Independent tender readiness checker · Ireland & Northern Ireland

Win public contracts in Ireland & Northern Ireland — without guessing.

Before you bid, check what could catch you out. Paste or upload a tender notice and get a clear Bid / Maybe / No-Bid audit — deadline risk, documents, insurance, turnover, scoring and compliance gaps — for Ireland or Northern Ireland.

No government affiliation. Built to help suppliers understand tender risks before they spend days preparing a bid.

Tender Audit · Sample Republic of Ireland
0/ 100
Recommendation
Maybe Bid

Bid only if documents are ready within 48 hours.

Deadline riskHigh
Insurance fitCheck
Turnover requirementPassed
Scoring clarityGood
Works with eTenders.gov.ie Works with eTendersNI Plain-English results Built for SMEs, not big bid teams
Step one

Choose your tender region

The checker adapts its wording, document prompts and compliance checks to your region.

Republic of Ireland

For businesses checking eTenders.gov.ie opportunities.

  • eTenders.gov.ie supplier readiness
  • Economic Operator checks
  • Tax clearance and document prompts
  • Insurance and experience requirements
  • Tender submission risk
  • Scoring criteria review

Northern Ireland

For businesses checking eTendersNI opportunities.

  • eTendersNI supplier readiness
  • EA, councils, HSC and public-sector opportunities
  • Insurance and policy checks
  • Lots, frameworks and clarification risks
  • Social value and compliance prompts
  • Submission deadline review
The real problem

Most small businesses don't lose tenders because they're bad businesses. They lose because they miss something.

Public tenders are confusing, document-heavy and unforgiving. Businesses waste days on tenders they were never ready for — and only find out at the deadline.

Deadline too close
Missing insurance
No relevant references
Turnover too high
Mandatory document missed
Scoring misunderstood
Wrong portal step missed
Weak response structure
Free tool

Free Tender Audit Checker

Add your tender details below and get a sample Bid / Maybe / No-Bid score in seconds. No payment required.

Free Tender Audit Checker

Upload tender PDF or Word document PDF, DOCX up to 25MB — drag & drop or tap to browse

Files and text are used only to generate your audit. A full privacy policy will explain retention and deletion.

0
Your sample audit · Ireland

Maybe Bid

Worth a closer look

Promising fit, but a few gaps need closing before the deadline.

This is a sample of what the free checker returns. The full Tender Readiness Report breaks down every document, insurance level and scoring criterion in detail.

Unlock Full Tender Readiness Report

Your tender data stays private

Used only for your auditThe tender text and documents you submit are processed to generate your result — nothing else.
Deleted, not keptTender files are removed after your audit. We don't build a library of your bids.
Never sold or sharedWe don't sell your data or pass it to public buyers, competitors or anyone else.
Aligned with Irish & UK GDPR. Read our Privacy Policy →
Sample output

This is what a Tender Audit looks like

Clear scoring, plain-English risks and a real recommendation — not a wall of procurement jargon.

Tender Audit Score
68/100
Maybe Bid
AreaResult
Deadline riskHigh
Insurance fitNeeds checking
Experience fitModerate
Turnover requirementPassed
Required documents9 found
Compliance riskMedium
Scoring clarityGood
Estimated effort8–12 hours
RecommendationBid if docs ready in 48h

Top risks found

  • Public liability level may be higher than current cover.
  • Method statement required.
  • Similar contract references requested.
  • Deadline is close.
  • Pricing schedule must be completed exactly.
Full document checklist, scoring breakdown & response structure in the paid report

Unlock Full Tender Readiness Report
⚠️

Don't underprice yourself

Winning a tender too cheap can be worse than not winning at all. Here's why — fast:

1You're locked inThe price usually holds for the whole term — often 3+ years.
2No cushionThin margins leave nothing for late payments or breakdowns.
3It starves better workTied-up staff and vehicles can't take higher-margin jobs.
4Delivery suffersLoss-makers get neglected — poor delivery hurts your next score.
5You set a low barThe buyer now expects that price at renewal too.
6Too low = rejectedBuyers can disqualify an "abnormally low" bid anyway.
7Cheapest rarely winsQuality is most of the score — margin given away for nothing.
The goal isn't the lowest price. It's the lowest sustainable price that still scores well. Choosing to walk away is a valid, profitable decision.
Pricing

Pay once, or go Pro for tenders every month.

Check a one-off tender free. Buy a single report when it counts. Or subscribe to Pro if you bid regularly and want the right tenders found, audited and tracked for you.

