Care tender checklist: what to confirm before you bid
Before you commit to a care tender, confirm the essentials: you meet the eligibility criteria, your CQC or Ofsted rating is acceptable, you pass any minimum turnover, you hold the required insurances, your policies are current, you have suitable contract examples and references, and you can meet the deadline. Reading the clarifications and scoring grid early stops you wasting time on a bid you cannot win.
The eligibility gate
Start with the pass or fail items: registration with CQC or Ofsted at an acceptable rating, minimum turnover, required insurance levels, and any geographic or service restrictions. If you fail any of these, the bid is dead before you write a word. Our free eligibility check exists to catch exactly this, before you spend money.
The evidence and timing check
Then confirm you can supply the rest: current policies, two or three relevant contract examples, responsive references, and accounts that pass the financial test. Read the scoring grid and the clarification log, and map the deadline against your other commitments. We aim for about a week of writing per bid, so check the calendar before you say yes.
Not sure if you qualify for a tender? We check it for free, before you pay anything, and we only take bids we believe you can win. Text TENDER to get started.
Common questions
What should I check before bidding for a care contract?
Eligibility, CQC or Ofsted rating, minimum turnover, insurances, current policies, contract examples and references, the scoring grid, clarifications, and whether you can meet the deadline.
What is the single most important thing to confirm?
The pass or fail eligibility items, especially your CQC or Ofsted rating, turnover and insurance. Fail one of these and the bid cannot succeed no matter how well it is written.
How do I know if a tender is worth bidding for?
Check it against the eligibility gate and the scoring weightings, and be honest about your evidence and time. We run a free eligibility check and only take bids we believe you can win.
Keep reading
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
Got a tender to check?
Text TENDER to +44 7822 001898and we'll tell you free whether you'd qualify, before you spend a penny.