Notice or tender documents?
The tender notice is the public announcement of a procurement. It summarises who is buying, what they want and how the process will run. The tender documents (sometimes called the invitation to tender) hold the full detail: the specification, questions, scoring method, forms and contract terms. Read the notice to decide whether to look closer, and the documents before deciding to bid.
Which rules apply?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most new public procurements now follow the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024, which came into force on 24 February 2025. Procurements that started before then may still run under the previous regulations. Scotland has its own procurement rules. If you're unsure which regime applies, the notice and tender documents usually say.
Eight things to pull out of a notice
1. The buyer and the subject
Who the contracting authority is and what the contract is for. The title is often brief, so read the description too.
2. Scope and lots
What's included and what isn't. A tender split into lots may let you bid for just the part that suits you, such as one region or one service.
3. Value and length
The estimated value, and whether it covers the whole term including any optional extensions. A £1.2m contract over three years is about £400,000 a year, which is the number that matters for your capacity and cash flow.
4. The procedure
How the competition will run, for example a single-stage open procedure or a process with several stages.
5. Key dates
The submission deadline is the obvious one. Also look for the deadline for clarification questions, any site visits and the expected contract start date.
6. Conditions of participation
Under the Procurement Act 2023, these are the tests a buyer uses to check that a supplier has the legal and financial capacity, or the technical ability, to deliver the contract. They must be proportionate to the contract. The Cabinet Office's guidance points out that if a supplier fails one condition, it can't ultimately be awarded the contract, even if it meets all the others.
Two details from that guidance are worth knowing:
- Buyers can't require audited accounts unless your business is already required to have them audited, for example under the Companies Act 2006.
- Buyers can't require performance-related insurance to be in place before the contract is awarded. They can require it to be in place by the time the contract starts.
7. Award criteria
How bids will be scored. Under the Act, the contract goes to the "most advantageous tender", judged against the buyer's award criteria. Those criteria must relate to the subject of the contract and be clear, measurable and specific. Look for the balance between quality, price and any social value element, because it tells you where the marks are.
8. Where the documents are, and how to ask questions
Where to get the full tender documents, and how and when to submit clarification questions. Clarification is the right way to resolve anything unclear before you commit.
A quick checklist
- Does the work match what my business actually does?
- Is the value per year within what we can deliver?
- Can we meet every condition of participation, with evidence?
- Do we have time to prepare a good bid before the deadline?
- Do we understand how the bid will be scored?
A notice is a summary. Always check the buyer's own tender documents, which are the final word on what's required.
Want this done for you?
A WorkBit Tender Brief pulls these details out of a tender and presents them in the same clear structure every time. Your first Tender Discovery is free: tell us about your business and we'll find relevant public-sector tenders for you. If you've decided a tender is worth pursuing, read our guide on deciding whether to bid.
Sources
- Procurement Act 2023, Part 3, Chapter 2 (legislation.gov.uk): sections 19 to 23 on competitive tendering, tender notices and award criteria.
- Guidance: Conditions of Participation (GOV.UK, Cabinet Office).
- Procurement Act 2023 (East Suffolk Council): confirms the 24 February 2025 commencement date.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Each buyer's tender documents set the actual requirements.