Government tendering glossary
Plain-English definitions for every acronym and piece of jargon you will encounter when bidding for UK public sector contracts.
Approved Supplier List (ASL)
A pre-vetted list of suppliers that a buying organisation has approved to provide specific goods or services. Being on an ASL allows you to be invited to quote without going through a full open competition.
Award Criteria
The factors a buyer will use to evaluate and score bids. Most public sector contracts use a combination of quality (methodology, experience, social value) and price, with the weighting stated in the tender documents.
Bid Library
A collection of pre-written, reusable content that can be adapted for different tender responses. A strong bid library covering your capabilities, case studies, CVs, and policies significantly reduces the time needed for each bid.
Call-Off Contract
A contract placed under an existing framework agreement. The buyer selects a supplier from the framework and issues a call-off without running a new full procurement exercise.
Capability Statement
A document summarising your organisation's experience, qualifications, and ability to deliver specific types of contracts. Often requested as part of a pre-qualification or selection stage.
Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS)
Software or technology that is available as a standard product rather than built to a bespoke specification. Buyers often specify whether they want COTS solutions or bespoke development.
Contract Notice
The formal advertisement of a procurement opportunity, published on Contracts Finder or Find a Tender. It sets out the nature of the contract, the value, the deadline for expressions of interest, and the contact details for the buying authority.
Contracts Finder
The UK government's primary portal for publishing public sector procurement opportunities above £12,000. Mandatory for central government contracts; widely used by other public sector bodies.
CPV Code
Common Procurement Vocabulary code. An 8-digit classification code used to categorise the goods, services, or works being procured. Used by buyers to index tenders and by suppliers to filter relevant opportunities.
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
A fully electronic procurement process open throughout its duration to any supplier that meets the selection criteria. Unlike frameworks, new suppliers can join a DPS at any time.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An initial indication of interest in a procurement opportunity, submitted in response to a Prior Information Notice or contract notice. Used to register interest before the full tender documents are released.
Find a Tender (FTS)
The UK's post-Brexit replacement for the OJEU journal, used for publishing higher-value contracts above the relevant procurement thresholds. Mandatory for contracts subject to the Public Contracts Regulations.
Framework Agreement
An agreement with one or more suppliers that sets out the terms under which specific contracts can be placed. Buyers use frameworks to streamline procurement and suppliers use them to access work without a full competition for each contract.
Go/No-Go Decision
A structured assessment of whether to invest resource in responding to a specific tender opportunity. Typically evaluates sector fit, capability match, certifications, contract value, and available capacity.
Invitation to Quote (ITQ)
A request sent to selected suppliers (often from an approved supplier list or framework) asking them to submit a price for specific goods or services. Less formal than an ITT.
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
A formal document inviting selected or all suppliers to submit a full bid for a contract. The ITT contains the specification, evaluation criteria, contract terms, and submission requirements.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
Measurable targets used to monitor contract performance. Public sector contracts typically specify KPIs at the outset that the supplier must meet throughout the contract term.
MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender)
The principle that public sector contracts should be awarded to the bid that offers the best overall value, not simply the lowest price. Award criteria are designed to identify the MEAT.
Method Statement
A written explanation of how you will deliver the contract. Method statements are a key component of most ITT responses and are scored against specific evaluation criteria.
OJEU
The Official Journal of the European Union. The former publication where UK public sector contracts above threshold values had to be advertised. Replaced by Find a Tender (FTS) after Brexit.
Open Procedure
A procurement procedure where any supplier can submit a full bid in response to the contract notice. The most common procedure for straightforward contracts.
PQQ / SQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire / Selection Questionnaire)
An initial assessment stage where buyers evaluate whether suppliers meet minimum standards before inviting them to tender. The SQ is the standardised version introduced across central government.
Prior Information Notice (PIN)
An early notice published by a buyer to signal their intention to procure. Responding to a PIN does not commit you to bidding but registers your interest and may influence the procurement design.
Public Contracts Regulations 2015
The primary legislation governing public sector procurement in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Sets out the rules, procedures, and thresholds for how public bodies must run procurements.
Restricted Procedure
A two-stage procurement where buyers first assess supplier capability (via a selection questionnaire) and then invite only qualified suppliers to submit a full tender.
Social Value
The broader economic, social, and environmental benefits that a contract can generate for the local community. The Social Value Act 2012 requires public sector buyers to consider social value in procurement decisions. Many buyers now include social value as a scored element worth 10 to 20 percent of the total.
Specification
The detailed description of the goods, services, or works required under a contract. The specification defines what you are bidding to deliver.
Standstill Period
A mandatory waiting period (usually 10 calendar days) between notifying tenderers of an award decision and signing the contract. Allows unsuccessful bidders to challenge the decision.
TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment)
Legislation that protects employees when a service is transferred from one provider to another. TUPE often applies when winning a contract from an incumbent supplier.
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