If you have started looking into government contracts, "tender" is the word you will see everywhere. Here is what it actually means, and how the tendering process works from start to finish.
At a glance
- A tender is a formal offer (a bid) to supply goods, services or works — and "tendering" is the process of inviting and submitting those bids.
- Public bodies tender so they can compare suppliers fairly and get good value for public money.
- A typical process runs from advert → bid → evaluation → award.
- Opportunities are advertised on official portals such as Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
What does "tender" mean?
The word "tender" gets used two ways:
- As a noun: your tender is the formal bid you submit — your proposal, prices and supporting answers.
- As a verb: a buyer "puts a contract out to tender" (invites bids), and you "tender for" the work (submit a bid).
So when a council says it is "inviting tenders", it means it wants suppliers to submit formal bids to win a contract.
Why do public bodies tender?
Public bodies tender because they are spending public money and have to be able to show they bought fairly and got value. Running an open competition — rather than quietly picking a favourite supplier — lets them:
- Treat all suppliers equally
- Compare bids against published criteria
- Demonstrate transparency in how taxpayers' money is spent
For suppliers, that is good news: it means the market is genuinely open, and a smaller or newer business can win on the strength of its bid.
The tendering process, step by step
Every tender is a little different, but most follow a recognisable shape:
- The opportunity is advertised. The buyer publishes a notice describing what they need, on an official portal.
- You find it and read the documents. The notice is only the advert — the real requirement, the scoring matrix and the contract terms are in the attached pack, and they are worth reading before you commit any time.
- You express interest / pass the selection stage. For many contracts you first answer questions about your business — often through a selection questionnaire. (See PQQ and the Standard Selection Questionnaire.)
- You respond to the Invitation to Tender (ITT). This is the main bid: your method, your prices and your answers to the buyer's questions. (See Invitation to Tender explained.)
- Bids are evaluated. The buyer scores bids on price and quality against published criteria. (See how bids are scored.)
- The contract is awarded. The winner is announced, and unsuccessful bidders can usually get feedback.
Tender, quote or framework — what's the difference?
- A quote is usually a quick price for lower-value work.
- A tender is a fuller, formal bid for a defined contract.
- A framework agreement is a pre-approved list of suppliers that buyers can "call off" from, often with a shorter mini-competition rather than a full tender. (See framework agreements.)
How to find tenders to bid for
Public contracts are advertised across several official portals — Find a Tender for higher-value, UK-wide opportunities, Contracts Finder in England, plus Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI for the devolved nations. Checking each one by hand is the tedious part.
Our guide to where to find UK tenders breaks down each source, what it covers, and which one your sector is most likely to appear on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tender in simple terms?
A tender is a formal bid to supply goods, services or works in response to a buyer's published requirement. "Tendering" is the process of inviting and submitting those bids.
What does it mean to put something out to tender?
It means a buyer is inviting suppliers to submit competitive bids for a contract, rather than appointing a supplier directly.
What is the difference between a tender and a quote?
A quote is typically a quick price for smaller work; a tender is a fuller, formal bid for a defined contract, usually evaluated on both price and quality.
How do I find tenders to bid for?
Public contracts are advertised on official portals: Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI. Set up a saved search with email alerts on each one that covers your nation and sector.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Public sector procurement guidance
- GOV.UK — Find high value contracts in the public sector (Find a Tender)
- Find a Tender — Notice types and sequences
- GOV.UK — Contracts Finder