Annual = 2 months free
Free

Tender Audit Checker

€0 / £0

A fast first read to decide if a tender is even worth your time.

  • Bid / Maybe / No-Bid score
  • Deadline risk flag
  • Headline document & insurance gaps
  • Estimated effort guide
Check My Tender Free
Full report

Tender Readiness Report

From €49 / £49

One-off · per tender

The complete readiness picture so you bid with confidence — or walk away early.

  • Full Bid / Maybe / No-Bid recommendation
  • Tender summary & eligibility check
  • Required document checklist
  • Insurance, turnover & experience checks
  • Deadline action plan
  • Scoring criteria breakdown
  • Missing compliance items
  • Suggested response structure
  • Clarification questions to ask the buyer
Get My Full Report
Best value
Subscription · Pro

Tender Audit Pro

€29 / £29 / mo

Billed monthly · cancel anytime

For businesses bidding regularly — get the right tenders found, audited and tracked for you.

  • Daily tender alerts for your sector & region
  • Ireland, Northern Ireland or both
  • 20 tender audits included each month
  • Saved business profile — no re-typing details
  • Document tracker & deadline calendar
  • Founding-member price locked in
Get Pro Early Access
Done-with-you

Tender Response Pack

From €499 / £499

One-off · per tender

Hands-on help to structure and prepare a strong, compliant response.

  • Response structure & draft headings
  • Compliance checklist
  • Evidence tracker
  • Submission timeline
  • Buyer clarification question list
  • Review before submission
Ask About Response Support

Pro is rolling out sector by sector — founding members lock in early pricing while we expand alert coverage. The Response Pack helps you structure and prepare a submission; it does not write your bid for you, and no plan guarantees a contract award.

Who it's for

Built for real small businesses, not just big bid teams

Each sector has its own document traps, insurance levels and compliance prompts. Tender Audit checks for the ones that matter to you.

Transport companies

School transport, taxi contracts, minibuses, passenger transport, EA-style opportunities.

We check: licensing, vehicle & driver compliance, route experience

School meals & catering

Hot meals, prepared meals, food suppliers, school lunch providers.

We check: HACCP, allergen policy, food hygiene rating

Cleaning companies

School cleaning, office cleaning, deep cleans, hygiene services.

We check: COSHH, vetting, method statements, insurance

Construction & trades

Builders, electricians, plumbers, joiners, maintenance contractors.

We check: RAMS, certifications, H&S record, references

Facilities management

Grounds maintenance, property maintenance, fire alarms, HVAC, pest control.

We check: accreditations, SLAs, planned maintenance evidence

Window blinds & coverings

Blinds, curtains, school blackout blinds, government buildings, maintenance and replacement.

We check: fire-retardant, child-safe specs, RAMS, product data

Security companies

Static guarding, CCTV, keyholding, event security.

We check: SIA/PSA licensing, vetting, GDPR for CCTV

Care & health providers

Domiciliary care, support services, patient transport, medical suppliers.

We check: registration, safeguarding, staff vetting, policies

Training providers

First aid, health and safety, employment training, driver CPC.

We check: accreditation bodies, trainer quals, learner outcomes

Waste & recycling

Skip hire, recycling, environmental services, drainage, grounds clearance.

We check: waste permits, carrier licence, environmental policy
Real example

Blinds & Window Coverings Tender Checker

A blinds company tendering for schools or government buildings may need far more than a price. There are product, safety and compliance requirements that catch suppliers out at the last minute.

Check a Blinds or Window Coverings Tender
Tender Audit checks for
Public liability & employer's liability insurance
RAMS (risk assessment & method statements)
Safeguarding for work in schools
Fire-retardant product requirements
Child-safe blind specifications
Product data sheets & warranties
Waste disposal & previous experience
Simple process

How Tender Audit works

Four steps from "should I even bother?" to a clear, confident decision.

1

Paste or upload the tender

Add the notice text or upload the tender documents.

2

Choose Ireland or NI

The checker adapts to eTenders.gov.ie or eTendersNI style requirements.

3

Get your Bid / No-Bid score

See deadline risk, document gaps, insurance requirements and likely effort.

4

Upgrade if needed

Buy a full report or response pack if the tender is worth pursuing.

Free learning

Learn how to tender yourself

New to public tenders? Start here. Seven short, plain-English lessons that explain how tendering actually works — so you can decide what to do yourself and where a checker or report saves you time.

