Framework call off planning

Framework Call-Offs in Scotland: How to Win After Getting on a Framework

Winning a place on a Scottish public sector framework is a major achievement. It can open the door to long-term opportunities, repeat work and access to multiple public sector buyers. However, getting onto a framework is not the same as winning contracts. In many cases, suppliers still need to compete for call-offs, respond to mini-competitions, maintain buyer relationships and keep

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Informal workplace discussion

Fair Work First in Scottish Tenders: What Suppliers Need to Show

Fair Work First is now a familiar part of many Scottish public sector tenders. For suppliers, it can appear as a dedicated quality question, a contract condition, a scored method statement or a requirement linked to workforce practices. A strong response needs to do more than say your organisation treats people well. It should explain how your employment practices support

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Two engineers working together

Community Benefits in Scottish Tenders: How to Write a Strong Response

Community benefits are now a familiar part of many Scottish public sector tenders. For some suppliers, they can feel like an added extra at the end of the bid. For evaluators, they are often an important part of understanding the wider value your organisation can deliver. A strong community benefits response does more than promise positive outcomes. It explains what

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Using a Bid Library to Streamline the Bidding Process

In the competitive world of business, bidding for new contract opportunities is a common practice to continue growing as a business. To increase their chances of consistently winning contracts, bidders must develop an efficient and methodical process for developing their bid responses. One way a business can achieve this is by developing and maintaining a bid library where they can

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Creating a Competitive Social Value Offer as an SME

If you’re an SME bidding on contracts against large companies, it can feel like a David & Goliath situation, especially when it comes to social value responses. While larger organisations can have a dedicated social value team and the capacity to easily calculate Social Return on Investment (SROI) or impact, this can be more difficult for SMEs to prove. So

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Are You Working in Line with the New UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard?

If you work in the construction sector, and especially if you are bidding in the construction sector, you will have been confronted with varying definitions of what ‘net zero’ means in the context of UK buildings, and confusion about associated terms including ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘zero carbon’. Market analysis has shown that the industry agrees on one thing: the need

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Developing Win Themes: A Practical Guide

Win themes are a key part of a successful bid, and without them you are at risk of submitting a bid that sounds just like your competitors. They provide an overarching narrative that runs through the bid and ensures you communicate the story that you want to tell. They help to drive consistent writing throughout your response, making it a

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Harnessing the Power of Business Awards to Win More Work

In the competitive landscape of contract opportunities, businesses are constantly seeking ways to gain an edge. One powerful tool for achieving this is through participating in and winning business awards. These prestigious accolades can serve as a catalyst for business growth, helping companies to build a stronger brand reputation, gain recognition and attract new customers. In this article, we will

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Carbon Reduction Plans for NHS Contracts: Are You Ready?

From April 2023, the NHS will require its suppliers of new contracts over £5 million to publish a carbon reduction plan (CRP). If you are planning to bid for any NHS contracts, you need to be prepared. Why do suppliers have to publish a carbon reduction plan? The government published a Procurement Policy Note, PPN 06/21, which details how government

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9 Changes to the standard Selection Questionnaire for bidders to know – PPN 03/23

If you’ve filled out a standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ) in April, you may have noticed a few changes. These are the result of the government’s latest Public Procurement Note, PPN 03/23, which replaces PPN 08/16 as the latest guidance on the SQ. What’s changed? There are some changes which give greater clarity to contracting authorities, for example: They can now

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