Public procurement is full of acronyms that can make even experienced bidders pause and double-check. RFQ, PIN, DPS, ITT — they’re everywhere, yet rarely explained in plain English. Whether you’re new to bidding or just want a quick refresher, this guide breaks down the most important tender terms you’ll encounter, what each one actually means, and why they matter when deciding how (and whether) to bid.

Recent research shows that that only in 54.2% of re-tender cases, the incumbent suppliers were successful in securing the contract. So, if re-bidding on a contract, be confident, but statistics clearly show that you should not be complacent! Here are five practical, high-impact tips to maximise your chances of winning a re-bid when you’re the incumbent supplier:

Winning your first public sector tender can be challenging, particularly if your organisation lacks direct experience working with government bodies, local authorities, or NHS trusts. However, many suppliers successfully secure public sector contracts every year without prior public sector experience. This article looks at some tips to help overcome a lack of public sector experience

When it comes to public sector tendering, the importance of social value has increased significantly and continues to do so. At Healthfield, we often get asked about this topic. In this paper we’ve shared some responses to frequently asked questions along with additional insight from our expert Bid Advisory team.

When a tender opportunity arrives, it’s natural to think your in-house team should handle it, as you know your own business best! However, if it’s a key strategic bid for a major contract, then bringing in external support can make a big impact.  Here are the most common scenarios where it makes sense to do this.

Changes in market conditions, legislation and even governments can flip your carefully laid-out business plan in a matter of moments, leaving unprepared business owners scrambling to pick up the pieces.

That’s why it’s critical to maintain a robust, adaptable business pipeline that is flexible enough to weather whatever storm may come its way.

Winning tenders isn’t luck—it’s preparation, precision, and presentation. However, after almost 20 years of helping companies to win Public Sector Bids and reviewing submissions, we see the same mistakes time and time again. This article highlights the 5 most common mistakes that we come across, and some insights to help avoid these errors.

In the UK, social value has shifted from a “bonus” to a scored requirement in public procurement. Buyers now expect suppliers to demonstrate how their contracts will generate wider community, economic and environmental benefit — not just deliver the core service. With many tenders assigning 10%+ of evaluation to social value, the ability to articulate credible, evidenced and contract-relevant commitments is now a decisive factor in winning public contracts.

AI is reshaping the way organisations approach tenders — but not by writing responses. This article explains how AI can be used strategically to support qualification, strategy, pricing and review to improve bid success without replacing human expertise.