How the Tender Process Works: A Guide for Public Sector Suppliers

Going out to a tender is an action by a buyer (public or private) to formally inviting suppliers to submit bids or proposals for a contract. In the UK context it signals that the procurement process is open for submissions and the buyer intends to award work following competitive evaluation.

A formal request from a contracting authority or private business inviting suppliers to submit full tenders against clear requirements, evaluation criteria, and contract terms. ITTs are used when the buyer knows exactly what they need and will award based on best value.

An open tender is a procurement method where a buyer invites any interested and eligible supplier to submit a bid. In the UK public-sector context it promotes transparency, competition and value for money.

The procedure of tender is the set of prescribed steps a buyer follows in the UK public procurement framework to invite, evaluate and award bids, starting from needs assessment, issuing notice, receiving offers and ending in contract award.

A procurement tender is a formal invitation issued by a buyer (often a public-sector body in the UK) to suppliers to submit competitive offers for goods, services or works under set conditions, deadlines and evaluation criteria.

It is the full set of papers a buyer issues during a UK public or private-sector procurement that tell suppliers what’s required, how to respond and how the bids will be evaluated. It covers specification, submission rules, contract terms and evaluation criteria. Informational only — consult counsel for legal advice.

Refers to public sector opportunities in England published on the UK's Find a Tender Service for high-value notices. Lower-value English contracts are listed on Contracts Finder.

A public sector contract is an agreement under UK law between a public authority and a supplier for the purchase of goods, services or works that is subject to procurement rules. It ensures compliance with transparency, competition and value-for-money requirements.

Public sector contracts awarded by authorities in England for goods, services or works that must comply with UK public procurement law and be advertised on portals appropriate for England-based contracting.

A tender application is the submission made by a supplier in response to a buyer's published invitation, where the supplier provides evidence, pricing and compliance details to seek award of the contract for goods, services or works under the procurement process.

A tender bid is the formal proposal submitted by a supplier in response to a tender notice or tender document. It outlines how the supplier will meet the requirements, sets out price, quality and delivery details, and competes for the award of the contract.

An advisor who a contracting authority or private business uses to support strategic aspects of procurement and tendering, such as opportunity assessment, bid-no-bid decisions, process improvement and training. Private firms engage tender consultants when seeking to win major contracts or optimise internal tendering capability.

It is a specific document or set of documents issued by a buyer in the UK that states what goods, services or works are needed, how suppliers should bid, the contract's terms and how evaluations will happen. It gives suppliers the information they need to prepare a compliant offer. Informational only - consult counsel for legal advice.

A tender document format is the way a buyer asks you to structure responses, from set forms like the Selection Questionnaire to free-format quality answers and pricing. UK public buyers specify formats to keep competition fair and transparent. Private buyers may set lighter rules, but you still follow their instructions.

It's the process a supplier uses to plan, prepare, and submit tenders for public or private sector opportunities. It includes identifying opportunities, managing documentation, writing responses, coordinating pricing and approvals, and ensuring compliance with tender instructions. Private businesses use tender management to win work from contracting authorities and other large organisations.

A tender manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the entire bid process, ensuring the proposal is compliant, competitive and submitted on time.

The tender process is the structured series of steps a buyer follows to invite, receive, evaluate and award contracts for goods, services or works. In the UK public-sector context, it ensures fairness, transparency and value for money.

Tender procurement refers to the process by which a UK public authority uses a formal competitive tender to procure goods, services or works. This means inviting suppliers, receiving bids and selecting a supplier under defined procurement rules.

A tender service is an official digital platform where public contracting authorities publish contract opportunities (tender notices) and suppliers can view or submit bids. For high-value contracts, this includes the Find a Tender Service.

Tender work refers to the tasks and activities carried out by a supplier or bidder to prepare and submit a compliant offer in response to a tender invitation - from analysing the requirement, writing the bid, compiling evidence and setting the price.

Tender writing is the skill and craft of preparing a clear, persuasive, and compliant bid response (tender) in answer to a buyer's invitation. In the UK public-sector context it means you present your capabilities, price and value in a way that meets the procurement rules and boosts your chances of winning.

A tenderer (or bidder) is the organisation or individual who submits a formal offer in response to a buyer’s invitation to provide goods, services or works. In the UK procurement process the terms are often used interchangeably to refer to a supplier participating in the competition.

Tendering is the formal procurement process where a buyer invites suppliers to submit competitive offers (tenders) for goods, services or works, then evaluates those offers and awards a contract. In the UK it is part of regulated public buying.

Tendering is the process where a buyer invites, receives and evaluates bids. Contracting is the subsequent stage where the winning bidder enters into a formal agreement with the buyer. In the UK public-sector procurement framework the two stages work together to deliver a contract that meets the requirement, value for money and regulatory standards.

The tendering process is the structured set of stages a buyer follows to invite, evaluate and award a contract for goods, services or works. In the UK public-sector context it supports transparency, competition and value for money.