UK tendering — plain-English guidance
Guidance on procurement terminology, compliance, scoring, and the tender response process.
Library
Articles and guides
We’ll keep expanding this as we publish more guidance.
Children's services tender guide
Practical guide to winning children's services tenders: Ofsted alignment, safeguarding frameworks, and evidence that scores.
Competitive flexible procedure
How the new default procurement procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 works for care sector tenders.
CQC reset and tenders
How CQC's 2026 inspection overhaul affects what evidence commissioners accept in tender responses.
Defending at re-tender
Incumbent providers lose re-tenders they should win. Here's the strategy to protect your contract and revenue.
DSCR in tenders
How to evidence Digital Social Care Records adoption, GP Connect integration, and digital maturity in care sector tenders.
LPS and tender responses
How the shift from DoLS to Liberty Protection Safeguards affects what commissioners expect in care sector tenders.
Outsource or write in-house?
When to write tenders yourself, when to outsource, and the true cost of each option for care providers.
Pricing strategy guide
How to price care tenders competitively: cost modelling, TUPE, NLW uplifts, and common pricing errors.
Procurement Act: one year on
What has actually changed for care providers since the Procurement Act 2023 went live in February 2025.
Social value examples
Specific social value examples for care tenders: TOMs framework, measurable commitments, and adaptable templates.
Tender interview guide
How to prepare for tender interviews and presentations: common questions, structure, and care-sector preparation.
After losing a tender
How to read your tender feedback letter, identify where marks were lost, and use it to win next time.
Workforce evidence guide
How to present workforce data in care tenders: retention, training, recruitment pipelines, and KPIs that score.
Carbon reduction plan guide
What care providers need in a Carbon Reduction Plan for NHS tenders: practical steps without the corporate sustainability jargon.
First tender guide
Step-by-step guide for care providers submitting their first tender: what you need, where to find opportunities, and how to avoid first-timer mistakes.
Procurement Act 2023 guide
What the Procurement Act 2023 changes for care providers and how to prepare your next bid.
PSR guide for providers
Plain-English guide to the Provider Selection Regime: three routes, key criteria, and how to win NHS healthcare contracts.
Tender writing cost guide
What professional tender writing costs for care contracts, what affects pricing, and how to decide if outsourcing is worth it.
Bid/no-bid framework
Systematic framework for qualifying tender opportunities and avoiding wasted effort on unwinnable bids.
Common tender mistakes
The 10 most common tender mistakes that lead to disqualification or low scores — and how to avoid them.
CQC tender requirements
How to demonstrate CQC compliance, present inspection evidence, and prove quality governance in tender responses.
Domiciliary care tender guide
Practical guide to winning domiciliary care tenders: visit logistics, continuity planning, and quality evidence.
Evidence library guide
How to build and maintain a reusable evidence library with case studies, KPIs, policies, and testimonials.
Framework vs DPS guide
Understand framework agreements and DPS, choose the right route, and learn how to win mini-competitions and call-offs.
MEAT evaluation explained
Understanding MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) evaluation and how quality scores combine with price to determine contract awards.
Mobilisation planning guide
How to write detailed, credible mobilisation plans that demonstrate control and score highly with evaluators.
NHS tender writing tips
12 practical tips for winning NHS tenders, from understanding NHS priorities to aligning with CQC and demonstrating social value.
Patient transport tender guide
Guide to winning patient transport tenders: vehicle compliance, safeguarding vulnerable passengers, and quality service delivery.
Portal submission guide
Best practices for submitting through e-procurement portals: Delta, Jaggaer, In-tend, and avoiding common submission failures.
Social value guide
How to understand social value criteria, write compelling responses, and demonstrate real community impact in tenders.
Supported living tender guide
Complete guide to winning supported living tenders: criteria, evidence requirements, and writing strategies that score.
Tender compliance checklist
50+ compliance points covering mandatory documents, declarations, formatting, and submission rules.
Tender terminology glossary
Comprehensive glossary of 50+ essential procurement terms: SQ, ITT, MEAT, DPS, frameworks, and more decoded.
TUPE tender guide
How to write TUPE responses that demonstrate competent staff transfer planning and win evaluator confidence.
Write to evaluation criteria
Practical framework for structuring responses that align with scoring criteria and maximise quality marks.
Tender compliance checklist
A pass/fail-focused checklist: mandatory docs, word counts, attachments, and submission rules.
Want a fast, practical steer on your next bid?
Send the tender pack (or link) and deadline — we’ll confirm fit, risks, and recommended scope.