How to Tender
If you decide to bid for a public-sector contract there will be a fixed process with a set timetable. Each tender will have a set of deadlines for the required information which you must adhere to. If these deadlines are missed, your bid may be automatically rejected.
In many cases the first step is to complete a formal Expression of Interest. You may be asked to provide details of your previous experience, references and most importantly, financial details, so be prepared with accounts for the previous 2/3 years. This allows the Public sector buyers to quickly determine the companies that will be able to fulfill the contract requirement.
Providing such information can be a problem for start up companies, however Government policy is now encouraging Public Sector bodies to open up public sector procurement to small business.
Use the supplier information service to manage your Expression of Interest information. This allows you to complete fields with commonly asked information and send it electronically to the buyer.
For further information, please see the guide Tendering for Public Contracts - A Guide for Small Businesses