline multi-layered quality assurance systems involving self-checks by staff, supervisor inspections, and independent audits, all supported by technology that captures real-time quality data. The strongest answers demonstrate how quality becomes everyone's responsibility within your organisation.

External Quality Validation

Many public sector organisations seek external validation through the question: "How do you ensure compliance with quality standards such as ISO 9001 or sector-specific accreditations?"

This question seeks reassurance that your quality approach meets recognised standards. Outline your approach to achieving and maintaining relevant certifications, how standards are embedded in operational processes, and your internal audit programme.

Strong responses go beyond simply listing certifications to explain how you integrate sector-specific quality requirements with broader quality management systems, creating a unified approach that satisfies both general and specialised standards while enhancing operational effectiveness.

Performance Tracking and Improvement

Effective measurement underpins quality management, prompting the question: "How do you track and improve KPI performance over the contract duration?"

This question examines your performance management approach. Describe your monitoring systems, analysis methodology, improvement planning, and governance. Show how you use data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.

Compelling responses include details of performance dashboards that track KPIs against targets, historical performance, and industry benchmarks, supported by regular review meetings and improvement planning sessions that translate data into action.

Consistent Service Delivery

For multi-site or complex contracts, buyers ask: "What measures do you take to ensure service consistency across different locations or workstreams?"

This question tests your ability to deliver uniform quality despite varying conditions. Outline your approach to standardisation, including documented procedures, staff training, regular audits, and knowledge sharing across locations.

Effective responses balance the need for consistency with appropriate local adaptation. You might describe your standard operating procedures, cross-site inspection programmes, and best practice forums where location managers share challenges and solutions, demonstrating how you maintain standards while responding to local variations.

Value for Money

Public sector organisations must demonstrate responsible use of public funds. They need partners who understand this obligation and can deliver both quality and value.

Value-Based Pricing Approach

The fundamental value question - "How do you ensure that your pricing structure delivers value for money for the contracting authority?" - goes beyond simple cost considerations to examine the relationship between price and value.

Describe your pricing methodology, cost transparency approach, benchmarking processes, and how you structure pricing to align incentives. Show how your approach delivers both competitive pricing and sustainable quality, recognising the public sector's need to demonstrate value to taxpayers.

Strong responses outline transparent pricing approaches with clear cost breakdowns, fair profit margins, and mechanisms such as gain-sharing that reward both parties for efficiency improvements. The most compelling answers demonstrate genuine understanding of public sector value for money principles.

Efficiency Without Quality Compromise

Budget pressures are ever-present in the public sector, leading to the question: "What cost-saving initiatives do you propose without compromising service quality?"

This question tests your creativity and understanding of cost drivers. Outline specific efficiency initiatives, process improvements, technology investments, and resource optimisation approaches. For each example, explicitly show how quality is maintained or enhanced despite cost reduction.

Effective responses include specific examples such as preventative maintenance programmes that reduce reactive callouts, lowering overall costs while improving service availability and user satisfaction. The strongest answers quantify both cost savings and quality impacts, demonstrating your ability to enhance value rather than simply reducing costs.

Balancing Cost and Quality

The tension between cost and quality is acknowledged in the question: "How do you balance cost control with maintaining high-quality service standards?"

This question recognises that pursuing the lowest cost often leads to quality problems. Explain your budgeting process, cost monitoring, quality assurance, and decision-making framework when trade-offs arise. Show how you identify and protect critical quality elements even when cost pressures increase.

Strong responses might describe how you designate certain service elements as "quality-critical" and protect them from cost reduction, while continuously reviewing non-critical processes for efficiency opportunities. Effective answers demonstrate both commercial awareness and quality commitment.

Risk Management and Resilience

Public sector organisations are often risk-averse due to their accountability requirements. They need partners with robust risk management approaches who can provide service stability and continuity.

Comprehensive Risk Management

The core risk question - "How do you identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout contract delivery?"—examines your systematic approach to anticipating and addressing potential problems.

