Free guides
Free guides to UK public-sector tendering
Fifteen practical, plain-English guides covering the Procurement Act 2023, finding tenders, selection questionnaires, scoring, writing and what happens after you submit. Checked against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk.
Procurement Act 2023
Plain-English guide to the Procurement Act 2023 for suppliers and SMEs: Central Digital Platform, PSQ, exclusions, 30-day payment and 2026 changes.
How to register your business on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender), the supplier information you need, share codes and the April 2026 rules.
Finding work
Where UK public-sector contracts are advertised in 2026: Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, devolved portals, frameworks and early-warning notices.
Selection stage
What the Procurement Specific Questionnaire asks under the Procurement Act 2023, how it replaced the PQQ and SQ, and the evidence to prepare.
The documents UK public-sector buyers ask for at each tender stage: registration, selection (PSQ), your tender response and contract award.
Writing bids
How evaluators score tenders under the Procurement Act 2023: award criteria, weightings, scoring scales, price formulas, thresholds and assessment summaries.
A practical method for answering scored tender quality questions: decode the question, plan to the marking scheme, evidence every claim and write for the evaluator.
What evaluators look for in a tender method statement for works and services, with a structure you can adapt and common mistakes to avoid.
How social value is weighted in UK central government tenders under PPN 002, what changes with PPN 026 from January 2027, and how SMEs can answer well.
Compliance
What PPN 006 requires from a Carbon Reduction Plan: when it applies, net zero by 2050, Scope 1, 2 and five Scope 3 categories, sign-off and publication.
Policies and documents CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor commonly ask for, and how SSIP and the Common Assessment Standard fit in.
Strategy
A structured bid/no-bid process for UK public-sector tenders: the criteria to score, red flags, and how to make the decision quickly.
How public-sector frameworks and dynamic markets work under the Procurement Act 2023: open and closed frameworks, terms, call-offs, direct awards and reopening.
After you submit
What happens after you submit a UK public-sector tender: clarification questions, evaluation, assessment summaries, the 8 working day standstill period, award and mobilisation.
Checklists
A practical checklist for UK public-sector tender submissions, from reading the pack to final upload. Free printable PDF.
Free download
The UK Public Sector Tender Guide 2026
A practical guide to finding, writing and winning public-sector tenders under the Procurement Act 2023, with checklists you can use on your next bid.
Why outsource to West Gate
Your bid-writing team, ready when you need it
Bidding in-house ties up your best people and puts deadlines at risk. Hand it to a proven team and keep your staff focused on delivering the work you win.
† Figures based on bids West Gate submitted and contracts awarded in 2025.
- Less risk, less workloadWe take the research, writing, coordination and deadline pressure off your in-house team.
- A proven teamA 90%+ win rate† and £650m+ in UK contracts secured in 2025†.
- Scales with your pipelineFrom a single bid to a steady run of tenders, we flex with your workload.
- Specialist writers plus our technologyExperienced public-sector bid writers, backed by our own bid technology.
- Deadlines and compliance handledWe plan back from the deadline and check every requirement, word limit and attachment.