Bid readiness checklist
10 checks before you submit a tender, written by people who have scored bids as buyers.
The 10 checks
Decide bid or no-bid on evidence
Can you meet every requirement, win against likely competitors and deliver at a margin you can live with? If the honest answer is no, a strong no-bid saves more than a weak bid earns.
Read every document, including clarifications
Work from the latest versions. Read the clarification log and any amendments; answers given to other bidders often change what evaluators expect.
Clear the pass or fail items first
Check eligibility, exclusion grounds, financial standing, insurance and any required accreditations, and have the evidence ready. A brilliant answer cannot rescue a failed mandatory question.
Public sector: the Procurement Act 2023 or the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 may apply, depending on when the procurement started. The terms and tests differ between the two regimes, so read the buyer's documents for which applies.
Answer the question that was asked
Mirror the question's structure and the published scoring criteria. Evaluators can only score what is on the page, against the criteria they were given.
Prove it, do not assert it
Replace claims with evidence: specific examples, named roles, methods and commitments you can measure and keep.
Respect every limit and format
Word and page limits, fonts, file types, file names and attachments as specified. Text beyond a limit may not be read.
Make the price match the solution
Check that the price follows the buyer's schedule, the arithmetic works, assumptions are stated and the price reflects what your written answers promise. Avoid qualifications that could make the bid non-compliant.
Address the buyer's priorities
Social value, sustainability, security or local priorities: answer with commitments you can deliver and report on, not generic statements.
Get an independent read
Ask someone who has not written the bid to score it against the criteria, as an evaluator would. Fix what they cannot find.
Submit early and check the upload
Leave time for portal problems. Confirm sign-off authority, declarations and every upload, and keep the submission receipt.
Want a second opinion? Email admin@acquireconsultantsolutions.co.uk.
This checklist is general guidance in plain English, not legal advice. Check your own contract and take legal advice where a decision depends on it. Published by Acquire Consultant Solutions Ltd. Last updated 01 Nov 2026.
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