Describe your risk management framework, including identification methods, assessment criteria, mitigation planning, monitoring processes, and governance. Show how risk management is embedded in your operational approach rather than functioning as a separate activity.

Effective responses outline risk categorisation systems covering operational, financial, reputational, and compliance dimensions, supported by regular review meetings and early warning indicators that flag potential issues before they become problems. The strongest answers demonstrate how your risk management approach has evolved through experience.

Business Continuity and Resilience

Service stability is paramount, prompting the question: "How do you ensure resilience in the face of supply chain disruptions, economic volatility, or other external risks?"

This question tests your preparedness for significant disruptions. Outline your business continuity planning, supply chain management, financial stability measures, and crisis response capabilities. Show how you've successfully maintained service through previous disruptions.

Compelling responses describe practical strategies such as supplier diversification, local sourcing initiatives, and operational flexibility approaches that have enabled continued service delivery during disruptions such as supply chain issues, extreme weather events, or public health emergencies.

Managing Demand Fluctuations

Many public services experience variable demand, leading to the question: "How do you handle unexpected increases in demand while maintaining service levels?"

This question tests your operational flexibility and resource management. Describe your demand forecasting approach, resource scalability, staff flexibility, partner arrangements, and prioritisation frameworks. Show how you've successfully managed demand fluctuations in comparable services.

Strong responses outline practical models such as "surge capacity" arrangements that combine cross-trained staff, flexible working patterns, and technology solutions to accommodate significant demand increases while maintaining performance standards.

Information Security and Data Protection

In an increasingly digital environment, buyers ask: "How do you manage cybersecurity risks, data breaches, and compliance with GDPR?"

This question examines your approach to information security and data protection. Outline your information security management system, technical controls, staff training, incident response procedures, and compliance monitoring.

Effective responses describe comprehensive approaches such as certified information security management systems, regular testing programmes, staff awareness training, and rapid incident response capabilities, demonstrating how you protect both systems and data throughout your operations.

Staff Management and Workforce Relations

Many public sector contracts involve people-centred services where workforce quality and stability directly impact outcomes. Buyers need confidence in your people management approach.

TUPE Transfer Management

When staff transfers are involved, evaluators ask: "How do you manage the TUPE transfer process to ensure minimal disruption for both incoming and existing staff?"

This question examines your understanding of TUPE regulations and your practical approach to workforce transitions. Describe your TUPE management methodology, including consultation processes, information gathering, due diligence, measures to protect employment terms, and communication approaches.

Strong responses outline structured transition timelines, dedicated HR support for transferring staff, individual consultation meetings, and day-one readiness approaches that ensure all administrative arrangements are completed before transfer. The most compelling answers demonstrate understanding of both the legal requirements and the human impact of staff transfers.

Staff Development and Retention

Workforce stability underpins service quality, prompting the question: "How do you ensure effective onboarding, training, and retention of staff?"

This question recognises that successful services depend on skilled, motivated staff. Outline your induction programme, skills development approach, performance management, career progression opportunities, and retention strategies.

Effective responses describe comprehensive approaches such as structured onboarding processes, regular skills assessments, personalised development plans, and recognition programmes that build engagement and reduce turnover. The strongest answers demonstrate understanding of the specific workforce challenges in the relevant sector.

Staff Welfare and Wellbeing

Recognising the link between staff wellbeing and service quality, buyers ask: "What measures do you take to support staff welfare and wellbeing?"

This question examines your people-focused approach to workforce management. Describe your wellbeing initiatives, support provisions, work-life balance policies, and management training for supporting teams.

Compelling responses outline holistic approaches such as employee assistance programmes, wellbeing champions, flexible working options, and supportive management practices that create positive working environments where staff can thrive and deliver their best work.

Social Value

Public sector procurement increasingly emphasises broader societal benefits alongside direct service delivery. The Social Value Act 2012 requires buyers to consider economic, social, and environmental well-being in procurement decisions.

Social Value Integration

The fundamental social value question - "How will you ensure your contract delivery aligns with the Social Value Act 2012?"—examines your understanding of social value requirements and their practical implementation.