Lesson 1

Tendering, in plain English

A tender is simply how the public sector buys goods and services. Because they're spending public money, buyers have to be fair and open — so instead of just phoning a supplier they know, they publish the opportunity and invite written bids.

You win by scoring well against published criteria, not by who you know. That's good news for small businesses: a clear, well-evidenced response can beat a bigger, better-known name.

  • Opportunities are published openly for anyone to bid.
  • Everyone answers the same questions and is scored the same way.
  • The buyer must be able to justify why they picked the winner.
Takeaway: the system rewards businesses that follow the instructions exactly and prove what they claim.
Lesson 2

Where the tenders are

In the Republic of Ireland, opportunities are published on eTenders.gov.ie. Register as an "economic operator" (it's free), build your supplier profile, and set up email alerts for your sector and region. Larger, EU-level contracts also appear on TED, the EU's tenders database.

In Northern Ireland, opportunities appear on eTendersNI. Public buyers include councils, the Education Authority (EA), Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts and government departments. Higher-value UK contracts are also published on the Find a Tender Service.

  • Register on the right portal before you need it.
  • Switch on alerts so live tenders land in your inbox.
  • Keep your supplier profile and contact details up to date.
Takeaway: the best opportunities often have short deadlines — set up alerts early so you're not playing catch-up.
Lesson 3

The Bid / No-Bid decision

Before you lose days writing, run a quick honest check. If the answer to any of these is a hard "no", the tender may not be worth your time right now:

  • Can you realistically meet the deadline?
  • Do you meet the minimum turnover, insurance and experience requirements?
  • Do you have the mandatory documents ready, or can you get them in time?
  • Is the contract value worth the effort it will take to win and deliver?

This is exactly what the free Tender Audit checker scores for you — a fast first read so you don't sink time into the wrong opportunity.

Takeaway: deciding not to bid is a strategy, not a failure — it frees you for the tenders you can actually win.
Lesson 4

The documents you'll usually need

Most tenders ask for a similar core set. Pull these together once into a "bid folder" and you'll reuse the bulk of it every time:

  • Company details and recent financial accounts.
  • Tax clearance (Ireland) or confirmation your tax affairs are in order.
  • Insurance certificates at the levels the buyer requires (public liability, employer's liability, sometimes professional indemnity).
  • References or case studies of similar work.
  • Policies: health & safety, data/GDPR, environmental, equality, and safeguarding where children are involved.
  • A method statement and RAMS for any on-site work.
  • A completed self-declaration (often the ESPD) and the pricing schedule in the exact format requested.
Takeaway: build the folder once and keep it current — roughly 80% carries over to your next tender.
Lesson 5

How scoring really works

Most public contracts are awarded on the "Most Economically Advantageous Tender" (MEAT) basis — a combination of price and quality, with published weightings. You might see something like 60% quality and 40% price.

Quality answers are marked against a rubric, your scores are added up, and the highest total wins. So the cheapest bid doesn't automatically win — and a brilliant answer to a low-weighted question won't rescue a weak one elsewhere.

  • Find the weightings before you write anything.
  • Put your best effort into the highest-scoring questions.
  • Check whether price is scored on lowest-price-wins or a formula.
Takeaway: read the weightings first and spend your time where the marks actually are.
Lesson 6

Writing a response that scores

Evaluators can only award marks for what's on the page. Make it easy for them:

  • Mirror the question — answer exactly what's asked, in their order, using their headings.
  • Make a claim, then prove it with evidence: numbers, examples, accreditations.
  • Respect word and page limits — anything over may be ignored.
  • Complete the pricing schedule precisely as requested.
  • Use clarification questions if anything is unclear — buyers must respond.
  • Submit a day early; portals get busy and slow near the deadline.
Takeaway: say it, then prove it — assume the evaluator knows nothing about your business.
Lesson 7

Mistakes that lose tenders

Most losses aren't about being a worse business — they're avoidable admin slips:

  • Missing a mandatory document and being disqualified before scoring.
  • Submitting late, or leaving the upload until the final hour.
  • Ignoring word counts, page limits or required file formats.
  • Answering the question you wish they'd asked, not the one they did.
  • Missing the clarification deadline and bidding on a wrong assumption.
  • Pricing in the wrong format, or making claims with no evidence behind them.
Takeaway: a simple checklist beats last-minute panic — which is exactly what a Tender Audit gives you.

Tender words, explained simply

No clue what any of this means? Neither did most people on day one. Here's every buzzword in plain English — with a real-life comparison.

