What Is a Bid and Where Can I Find Them?
For many businesses looking to grow, diversify their income, or reach new communities, bidding for contracts can open the door to transformational opportunities. But if you have ever looked at a tender document and thought, “Where do I even start?”, then you are not alone.
In this blog, we are breaking down what a bid actually is, and, crucially, where you can find them.
What Is a Bid?
At its core, a bid is your formal proposal to a buyer who needs a product or service. The buyer, often a public sector organisation like a local authority, publishes an invitation for businesses to compete for their contract. Your job is to show them how you will deliver the service and how much it will cost.
Bids are usually made up of two main parts:
Technical Questions: These explain how you will deliver the service, covering everything from methodology to qualifications and risk management.
Pricing Schedule: This shows how much it will cost to deliver the service.
Sounds simple, right? But if you are new to it, it can feel like a minefield, full of unfamiliar language, pages of compliance requirements, and tight submission deadlines.
Starting Out in Bidding: A Client’s Experience
Take Abid Ali, for example, who runs a successful private training company – Zems Academy. His organisation started bidding for contracts after delivering primarily commercial programmes. When he first looked into public funding and grants, he found the process overwhelming.
“Before I spoke to anyone, I joined about 10–15 platforms and thought, ‘Wow, everyone wants the same thing?’ It was a minefield. I knew I needed help to understand the language and present ourselves properly.”
That’s where expert support can make all the difference.
Where can I find Bids?
With the rollout of the Procurement Act 2023, a new central platform is replacing all previously used tender websites. This means that rather than checking multiple platforms, you will now be able to search for all public sector opportunities in one place, via the new Central Digital Platform hosted on Gov.uk.
This platform will become the single destination for:
Live tender opportunities
Prior information notices
Contract award updates
Procurement pipelines
Previously, businesses had to register with multiple sites such as:
Contracts Finder
Sell2Wales
Public Contracts Scotland
eTendersNI
Find a Tender (FTS)
TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)
Now, the Central Digital Platform consolidates these sources and will become mandatory for most public sector buyers in the UK by the end of 2024.
You can still use third-party bid software to streamline notifications, but registration on the new platform will be free and open to all. to consolidate all these listings into one easy dashboard, it’s not essential. Many businesses start by registering directly with these platforms.
Top 3 Tips for Choosing the Right Bid
Choose Contracts You Can Confidently Deliver
Only bid for opportunities that match your experience, qualifications, and strengths. You will need to prove your credibility with evidence.Check the Compliance Requirements Early
Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria, like specific certifications or accreditations, before you start writing. Don’t get caught out halfway through.Evaluate the Commercials
Don’t just look at the opportunity, look at the numbers. Can you deliver the work profitably without compromising quality? Your pricing should reflect a sustainable delivery model.
Working with a Bid Writer
Bidding doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right support, it becomes a strategic part of your business development.
As Abid puts it:
“Having trust with your bid writer is worth millions. Joanne has become more than just a consultant, she’s part of our team and a trusted friend.”
Want to get started with bidding or need help finding the right tenders? Visit our resources page https://www.wordsmithprojects.com/useful-downloads for more support.
The Proof is in the Pudding!
Zems Academy had a clear vision for growth, with bidding for new contracts being a key element of their strategy. However, their previous experience with bid writing had been disappointing—their bids were not scoring well, and opportunities were being missed. They recognised the need for external bid writing expertise to refine their approach and improve their success rate.
Learn more about what Wordsmith Projects did for Zems Academy.