Describe your social value framework, including policy commitments, measurement approach, governance, and reporting mechanisms. Show how social value is integrated into your delivery model rather than operating as a separate initiative.

Effective responses outline structured approaches with clear social value pillars covering areas such as local employment, skills development, community engagement, environmental sustainability, and supply chain development, with specific targets and dedicated resources for each area.

Local Economic Development

A specific social value priority appears in the question: "How do you support job creation, apprenticeships, and skills development within local communities?"

This question recognises the public sector's role in economic development. Outline your approach to local recruitment, apprenticeship programmes, work experience provision, skills development initiatives, and education provider partnerships.

Strong responses describe specific commitments such as local employment targets, structured apprenticeship schemes, education partnerships that create skills pathways, and progression routes that enable entry-level staff to develop into technical and leadership roles.

Supply Chain Diversity and Inclusion

The breadth of social value impact is examined through the question: "How do you ensure that your procurement decisions support SMEs and voluntary sector organisations?"

This question acknowledges that your supply chain decisions can either support or undermine the buyer's social value objectives. Describe your supply chain management approach, including SME-friendly procurement practices, capacity building for smaller suppliers, prompt payment commitments, and monitoring mechanisms.

Effective responses outline practical approaches such as supply chain tiering systems that reserve certain categories for SME suppliers, regular supplier engagement events, and development programmes that help local businesses meet quality and compliance requirements.

Environmental Sustainability

Climate change and environmental protection are increasingly prioritised in public procurement. Buyers need partners who will support their environmental commitments and contribute to broader sustainability goals.

Carbon Reduction Strategy

The core environmental question—"How do you align your environmental policies with the UK government's Net Zero 2050 targets?"—examines your understanding of climate change commitments and your practical approach to reducing emissions.

Describe your carbon reduction strategy, including baseline assessment, reduction targets, implementation plans, and progress monitoring. Show how your approach contributes meaningfully to broader net zero commitments.

Strong responses outline science-based carbon reduction targets, specific implementation programmes such as fleet electrification or energy efficiency initiatives, and monitoring systems that track progress against clearly defined milestones.

Practical Environmental Initiatives

Moving from strategy to implementation, buyers ask: "How do you measure and reduce your environmental impact in service delivery?"

This question tests whether your environmental commitment includes practical action. Outline your environmental measurement methodology, key reduction initiatives, technology investments, and operational practices that minimise impact.

Effective responses describe specific approaches such as low-emission vehicle fleets, energy-efficient equipment policies, waste reduction programmes, and decision-making tools that allow operational teams to monitor and minimise environmental impacts in daily activities.

Tender Writing Top Tips for 2025

The procurement landscape in Britain continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. As we work through 2025, the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 has reshaped how public contracts are awarded and managed. Drawing from my conversations with procurement officers and successful bidders across the UK, I've observed several emerging patterns that distinguish winning submissions in this new environment.

Tender Evaluation

One cannot overstate the significance of the shift from MEAT to MAT - from Most Economically Advantageous Tender to Most Advantageous Tender. This seemingly subtle change in terminology represents a profound shift in evaluation priorities. Public buyers are now explicitly empowered to look beyond mere price considerations, giving greater weight to quality, innovation, social value and environmental impact. The most successful bids I've reviewed this year have embraced this change wholeheartedly, artfully weaving broader value narratives throughout their submissions. They don't simply state their social or environmental credentials as an afterthought; rather, these elements form the backbone of their value proposition, demonstrating how their approach delivers benefits across multiple dimensions simultaneously.

The National Procurement Policy Statement has also become increasingly influential in shaping evaluation criteria. Procurement teams across the public sector are now mandated to consider how contracts might create new businesses, jobs and skills; tackle climate change and reduce waste; and improve supplier diversity, innovation and resilience. Forward-thinking bidders no longer wait to be explicitly asked about these factors - they proactively address them, showing how their solution naturally aligns with these national priorities. A healthcare services provider recently secured a substantial contract largely because they demonstrated how their staff development programme would create meaningful career pathways in underserved communities, despite this not being an explicit requirement in the tender.