CFT — Call For TendersAn invitation to bid for a job the public sector wants done.a shop putting up a "wanted" notice asking who'll do the work, and for how much.
Contracting authorityThe public body doing the buying — a council, the Education Authority, a hospital trust.the customer placing the order.
Economic operatorThat's you — any business bidding for the work.being "the applicant" for a job.
ITT — Invitation to TenderThe full pack of questions and documents you fill in to make your bid.a long job application form.
RFT / RFQRequest for Tender or Quotation — another way of saying "send us your bid or price."someone asking "can you give me a quote?"
PIN — Prior Information NoticeAn early heads-up that a tender is coming soon.a "coming soon" sign before a shop opens.
PQQ / SQA first round that checks you're allowed to bid, before the real questions.being checked at the door before you're let in.
ESPDA form where you tick "yes, my business meets the basic rules."signing a declaration that everything's above board.
MEATMost Economically Advantageous Tender — the winner is best value (price + quality), not just cheapest.picking a tradesman on reviews and price, not price alone.
Award criteria / weightingHow they score you — e.g. 60% on quality, 40% on price.exam marks: some questions are worth more than others.
FrameworkA pre-approved list of suppliers a buyer can pick from later without re-advertising.being on a "trusted contacts" list they call when work comes up.
Call-offWhen a buyer picks you from that framework for an actual job.them ringing a name off the trusted list.
Mini-competitionA smaller contest just between suppliers already on a framework.a play-off between the few who made the shortlist.
LotOne tender split into separate chunks you can bid for individually.a menu where you can order one dish, not the whole thing.
DPSDynamic Purchasing System — like a framework, but new suppliers can join at any time.an open list you can sign up to whenever you're ready.
SubcontractingWinning the work, then hiring another firm to carry out part of it for you.a builder who wins the job but brings in a plumber for the pipes.
ConsortiumTwo or more businesses teaming up to bid together as one.joining forces so you're big enough to take the job on.
RAMSRisk Assessment and Method Statement — your written plan for doing the work safely.a step-by-step safety plan before you start.
Tax clearanceProof (from Revenue, in Ireland) that your tax is up to date.a certificate saying you've paid your dues.
Social valueThe extra good your contract brings — local jobs, training, greener working.bonus points for helping the community.
Standstill periodA short pause after a winner is chosen, before signing, in case anyone objects.a cooling-off period before the deal is final.
Abnormally low tenderA bid so cheap the buyer worries you can't really deliver — they're allowed to reject it.an offer that looks too good to be true.
ThresholdA spending level — above it, stricter rules and wider advertising kick in.a price tag big enough to trigger extra paperwork.
Open vs restricted"Open" means anyone can bid straight away; "restricted" means you pass a first sift, then bid.open mic night vs an audition before the show.
Where it fits

Tender Audit isn't a bid writer. It's the check before the bid writer.

Traditional bid consultantTender Audit
Best when you already know you want to bidBest when you're deciding whether to bid
Higher costFree checker and low-cost report
Human-ledInstant AI-assisted first review
Contact form firstPaste / upload and get a score
Helps prepare the full tenderFinds risks before you waste time

Tender Audit doesn't replace professional bid writers. It helps businesses decide whether a tender is worth pursuing before they spend days writing or pay for full bid support.

Get tenders for your sector — every week.

Join the free alert list for a weekly digest of Ireland and Northern Ireland tenders relevant to your sector. Bidding regularly? Tender Audit Pro turns it into daily alerts plus monthly audits, a saved profile, a document tracker and a deadline calendar.

Founding members lock in early pricing as Pro alert coverage rolls out sector by sector.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

No. Tender Audit is independent and not affiliated with any government portal, public buyer, eTenders.gov.ie or eTendersNI.
No. It helps identify risks, readiness gaps and response structure. It does not guarantee contract award.
Both. Users choose their tender region at the start, and the checker adapts to that region's portals and requirements.
Small and medium businesses that do not have an in-house bid team.
Yes. That is one of the main uses. It helps decide whether a tender is worth taking further before you commit time or money.
Transport, catering, cleaning, construction, facilities, security, care, training, blinds and window coverings, waste, food supply and other service businesses.
Files are used only to generate your audit. A full privacy policy will explain exactly how long they are kept and how they are deleted.

Decide whether to bid — with more confidence.

Know what could catch you out. Find missing documents before the deadline. Avoid wasting days on the wrong tender.

Check My Tender Free