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Should your business apply for this public contract?

A public contract is work a council, hospital or another public organisation wants to buy. Use these six checks to decide what you know and what you still need to ask. Your answers stay in this page.

By John Idowu · Updated 24 September 2026 · Use the live buyer documents before acting

First, open the original advert

What is a public contract advert?

It describes work a public organisation may buy. That organisation is sometimes called the “buyer”; an application is sometimes called a “bid”. Search Find a Tender or Contracts Finder, then read the current advert and linked documents. The example below is invented.

01Open the original advertCheck who posted it and when it closes.
02Answer six questionsYes, no or need to check.
03Copy your notesTalk through open questions with your team.

Six questions

What do you know so far?

Want to see how it works?

0 of 6 answered
  1. 01Is the contract still open?

    Open the original advert. Check who posted it and when applications close.

    What should I look for?

    Find the advert on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder. The 'buyer' is the public organisation buying the work. Check its current documents and application page. A page announcing a past winner is not an open invitation.

  2. 02Can your team do the work?

    Compare the requested service with work you actually deliver.

    What should I look for?

    For example, a firm that maintains Dynamics 365 might fit a support tender. A contract requiring a full hospital system replacement may need skills or partners it does not have.

  3. 03Can you meet the required conditions?

    Read the rules that could prevent your company from applying.

    What should I look for?

    Look for required certificates, insurance, supplier-list membership, financial rules and delivery locations. If a rule is unclear, use the questions route given in the advert.

  4. 04Can you show proof of your experience?

    List the past work, references or documents you could provide.

    What should I look for?

    Check each example with your company before using it. Write down any missing customer reference, staff experience or certificate before preparing an application.

  5. 05Do you have time to apply and deliver?

    Check the closing date, start date and your team's workload.

    What should I look for?

    Allow time to price the work, review documents, get approval and upload everything. Recheck changes and the exact closing time on the public organisation's application page.

  6. 06Would this work help your business?

    Compare the effort and cost with what your company wants to do.

    What should I look for?

    A large contract value is not profit. Your company decides what price and risk it can accept, and whether to apply at all.

Worked example

A small software team finds a council contract.

Imagine Northstar Software Studio, an invented five-person company. It maintains customer service software. A council advertises a contract for help with its case-management system. Northstar has an example of similar work, but still needs to check its insurance and its experience moving data. It should check those points before deciding whether to apply.

Council advertCheck proofAsk about gaps

What you might receive

A short set of useful answers.

These four sample sheets show a possible report. See the complete invented examples on the ProcurementDesk page.

01 / SOURCEContract details

Original advert link, organisation, work, dates and where to apply.

02 / MATCHWhat fits your company

Each important condition beside the work or document that could show you meet it.

03 / QUESTIONSWhat still needs checking

Missing facts and the person who can answer each question.

04 / CHOICESuggested next step

Apply, ask more questions or skip it, with reasons. Your company decides.

Contact

Which step takes your team the longest?

Tell John what your company does and where assessing a public contract slows you down. Please do not send confidential documents in a first message.

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