The art of evidence-based storytelling has similarly grown in importance. Evaluation teams are increasingly sceptical of generic claims and theoretical approaches. Instead, they seek tangible evidence of capability and past performance. The most compelling submissions I've encountered this year combine narrative flow with robust evidence, using case studies that parallel the contract requirements, providing specific quantified outcomes, and including testimonials that validate claims. This approach transforms a standard response into a compelling story of proven capability and likely future success.

Bid Design

As submissions become predominantly digital, the thoughtful use of visual elements has emerged as a powerful differentiator. Complex methodologies that might require pages of dense text can often be more effectively communicated through well-designed infographics. Implementation timelines become more accessible when presented visually. Governance structures are immediately clearer when illustrated through organisational charts. However, a word of caution is warranted - visual elements must enhance understanding rather than simply decorating the page. The most effective visualisations I've seen simplify complexity without sacrificing accuracy or detail.

Sustainability

Environmental considerations have moved firmly into the mainstream of procurement decisions. With mandatory carbon reduction plans now required for all central government contracts over £5 million, organisations without robust environmental credentials find themselves at a significant disadvantage. The most persuasive submissions go beyond vague commitments to "reduce carbon footprint" and instead provide specific, measurable targets backed by clear implementation plans. They demonstrate understanding of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and outline practical steps towards net zero that align with the specific contract requirements. Even for contracts below the threshold or from other public bodies, environmental commitments are increasingly influential in evaluation decisions. For NHS procurement frameworks you may also find - Evergreen Assessments useful.

The emphasis on transparency and ethical governance has likewise intensified. Recent procurement reforms have strengthened exclusion grounds related to ethical practices, making this an area of growing scrutiny. Successful bidders now proactively address their approach to modern slavery due diligence, fair work practices, transparent governance, and ethical reporting mechanisms. These elements are no longer treated as compliance checkboxes but presented as fundamental organisational values that underpin service delivery. A facilities management provider recently distinguished their bid by detailing how their ethical labour practices extended throughout their supply chain, with specific monitoring and enforcement mechanisms that went well beyond minimum requirements.

Cyber Essentials

With public services becoming increasingly digital, robust security credentials have become essential rather than optional. Cyber Essentials Plus certification, once a differentiator, is now often a baseline expectation. The most compelling submissions explain their data protection governance framework, detail their approach to security testing and vulnerability management, and describe comprehensive staff training programmes. They demonstrate awareness of the specific security challenges within the relevant sector and outline tailored mitigation strategies. As cyber threats to public services continue to grow, demonstrating security maturity has become a significant competitive advantage.

The Procurement Act

The Procurement Act 2023 has introduced a simplified set of procedures, each with distinct characteristics and evaluation approaches. Savvy bidders now adapt their approach accordingly - focusing on clarity and accessibility for the open procedure, emphasising innovation and adaptability for the competitive flexible procedure, and highlighting consistency and scalability for framework agreements. This contextual awareness allows them to align their submission style and content with the specific procedural objectives, meeting evaluators' expectations more effectively.

Trust and Readiness

Implementation readiness has emerged as a particularly critical factor in evaluation decisions. Public buyers have grown wary of suppliers who promise more than they can deliver, leading to increased scrutiny of mobilisation capabilities. The most convincing submissions include detailed implementation plans, identify key staff already in place for contract delivery, show evidence of similar transitions completed successfully, and highlight existing systems or resources that can be deployed immediately. This concrete evidence of readiness assures evaluators that services can be delivered effectively from day one, minimising transition risks.

Keep it Real!

It needs to be practical, considered and specific. It has to make sense!

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Tender Writing Playbook

Our Tender Writing Services: Frequently Asked Questions

Tender Writing Services

What tender writing services do you offer?

We offer a comprehensive range of tender writing services including full bid management, tender writing support, review services, tender readiness assessments, bid strategy development, interview preparation, and ongoing bid capability development. We can support you at any stage of the tender process, from opportunity identification through to contract award.

