In our final instalment of our Tender FAQ blogs we answer some more of your tendering questions.
I want to get involved in public sector contracts, how do I go about finding tenders that I could apply for?
Public sector contracts, such as those for the government and its agents, the NHS, councils, housing associations and more, are in the public domain. You should familiarise yourself with these two websites:
In the UK, public sector authorities must follow a set of procurement rules which includes the requirement to publicise contract opportunities above a contract value threshold on Find a Tender. Higher value contracts, typically over £139,688, can be viewed and searched here. To view these opportunities, you can visit the Find a Tender website.
This site enables you to do simple and refined searches for relevant contract opportunities based on keywords that are appropriate for your business e.g. search “electrical” as an electrical contractor.
Below the threshold, public contracts do not have to be publicised in the same way, however, it is still in the public interest to go to tender for most products and services. As such, most lower-value contracts are still advertised on the central government website Contracts Finder.
At Complete Tenders, we combine the opportunities from these into our Open Tenders directory where you can use a variety of search functionalities in addition to receiving daily email alerts for opportunities in your chosen sectors.
Can small businesses apply for public sector tenders?
Yes, small businesses can absolutely apply for public sector tenders. In fact, the public sector is keen to support SMEs and often includes provisions in their tendering processes to ensure smaller businesses can compete. Many public sector contracts are specifically tailored to help SMEs by offering opportunities that match their size and capabilities. However, small businesses need to ensure they meet the necessary requirements, such as financial stability and the ability to deliver the contract, and provide a well-prepared tender submission. With the right approach and support, SMEs can successfully win public sector contracts and grow their business.
Do you have experience in working with tenders in my sector?
Our team has extensive experience working across a wide range of sectors, enabling us to understand the unique requirements of different industries. While we may not specialise in every specific sector, our expertise lies in navigating the tender process itself, recognising what buyers are looking for and extracting the essential information that makes your proposal stand out. We focus on delivering clear, concise and compelling tenders that align with buyer expectations, ensuring your business has the best chance of success, no matter the industry.
What success rates do you have?
We don't typically focus on specific success rates, as each tender is unique and influenced by various factors, including the competitiveness of the market and the specific requirements of the buyer. Instead, our focus is on continuously improving the quality of each submission. We work closely with our clients to refine every tender we write, learning from each experience and making our proposals stronger with every opportunity. This commitment to constant improvement helps increase our client's chances of success over time.
Am I ready to get started?
Choosing to respond to public sector tender opportunities is a strategic business decision. They will require an investment of time and resources; a real commitment from you and your team to be successful, but the successes can catapult your business into the big league and ensure long-term sustainability and cash flow for years.
Before engaging with your first tender it is wise to stand back and look at your business and ensure you are ‘tender ready’. Take a look at this blog which highlights some key areas to consider.
For more help with tendering, take a look at our range of blogs designed to help you each step of the way or visit our YouTube channel, you will find a wealth of information at your fingertips. When you are ready to start responding to opportunities, get in touch and we can discuss how our services can support you and your business to grow with our tender writing services.
