Requirements

When tendering for Public Sector contracts, the contracting body will specify in their tender documentation a number of requirements that suppliers should seek to meet, some of which are considered essential and others that are desirable.

It is critical that suppliers are able to meet all the essential requirements and advantageous to meet as many desirable criteria as you can.

What kind of requirements will I need to provide?

The criteria will vary between each customer and contract but you may be required to provide:

• Some evidence of legal existence.
• Evidence of financial viability eg audited accounts, bank statements or a deed of guarantee.
• Employers and public liability insurance certificates and product liability insurance.
• Policies such as health & safety, environmental, equality & diversity and quality assurance.
• Evidence of accreditation to a recognised sector standard and/or membership to a sector specific scheme.
• Evidence of compliance/registration with business/product certifications.
• Sustainability in terms of environmental, social and ethical policies.
• Trade references from your customers - particularly if you are a new entrant.

You should note that most of these will be included in the tender evaluation criteria of the purchasing authority which are advised to all those bidding for contract before their bids (tenders) have been submitted.

The SDP run policy workshops for environmental, health & safety, equality & diversity and quality assurance.  You can check when these are running on our events calendar.  Remember these workshops are FREE of charge.