Do you write tenders for small businesses?

Yes, we work with organisations of all sizes, from SMEs bidding for their first public sector contract to multinational corporations managing multiple simultaneous bids. Our approach is tailored to your specific needs and experience level, with packages designed specifically for smaller businesses new to tendering.

Do you offer bid/no-bid assessment services?

Yes, we provide objective bid/no-bid assessments to help you decide which opportunities are worth pursuing. This service analyses factors such as strategic fit, competitive position, capacity to deliver, relationship with the buyer, and likely return on investment to determine if an opportunity is worth the resource investment required.

Can you help us respond to framework agreements?

Absolutely. We have extensive experience supporting clients with framework agreement applications across various sectors. This includes major government frameworks such as Crown Commercial Service (CCS) agreements, NHS frameworks, and local authority purchasing arrangements.

Do you provide support with PQQs/SSQs?

Yes, we offer full support with Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) and Selection Questionnaires (SSQs). Our experts understand the nuances of these documents and can help you meet the requirements to advance to the tender stage.

Can you help with technical writing for specialist sectors?

Yes, we have sector specialists who understand technical requirements across various industries including healthcare, construction, IT, professional services, social care, education, and more. Our writers can translate complex technical information into clear, compelling, and evaluator-friendly content.

Do you offer bid library development services?

Yes, we can help you develop and organise a comprehensive bid library of reusable content, case studies, policies, and evidence. This resource significantly improves efficiency for future bids and ensures consistency across submissions.

Can you help with bid graphics and presentation?

Yes, we offer professional design services specifically for tender submissions. This includes development of infographics, process diagrams, organisational charts, and overall document design to enhance the visual appeal and clarity of your submissions.

Do you provide social value strategy development?

Yes, we offer specialist support for developing robust social value strategies and responses. This includes quantifying social value, aligning with the Social Value Act requirements, and developing compelling social value narratives specific to your organisation.

Can you help with post-tender feedback analysis?

Yes, we provide detailed analysis of feedback from both successful and unsuccessful bids, identifying patterns and opportunities for improvement. This service helps refine your approach for future submissions.

Process and Approach

How does your tender writing process work?

Our process typically begins with an initial consultation to understand your needs and the specific opportunity. We then develop a detailed response plan, gather information through workshops or interviews, draft responses, incorporate your feedback, and finalise the submission. Throughout, we maintain regular communication and work collaboratively with your team.

How much input will you need from our team?

The level of input required depends on the service package selected. For full bid management, we'll need significant input at the planning stage and for technical details, but we handle the majority of the writing and compilation. For review services, your team produces the content with our guidance and feedback. We're always transparent about the time commitment required from your staff.

How quickly can you respond to a tender opportunity?

We can mobilise quickly for urgent requirements - sometimes within 24-48 hours. However, the earlier you engage us, the more value we can add. Ideally, we recommend involving us as soon as you identify a potential opportunity, even before tender documents are released.

Do you use AI for writing tender responses?

While we use technology to improve efficiency, all our tender responses are drafted by experienced bid professionals who understand the nuances of public sector procurement. We don't rely on AI-generated content for bid responses. Our approach combines human expertise with appropriate technology tools for research, planning, and quality control. Take a look at our bid management software.

How do you maintain quality control?

We employ a rigorous quality assurance process, with all work reviewed by senior bid consultants before submission. This includes technical accuracy checks, compliance reviews, evaluator perspective assessment, and proofreading. Many of our reviewers have experience as tender evaluators themselves.

Can you work remotely with our team?

Yes, we have extensive experience working remotely with clients across the UK and internationally. We use secure collaboration tools, virtual workshops, and regular video conferences to maintain effective communication throughout the project.

Costs and Commercial Terms

How much do you charge for tender writing services?

Our tender writing fees vary depending on the complexity of the tender, the level of support required, and the timescale. We offer both fixed-price packages and day rate options. Fixed-price packages typically range from £2,500 to £4,000 for our tender writing services - but up to £15,000+ for complex, high-value opportunities with full bid management. Please contact us for a specific quotation based on your requirements.

