Guides
Plain-English help on finding and winning UK public-sector work.
Bid or no bid: is that tender worth your time?
A go or no-go checklist for public-sector tenders: eligibility killers, incumbent advantage, evaluation fit, and the true cost of writing bids you cannot win.
ReadBidStats alternatives: an honest guide
Looking for a BidStats alternative? What BidStats does well, where it stops, and an honest comparison with Tenderoo, Stotles, Tussell and Tracker for UK suppliers.
ReadContracts Finder alternatives: an honest guide
Contracts Finder alternatives for UK suppliers: what the free government tools cover, what the paid platforms add, and an honest guide to choosing, including where Tenderoo fits.
ReadDynamic purchasing systems (DPS) explained
What a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is, how it differs from a framework agreement, why suppliers can join at any time, and how call-off competitions under a DPS work.
ReadFind a Tender vs Contracts Finder: what's the difference?
The two official UK tender sites explained: what each covers since the Procurement Act 2023, which one to search, and why suppliers still need both for now.
ReadFramework agreements explained
What a framework agreement is in UK public procurement, how call-offs and mini-competitions work, what a place on a framework is really worth, and how a small supplier gets onto one.
ReadHow to bid for council contracts
A practical route into council contracts for a small UK business: where tenders are published, what selection stages mean, what you need in place first, and how to make your first bid count.
ReadHow to find public-sector tenders for your business
Where UK councils, NHS bodies, housing associations and central government publish tenders, the CPV codes to search, and how to keep up with new notices.
ReadHow to read an ITT: lots, TUPE and pricing
A working guide to the ITT pack: which documents decide go or no-go, how lots work, why the TUPE annex changes your price, and using clarification questions.
ReadHow to use Contracts Finder well
How to use Contracts Finder well: search and filters that actually work, setting up email alerts, using the API and award data, and the gaps to know about before relying on it.
ReadSocial value in public-sector bids: a practical guide
What social value means in UK public-sector tenders, how buyers weight and measure it, and what a supplier of any size can honestly commit to in a bid.
ReadSQ, PQQ, ITT, RFQ: tender documents explained
SQ, PQQ, ITT, RFQ, RFP, MEAT: UK tender documents and acronyms explained in plain English, what each stage is testing, and which documents in the pack actually decide the result.
ReadStotles alternatives: an honest guide
Looking for a Stotles alternative? What Stotles does well, who it's built for, and an honest comparison with Tenderoo, BidStats, Tussell and Tracker for UK suppliers.
ReadThe Procurement Act 2023: what actually changed for suppliers
What the Procurement Act 2023 changed for small UK suppliers: the new notices, the competitive flexible procedure, one central platform, faster payment terms, and what stays the same.
ReadTracker alternatives: an honest guide
Looking for a Tracker Intelligence alternative? What Tracker does well, where it frustrates, and an honest comparison with Tenderoo, BidStats, Stotles and Tussell.
ReadTussell alternatives: an honest guide
Looking for a Tussell alternative? What Tussell does well, who it's priced for, and an honest comparison with Tenderoo, BidStats, Stotles and Tracker for UK suppliers.
ReadWhat public buyers actually score in a bid
Selection stage, quality and price weightings, method statements and social value: how UK public-sector bids are actually marked, explained in plain English.
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