Top tips for contracting

In this section, we have provided some useful tips and advice to increase your chances of success in contracting.

The advertisement

  • Do not be shy of making enquiries to public sector bodies about available contracts. Look out for news and events in the magazines and publications in your own business sector.
  • Explore the Internet for ‘selling to’ sites.
  • Feel free to market your goods and services to the public sector just as you would to the private sector.
  • Contact your local training provider to see if they provide workshops or courses on how to tender and selling to the public sector.

Providing information

  • Only tender for work that you are sure you could deliver.
  • Always provide the information you are asked for. If you are not able to do so, check whether your tender will be acceptable.
  • Make sure you answer all the questions accurately.

Timing

  • Plan your tender around the timetable the purchaser gives you to make sure you can meet all deadlines.
  • If you are not sure of anything, ask in good time. Do not miss the given deadline.
  • If your tender is unclear and the purchaser asks you for clarification, you must give this by the original deadline, unless they tell you otherwise.
  • Make sure you know early on in the procedure what format you will have to use to fill in the tender documents. You also need to know what the timescale is and whether interviews will be likely.
  • You will always be asked to provide information by specific dates. Remember that the date given is the last date by which the organisation needs information. It is important to make sure that information arrives promptly. Do be patient, as the procedure from the first advert to awarding the contract can take months.

Quality assurance

  • Be aware of any quality assurance standards that affect your sector.

Policy requirements

There is a range of policies that are becoming increasingly important when tendering for public sector contracts.

  • Sustainability and environmental policies
  • ISO14001 and EMAS
  • Racial equality
  • Diversity
  • Health and safety

It is wise to have knowledge of the relevant policies and have documented procedures in place, where necessary. You may be asked to provide copies of these documents with your tender application.