Do you offer success-based fee structures?

We offer flexible commercial models, including partial success-based fee structures for certain opportunities. Typically, this involves a reduced upfront fee with an additional success fee payable upon contract award. Please note that we generally recommend a balanced approach rather than purely success-based fees to ensure quality is never compromised.

What's included in your fixed price packages?

Our fixed price packages typically include initial consultation, bid planning, content development, client reviews, quality assurance, and submission preparation. The specific inclusions vary by package level, with higher-tier packages offering more extensive support such as graphics development, commercial strategy, and post-submission support.

Are there any additional costs we should be aware of?

Our quotes are comprehensive, but expenses such as travel, accommodation (if required for in-person meetings), and specialist graphic design may be charged separately. These are always agreed in advance and transparently itemised. For standard tender writing services delivered remotely, there are typically no additional costs beyond the agreed fee.

Do you require a retainer or minimum commitment?

For one-off projects, no retainer is required—we simply agree a fixed price or estimated time requirement. For ongoing support, we offer retainer arrangements with preferential rates and guaranteed availability. These typically start from 3 days per month with flexible rollover of unused time.

What payment terms do you offer?

For smaller projects, we typically require 50% payment upfront with the balance due upon completion. For larger projects, we offer staged payments aligned with project milestones. For established clients, we offer standard 30-day payment terms. We accept bank transfers, credit cards, and direct debits.

Results and Track Record

What is your success rate with tenders?

Our clients achieve success rates significantly above industry averages. Over the past three years, our win rate across all sectors has been approximately 73%, compared to the industry average of around 30%. For framework agreements, our success rate exceeds 90%. We work with a lot of SME businesses and may often be new to public sector tendering. We are very proud of what we achieve. More importantly our client retention rate is over 90%!

Can you guarantee we'll win the tender?

While we can't guarantee success (and would be wary of any company that does), we ensure your submission is of the highest professional quality, fully compliant, and present your offer in the most compelling way possible. The final decision rests with the buying authority and depends on various factors including competition and pricing.

How many tenders do you support each year?

We support approximately 500 tender submissions annually across our team of bid consultants. This gives us extensive insight into current evaluation trends and buyer preferences across various sectors and contract types.

Do you have experience with international tenders?

Yes, while our primary focus is UK public sector procurement, we also support clients with international tenders, including EU procurement, UN contracts, World Bank funded projects, and private sector tenders in various global markets.

Can you provide references or case studies?

Yes, we can provide relevant case studies and references upon request. Due to confidentiality agreements, we may need to anonymise certain details, but we can share specific examples relevant to your sector and contract type.

Getting Started

How quickly can you start working with us?

This depends on the deadline... Often - immediately. The specific timeline depends on our current workload and the scope of support required.

What information do you need from us initially?

To provide an accurate quote and assessment, we'll need the tender documents (if available), information about the buyer and opportunity, your previous experience with similar contracts, key differentiators for your offer, and your timeline requirements. For a comprehensive approach, we may also request examples of previous bids and any feedback received.

Do you offer a free initial consultation?

Yes, we offer a free initial consultation (typically 30-60 minutes) to discuss your requirements, assess how we can help, and provide preliminary advice. This allows both parties to determine if there's a good fit before committing to the engagement.

How do we engage your services for our next tender?

Contact us via phone, email, or through the contact form on our website. Please provide basic details about your opportunity and timeline. A senior consultant will get back to you promptly to discuss your requirements and next steps.

Are you available for urgent, short-notice requirements?

Yes, we maintain capacity for urgent requirements and have experience in delivering high-quality submissions under tight deadlines. There may be a premium charge for extremely short-notice work, but we'll always be transparent about any additional costs.

Do you offer tender training alongside writing services?

Yes, we offer comprehensive tender training programmes that can complement our writing services. These range from introductory workshops for organisations new to tendering to advanced masterclasses on specific aspects such as pricing strategy, social value, or presentation skills. Training can be delivered as standalone services or integrated with active bid support.