Successful Public Sector Tenders and Grants
At Tender Response, we are public sector procurement specialists, helping businesses to win more public sector contracts.
Our team of expert bid writers and consultants have years of experience in crafting winning tenders for a wide range of industries. Whether you’re new to bidding or looking to improve your success rate, we provide tailored support to ensure your submissions stand out. Our services include bid writing, review, and strategy development, all designed to maximise your chances of winning contracts.
Client Success Story
In February 2025, we supported a client who achieved a perfect 100% score on a public sector tender, their first ever public sector tender. You can read their case study here.
The company secured first place on quality, scoring 60 out of 60, and came second on price, scoring 40 out of 40—just £5 off the winning bidder in scenario pricing. Their price was so close, it was deemed indistinguishable from the competition. This success was the result of meticulous preparation and strategic execution.
Here’s how you can replicate that success.
Qualify the Tender Really Well
Before you even start writing, make sure the tender is right for you. This means ensuring you meet all the mandatory requirements, can deliver the contract confidently and compliantly, and understand the buyer’s priorities and scoring methodology.
Our client only pursued the tender where she could genuinely add value—and that focus paid off.
All of our bid writers are established consultants in public sector procurements. They can help you to qualify for a tender, and qualify out the ones that you’re not the best fit for, too.
Answer All Parts of the Question
It sounds simple, but many bidders fail to fully answer what’s being asked. Break down each question into its components and respond to every part. For example, if a question asks about your approach, your team, your experience, and your risk management, then your response should clearly address each of those areas. Our client’s answers were structured, complete, and left no room for doubt.
They say that bid writing is a skill that not all writers have. When you understand the flow of the response and how to write a successful bid response, you can unlock the key to success for all future bids. The key to success is simply knowing what information needs to go into the response to each question.
Use Headings to Break Up the Response
Long blocks of text are hard to read—especially for evaluators reviewing dozens of submissions. Use clear, logical headings to guide the reader through your response. This helps improve readability, reinforce structure, and make it easier for evaluators to award marks.
Some buyers also specify why font and text size to use. Be sure to check for allowances on images, font types and subheadings. If you choose to use Tender Response to complete your bid writing, our bid writer will take care of all of this for you as part of the service.
Use the Same Headings as the Buyer Gives You
Don’t reinvent the wheel. If the buyer uses specific headings or numbering in their question, mirror that structure in your response. This shows you’ve read the question carefully, you’re making it easy for them to score you, and you’re aligned with their expectations. This is particularly important when you have several subsections to a question, and shows that you have considered the response for both the question and the subsection.
The response followed this approach exactly—and it helped them secure full marks.
Use the Same Language as the Client
Echoing the buyer’s language helps build rapport and relevance. If they talk about “value for money,” “inclusive delivery,” or “digital-first services,” use those same terms in your response—authentically. This doesn’t mean copying and pasting—it means showing that you understand their world and can speak their language.
Include the Costs as They Are Asked For—Nothing More, Nothing Less
Pricing is often where good bids fall down. Our client submitted her pricing exactly as requested—no extra detail, no assumptions, no formatting errors. They were just £5 off the winning bidder in scenario pricing, and her price was considered indistinguishable.
The lesson? Follow the instructions to the letter. Don’t overcomplicate it.
Whilst we don’t advise on pricing or commercials, we can help you to understand the commercial response and what value needs to be included in what calculation cell.
Are you looking for more business?
Want to score 100% on your next bid? We can help. Whether you need a full bid writing service or a final review before submission, our team of experts is here to support you. Book a free 30-minute consultation and let’s talk about how we can help you win.
This article was posted by:
