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Tender readiness checker

Answer 12 quick questions to see how ready your business is to bid for UK public-sector contracts, with a prioritised list of actions.

1. Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender) with your core supplier information complete?

2. Are your core policies (health and safety, quality, environmental, equality, data protection, modern slavery, anti-bribery) signed and dated within the last 12 months?

3. Do you hold employer's liability, public liability and professional indemnity insurance at levels buyers in your market ask for?

4. Do you hold the accreditations buyers in your sector commonly request (for example an SSIP scheme, ISO 9001 or Cyber Essentials)?

5. Do you have at least three written case studies of relevant contracts with referees willing to be contacted?

6. Can you provide recent accounts (or alternative financial evidence) that meet typical turnover and financial standing tests?

7. Could you describe specific, measurable social value commitments for a contract (for example jobs, training, local spend)?

8. If you bid for central government contracts over £5m a year, do you have a published Carbon Reduction Plan?

9. Do you keep a library of reusable answers, CVs, method statements and evidence?

10. Do you check Find a Tender (and Contracts Finder for legacy notices) at least weekly, or have alerts set up?

11. Do you have someone with the time and skills to write and manage a bid alongside day-to-day work?

12. Do you know your minimum acceptable margin and how you would price a multi-year public contract?

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.

Talk to a bid specialist

Book a free 30-minute call

Tell us what you are bidding for. We will give you an honest view of your chances and the next steps, with no obligation.

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West Gate commits to clean, compliant, well-evidenced bid submissions. We do not guarantee contract awards: tenders are scored on your capability, evidence and commercial offer as well as the written response. Guides are general information, not legal advice.