Procurement guides
Plain English guides to UK public procurement, tendering, and winning contracts.
Getting Started
Tender Basics
Core concepts every supplier needs to understand before starting to tender.
What Is a Tender? A Plain English Guide
A clear, jargon-free explanation of what a tender is, how the UK tendering process works, and why it matters for suppliers.
2 min readProcurement Act 2023 Explained: What SME Suppliers Need to Know
The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025 and is the biggest overhaul of UK public procurement law in a decade.
6 min read
Procurement Terminology
Plain English explanations of the jargon used in UK public procurement.
Selection Questionnaire (SQ): A Complete Guide for UK Suppliers
The Selection Questionnaire is the standard UK pre-qualification document for public sector tenders. Here is what every section covers, what evidence you need, and how to reuse your answers across bids.
8 min readTender Evaluation Criteria: Quality, Price, and Social Value Weightings
How UK public sector buyers actually score tenders. Quality, price, and social value weightings explained, with typical UK percentages by sector.
7 min readWhat Are CPV Codes and How to Use Them
CPV codes classify public contracts across the UK and EU. Learn what they are, how to find yours, and why they matter.
2 min readWhat Is a PQQ? Guide for Suppliers
A PQQ is a screening questionnaire buyers use to shortlist suppliers before inviting full tender bids. Learn what one covers and how to pass it.
2 min readWhat Is a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)?
A DPS is an electronic procurement tool for sourcing from pre-approved suppliers. Learn how it works and how to join.
2 min readUK Procurement Thresholds: The 2024/25 Guide
UK procurement thresholds determine when public bodies must advertise contracts openly. Learn the current thresholds and what they mean for suppliers.
2 min readDynamic Markets Under the Procurement Act 2023: A Supplier Guide
Dynamic markets are the new open supplier lists introduced by the Procurement Act 2023, replacing Dynamic Purchasing Systems for all new procurements from February 2025.
7 min read
Tendering Basics
How to Read a UK Public Sector Tender Notice
UK tender notices are dense and intimidating. Here is what every section means, what to look for in the first five minutes, and how to decide whether to bid.
9 min readThe 8 Stages of UK Public Procurement: Tender Lifecycle Explained
Every UK public sector procurement follows the same eight stages, from pre-market engagement to contract management. Here is what happens at each stage, and where suppliers can influence the outcome.
8 min readUnderstanding CPV Codes and Categories
Learn how CPV codes work and why they matter for finding the right public sector contracts.
5 min read
Winning Strategies
Winning Tenders
Practical guidance on writing bids, working with bid writers, and improving win rates.
Bidding for Government Contracts: SME Guide
A step-by-step guide for small businesses bidding on UK government contracts for the first time - from registration to submission.
14 min readHow to Win a Tender: 8 Proven Tips
Eight proven tips from experienced bid writers to improve your win rate on UK public sector tenders.
3 min readHow to Tender for Government Contracts
A practical step-by-step guide to tendering for UK government contracts, from finding opportunities to submitting your first bid.
3 min readWhat Is a Bid Writer?
A bid writer prepares tender submissions on behalf of organisations. Learn what bid writers do, when to hire one, and how to become one.
3 min readBest UK Tender Writing Courses in 2025
A guide to the best tender writing and bid management courses available in the UK, from free online resources to accredited APMP qualifications.
3 min read
Finding Tenders
How to discover relevant public sector opportunities and set up effective monitoring.
What Is the Find a Tender Service (FTS)?
FTS is the UK government official platform for above-threshold public sector contract notices. Learn what it covers.
2 min readHow to Find Government Contracts in the UK
A step-by-step guide to the UK portals and practical methods SMEs use to discover public sector contract opportunities.
8 min read
Frameworks & Portals