UK Bid Writer Podcast: The Essentials- Series 1

There’s no one single place to find all the contracts up for tender in the UK and across Europe! Frustrating, no?
In episode 1 of my first UK Bid Writer Podcast series ‘The Essentials’, I show you how and where to find the best tenders for your business.
-----------------------------------------------
Links:
[04:21] TED (Tenders Electronic Daily): http://ted.europa.eu/TED/main/HomePage.do
[04:40] Procurement thresholds (new thresholds will be in place for 2020; will update as they are published on Gov.uk): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0417-new-threshold-levels-2018
[05:42] Contracts Finder: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
[06:12] Guide to TED: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2014/12/finding-opportunities-how-to-use-ted-tenders-electronic-daily/
TED’s own video guides: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT5rARDev_rkQdFimoHlpv2Och1H0uBLs
[07:10] To bid or not to bid – the original post
[07:48] E2S1: To bid or not to bid – the podcast episode: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2016/09/to-bid-or-not-to-bid-how-to-work-out-which-tenders-are-right-for-your-business/
And finally…….
[11:27] How to find tenders – The List!: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2016/12/where-to-find-tenders-a-list/#list-of-links
------------------------------------------------
Visit ukbidwriter.com/pod
------------------------------------------------
Find Lyndsey on social – say Hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseywray/
Twitter: twitter.com/UKBidWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKBidWriter
------------------------------------------------
Through her 30+ year career, Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, has gained more than 21 years total bid writing and management experience and has spent the last ten years offering independent consultancy, writing and training services exclusively to UK SMEs: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/services
As a life-long contractor and independent consultant, Lyndsey has worked in almost every sector and industry you can imagine, in organisations from one-person start-ups to giant multinational corporations and everything in between. She’s also served her time on the other side of the procurement field. 
Learn more about Lyndsey Wray: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/about/
Through her UK Bid Writer brand and podcast, Lyndsey aims to de-mystify the world of procurement and tendering and help micro, small and medium sized businesses find and win great contracts. 
UK Bid Writer website: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/
Contact Lyndsey today: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/contact/
------------------------------------------------
Support this podcast on Ko-fi! 
It'd be great to offer you more stuff: exclusives, freebies, discounts and more! 
https://ko-fi.com/ukbidwriter

The UK Bid Writer Podcast: Series 1 The Essentials

Where and how to find tenders E1:S1

Responding to tenders takes time and effort. It’s essential to have a clear idea of the types of contracts that are worth your company’s time and energy to bid on.
In episode two of the UK Bid Writer Podcast series ‘The Essentials’, I show you how to create a flexible strategy to help you decide quickly and easily which contracts are right for your business and which ones you can safely ignore.
-----------------------------------------------
Links and timestamps:

[01:25] Why is a bid/no bid strategy important?
[02:49] Common factors you should consider when developing your strategy
 [10:22] Want to know more about my coaching service? Find out more: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/coaching-lp1/
[11:21] Common dealbreakers that could put you out of the running
[13:33] Social value – what is it and how can it give SMEs the edge? https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2016/09/what-is-social-value-and-how-can-it-give-smaller-companies-the-edge-when-tendering/
To bid or not to bid – the original post! https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2016/09/to-bid-or-not-to-bid-how-to-work-out-which-tenders-are-right-for-your-business/
------------------------------------------------
Visit ukbidwriter.com/pod
------------------------------------------------
Find Lyndsey on social – say Hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseywray/
Twitter: twitter.com/UKBidWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKBidWriter
------------------------------------------------
Through her 30+ year career, Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, has gained more than 21 years total bid writing and management experience and has spent the last ten years offering independent consultancy, writing and training services exclusively to UK SMEs: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/services
As a life-long contractor and independent consultant, Lyndsey has worked in almost every sector and industry you can imagine, in organisations from one-person start-ups to giant multinational corporations and everything in between. She’s also served her time on the other side of the procurement field. 
Learn more about Lyndsey Wray: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/about/
Through her UK Bid Writer brand and podcast, Lyndsey aims to de-mystify the world of procurement and tendering and help micro, small and medium sized businesses find and win great contracts. 
UK Bid Writer website: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/
Contact Lyndsey today: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/contact/
------------------------------------------------
Support this podcast on Ko-fi! 
It'd be great to offer you more stuff: exclusives, freebies, discounts and more! 
https://ko-fi.com/ukbidwriter

To Bid or Not to Bid? E2:S1

One of the most baffling aspects of tendering is the points and weighting system. And what’s MEAT got to do with it?
Here’s how to understand tender scoring and maximise points on every section of your bid.
-----------------------------------------------
Links and timestamps:

[02:25] Lowest cost Vs. MEAT, 
[03:31] The points scoring mechanism
[05:46] A very simplistic four-step process to scoring the highest marks
[07:42] What is weighting?
[11:08] How do points and weighting work together?
[12:16] A little bit of weighting weirdness
What do points make? The original post *with easy to understand tables!*: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2014/05/what-do-points-make-confusion-mostly/
------------------------------------------------
Visit ukbidwriter.com/pod
------------------------------------------------
Find Lyndsey on social – say Hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseywray/
Twitter: twitter.com/UKBidWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKBidWriter
------------------------------------------------
Through her 30+ year career, Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, has gained more than 21 years total bid writing and management experience and has spent the last ten years offering independent consultancy, writing and training services exclusively to UK SMEs: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/services
As a life-long contractor and independent consultant, Lyndsey has worked in almost every sector and industry you can imagine, in organisations from one-person start-ups to giant multinational corporations and everything in between. She’s also served her time on the other side of the procurement field. 
Learn more about Lyndsey Wray: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/about/
Through her UK Bid Writer brand and podcast, Lyndsey aims to de-mystify the world of procurement and tendering and help micro, small and medium sized businesses find and win great contracts. 
UK Bid Writer website: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/
Contact Lyndsey today: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/contact/
------------------------------------------------
Support this podcast on Ko-fi! 
It'd be great to offer you more stuff: exclusives, freebies, discounts and more! 
https://ko-fi.com/ukbidwriter

What Do Points Make? E3:S1

OMG. What’s an ITT or a PQQ? An RFP or an SQ? 
Today Lyndsey Wray breaks down all the TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) you need to know. 
And why is a supplier portal like a box of chocolates? 
Find out in Episode 4 of The UK Bid Writer Podcast.
-----------------------------------------------
Links and timestamps:

[02:39] All the acronyms, explained
[07:25] E5S1: The Anatomy of an SQ [link to be updated when published]
[08:44] E3S1: What do points make? http://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/729526192-ukbidwriter-what-do-points-make-e3s1.mp3
[08:50] E6S1: Responding to quality questions [link to be updated when published]
[09:05] About supplier portals
E1S1: Where and how to find tenders: https://soundcloud.com/ukbidwriter/where-and-how-to-find-tenders-e1-s1
Where to find tenders – the original list! https://www.ukbidwriter.com/2016/12/where-to-find-tenders-a-list/#list-of-links
------------------------------------------------
Visit ukbidwriter.com/pod
------------------------------------------------
Find Lyndsey on social – say Hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseywray/
Twitter: twitter.com/UKBidWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKBidWriter
------------------------------------------------
Through her 30+ year career, Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, has gained more than 21 years total bid writing and management experience and has spent the last ten years offering independent consultancy, writing and training services exclusively to UK SMEs: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/services
As a life-long contractor and independent consultant, Lyndsey has worked in almost every sector and industry you can imagine, in organisations from one-person start-ups to giant multinational corporations and everything in between. She’s also served her time on the other side of the procurement field. 
Learn more about Lyndsey Wray: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/about/
Through her UK Bid Writer brand and podcast, Lyndsey aims to de-mystify the world of procurement and tendering and help micro, small and medium sized businesses find and win great contracts. 
UK Bid Writer website: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/
Contact Lyndsey today: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/contact/
------------------------------------------------
Support this podcast on Ko-fi! 
It'd be great to offer you more stuff: exclusives, freebies, discounts and more! 
https://ko-fi.com/ukbidwriter

UK Bid Writer Podcast 2019

Types of Response Processes E4:S1

Well, S Q’s me! 
Sorry. Anyway, today Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, breaks down the different sections of that common, yet daunting-looking procurement document, the ‘SQ’, or ‘Standard Questionnaire’. 
You’ll also hear a little bit about the history of the PQQ and what it was like to be a bid writer in ye olden times. 
Find out more in Episode 5 of the UK Bid Writer Podcast.
-----------------------------------------------
Links and timestamps:

What does an SQ look like? 
Here’s a PDF of the template itself: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/ukbidwriter_example_standardsq_template/
Here’s a link to the government guidance for how contracting organisations should use the SQ: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-816-standard-selection-questionnaire-sq-template
-----
[01:47] The history of the SQ (and PQQ)
[04:32] Always check before you copy & paste
[05:52] The anatomy of an SQ (intro)
[05:55] Part 1 Supplier Details
[07:04] Part 2 Exclusion Grounds
[07:56] Part 3 Selection Questions
[09:08] The technical and professional ability section (references)
[10:27] Pushing back through the clarifications process
[11:30] Episode 6: Responding to quality questions [link to be updated when published]
------------------------------------------------
Visit ukbidwriter.com/pod
------------------------------------------------
Find Lyndsey on social – say Hi!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseywray/
Twitter: twitter.com/UKBidWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKBidWriter
------------------------------------------------
Through her 30+ year career, Lyndsey Wray, a.k.a UK Bid Writer, has gained more than 21 years total bid writing and management experience and has spent the last ten years offering independent consultancy, writing and training services exclusively to UK SMEs: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/services
As a life-long contractor and independent consultant, Lyndsey has worked in almost every sector and industry you can imagine, in organisations from one-person start-ups to giant multinational corporations and everything in between. She’s also served her time on the other side of the procurement field. 
Learn more about Lyndsey Wray: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/about/
Through her UK Bid Writer brand and podcast, Lyndsey aims to de-mystify the world of procurement and tendering and help micro, small and medium sized businesses find and win great contracts. 
UK Bid Writer website: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/
Contact Lyndsey today: https://www.ukbidwriter.com/contact/
------------------------------------------------
Support this podcast on Ko-fi! 
It'd be great to offer you more stuff: exclusives, freebies, discounts and more! 
https://ko-fi.com/ukbidwriter

The Anatomy of an SQ E5:S1

SMEs need to approach tendering in a different way to large organisations. Lyndsey Wray, a specialist in SME tendering, shows you how to take on the competition and win more contracts for your business.