Tender guides · Written by Wallis Tenders · Reviewed 1 October 2026
Start with your delivery limits
Write down the work you can do, the places you can reach and the capacity you can commit. Include the time needed to prepare a bid, mobilise and cover existing customers. Begin with one recognisable service and a realistic area. A contract that looks small on paper can still demand daily visits or short response times.
Use the right places to look
UK public procurement notices appear on several official services. Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland and Sell2Wales are useful starting points; Northern Ireland also has its own procurement routes. Wallis Tenders brings selected UK sources into one search. Our coverage page explains what is included. Official services can be used directly, and buyer portals may require a separate free registration.
Make a bid-or-pass decision early
Open the current notice and documents before deciding to bid. Check the scope, delivery locations, response deadline, contract term, insurance and experience requirements. Read the scoring criteria. If you cannot meet a mandatory condition, clarify it with the buyer through the stated route before spending days on a submission.
Prepare a small evidence folder
Keep accurate business details, insurance evidence, relevant case studies and the policies you actually follow ready to adapt. Where the notice requires central supplier registration or another portal account, complete it early. An account with Wallis Tenders is not registration with the buyer and does not submit a bid.
Work backwards from the deadline
Allow for portal registration, document downloads, site visits, clarification dates and internal review. Questions can close before the final tender deadline. Submit through the buyer’s specified system with time to spare, and keep its submission confirmation. Recheck the original notice for amendments; an email alert is a prompt to investigate, not a deadline guarantee.
Your quick checklist
- Can we meet every mandatory requirement?
- Can we deliver profitably with our current team?
- Do we understand the scoring and submission route?
- Have we allowed time for clarification and a final review?
Further reading
- Government guide to selling to the public sector
- Procurement guidance and central supplier registration information
Procurement rules and requirements differ between notices and jurisdictions. Use the current buyer documents and applicable official guidance for your bid.