Tender Readiness Checker
Answer 15 quick questions to see how ready your business is to bid for UK public sector contracts — and get a prioritised checklist of the gaps to close first.
Answer the questions below to see your score.
Certifications & accreditations
Insurance
Financial standing
Track record
Policies & compliance
Social value & registration
Ready to find the right contracts?
Once you’re tender-ready, PSIP finds and scores the UK public-sector contracts that fit your business — across all five official portals.
Start a free trial →This is a general guide, not legal or procurement advice — always check each tender’s own requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What does it take to be ready to bid for government contracts?
Most UK public sector tenders expect a common set of things before you can score well: core certifications (Cyber Essentials, often ISO 9001/27001), the right insurances (public liability, employer’s liability, professional indemnity), a few years of accounts, relevant case studies, standard policies (health & safety, equality, GDPR, modern slavery, a Carbon Reduction Plan for larger contracts), and a social value approach. This checker scores you against those and lists your gaps.
Is Cyber Essentials required to bid for public sector contracts?
For most central-government contracts, and any that involve handling personal or sensitive data, yes — Cyber Essentials is a mandatory minimum. It is inexpensive and quick to obtain, and is one of the most common reasons SMEs are ruled out at selection.
What is social value and do I need it?
Social value (under PPN 06/20) is the wider economic, social and environmental benefit a supplier commits to deliver. It carries a minimum 10% weighting on central-government tenders and is often the margin between winning and losing, so having a credible approach ready matters.
What is a Carbon Reduction Plan?
A Carbon Reduction Plan (under PPN 06/21) sets out your organisation’s current emissions and commitment to Net Zero by 2050. It is mandatory to bid for central-government contracts above £5 million a year, and increasingly requested below that.