Tender Q&A
Bid and tender questions answered
Short, plain-English answers to the questions small businesses ask most about UK bids and tenders. General guidance, not legal advice.
- What is a method statement in a tender?
A plain-English explanation of tender method statements: what buyers want, what to include and common mistakes.
- How long should a tender response be?
How to judge the right length for a tender answer, working to word and page limits without losing marks.
- What is the difference between an SQ and an ITT?
Selection Questionnaire versus Invitation to Tender explained for small UK suppliers.
- How are tenders scored?
How UK public sector buyers typically score tender responses, and what that means for how you write.
- What evidence should I include in a tender answer?
Types of evidence that support tender claims, and how to use them without padding your answer.
- Can a small business win a public sector tender?
What small UK businesses should know before bidding for public sector contracts.
- What should I check before submitting a tender?
A practical pre-submission check for UK tender responses.
- What is social value in a tender?
What social value means in UK public sector tenders and how to answer the question well.
- What is mobilisation in a tender?
What buyers mean by mobilisation and what a good mobilisation answer covers.
- Why did my tender score low?
Common reasons tender answers lose marks and how to improve your next bid.
- What is 'most advantageous tender' under the Procurement Act 2023?
How 'most advantageous tender' (MAT) replaced MEAT in UK public procurement and what it means for how you write your bid.
- What is the Central Digital Platform and do suppliers need to register?
A plain-English guide to the UK Central Digital Platform for suppliers bidding under the Procurement Act 2023.
- What is a Carbon Reduction Plan in a UK tender?
What a Carbon Reduction Plan is, when buyers ask for one and what small suppliers should include.
- What is a dynamic purchasing system or dynamic market?
How dynamic purchasing systems and dynamic markets work for UK suppliers, and how they differ from frameworks.
- What are mandatory and discretionary exclusion grounds?
Exclusion grounds in UK public procurement explained: what they are, why they matter and how self-cleaning works.
- How do you ask a tender clarification question?
When and how to ask a buyer a clarification question during a UK tender, without revealing your approach.
- What happens if you submit a tender late?
Why late tender submissions are usually rejected and how to avoid missing the deadline.
- How do you write a tender case study that scores well?
A simple structure for tender case studies: relevance, problem, action, result and proof.
- Do I need a modern slavery statement to bid for public contracts?
When UK suppliers need a modern slavery statement and how to answer modern slavery questions in tenders.
- What is an assessment summary and standstill period after a tender?
What happens after a UK tender is evaluated: assessment summaries, standstill and how to use feedback.
- How do you answer a quality assurance question in a tender?
What buyers look for in tender quality assurance answers and how to describe checks rather than certificates.
- How should a small business price a public sector tender?
Practical points for pricing UK public sector tenders without underbidding or contradicting your written answers.
Looking for a term? See the tender glossary.