Construction
Tendering for public construction work
Public construction tenders are rarely won on price alone. Buyers want to see that you will run a safe site, deliver to programme and look after the people who work for you and live nearby, and they score those answers alongside your price.
Most of what they ask comes from a few places: the health and safety law that governs every site, the government's own policies for buying works, and the scoring rules of the Procurement Act 2023. Knowing them tells you what each question is really asking.
What do public buyers ask for in construction tenders?
Health and safety under CDM 2015
On a project with more than one contractor, the principal contractor controls the construction phase and must prepare a written construction phase plan before it starts. Expect questions on how you plan and manage safety, or how you work safely under a principal contractor if you are a subcontractor.
“plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the entire construction phase”
HSE, Principal contractors: roles and responsibilities (CDM 2015), checked 1 November 2026 The Construction Playbook
Central government sets out how it buys works in the Construction Playbook, including what buyers and suppliers, down the supply chain, should expect of each other. Reading it before a central government tender shows you the priorities behind its questions.
“sets out 14 key policies for how the government should assess, procure and deliver public works projects and programmes”
GOV.UK, Procurement Policy Note 09/20: The Construction Playbook, 8 December 2020 Lots that a smaller firm can win
Large works are often split into lots, by trade, area or phase. Buyers must consider splitting a contract into lots and keep in mind the barriers small firms face, so a single lot may be within reach when the whole contract isn't.
“the use of lots is likely to be of particular benefit to SMEs”
GOV.UK, Guidance: Lots, 13 July 2026 Social value, worth at least 10% with central government
Central government departments, their agencies and non-departmental public bodies must give social value at least 10% of the total score in procurements started from 1 October 2025. Other public buyers often score it too. A specific, measurable offer scores better than a general promise.
“In-scope organisations must apply a minimum 10% weighting (or an equivalent measurement) of the total score, for social value”
GOV.UK, PPN 002: Taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts, 5 March 2025 Proof that you can do the work
Conditions of participation test your financial standing and technical ability before your answers are scored. In construction that usually means accounts, insurances and recent projects of a similar size and type, with a client who will vouch for you.
“…ensure a supplier’s legal and financial capacity and technical ability to perform the contract…”
GOV.UK, Guidance: Conditions of Participation, 17 August 2026
Quotes are word for word from their sources, checked on 1 November 2026. A tender’s own documents are what count; terms are explained in the glossary.
What should you have ready?
- Your health and safety policy, and an example construction phase plan from a recent job
- Three recent projects of a similar size, each with its value, dates, what you delivered and a client contact
- Your accounts, and certificates for your insurances
- A social value offer you can measure: local jobs, apprenticeships, local suppliers
How does TenderSeal help with construction tenders?
TenderSeal reads the whole pack and pulls out the pass/fail questions, the weighting and the deadlines. Go/No-Go checks them against the policies, certificates and project examples you've uploaded, and Draft writes each quality answer to its weighting and word limit, marking what only you can fill in.
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