What Is a Tender?
A tender (also called a bid, proposal request, or solicitation) is a formal invitation from a buyer—typically a government agency—for suppliers to submit offers to provide goods, services, or works.
Definition
In public procurement, a tender is the process by which governments and public bodies invite bids from companies to fulfill a contract. The process is designed to ensure transparency, fair competition, and value for taxpayer money.
How the tender process works
A contracting authority publishes a notice describing what they need, the evaluation criteria, and the submission deadline. Interested companies prepare and submit proposals. The authority evaluates submissions and awards the contract to the best-value bidder.
Types of tenders
Open tenders are available to any qualified supplier. Restricted tenders require pre-qualification. Negotiated procedures involve direct discussion with selected candidates. Framework agreements establish terms for recurring purchases over a set period.
Where tenders are published
In the EU, tenders above certain thresholds are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). In the US, federal opportunities appear on SAM.gov. Many countries have their own national and regional procurement portals.