How to Find RFPs (and ITTs) and Actually Win Them — BidScript Style

How to Find RFPs (and ITTs) and Actually Win Them — BidScript Style

June 3, 2025•The BidScript Team

Every year, governments and corporates across the UK, US, and beyond push hundreds and hundreds of billions of pounds and dollars through competitive bidding processes: RFPs, ITTs, RFQs, RFIs, and more. It's how business gets done. If you're in the game, responding to tenders is more than a growth tactic—it's a core part of your strategy. But before you can win anything, you need to know where to find the opportunities.

This is your straight-talking guide from the team at BidScript. We don't do fluff. Just useful, honest advice to help you find tenders, get shortlisted, and win more work.

Quickfire Definitions (because jargon sucks)

  • RFP (Request for Proposal): Usually from US buyers. Detailed brief where vendors submit full technical and commercial responses.
  • ITT (Invitation to Tender): UK-style equivalent of an RFP. Same deal: a formal doc asking suppliers to pitch.
  • RFQ (Request for Quotation): A bit lighter. More about pricing for defined scope.
  • RFI (Request for Information): A market-sounding tool. Not a tender, but could lead to one.
  • SQ/PQQ (Selection Questionnaire / Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire): UK filtering stage. Often used before an ITT.

Where to Find Tenders

1. RFP & ITT Databases (Free + Paid)

There are loads of online portals that do the legwork for you by scraping and sorting tenders. Some are free, many are paid. Here's a mix:

UK & Europe:

  • Contracts Finder (UK Gov)
  • Find a Tender Service (FTS)
  • TED (Tenders Electronic Daily)
  • ProContract / Due North
  • Delta eSourcing

US & Global:

  • SAM.gov (US federal)
  • GovWin (Deltek)
  • Open Opportunities
  • BidNet
  • GovSpend
  • OpenGov
  • FindRFP

Cross-border / Aggregators:

  • TendersDirect
  • BidBanana
  • Merx (Canada)

Our take: Use free ones if you're starting out, but a paid tool saves time if you're serious. Set up alerts, filters, and start tracking sectors you want to own.

2. Manual Search = Free + Effective (if you have patience)

Google is your friend. Use combos like:

  • "[your industry] contracts site:gov.uk"
  • "construction ITT site:sam.gov"
  • "digital RFP 2025 filetype:pdf"

Don't sleep on social media either. LinkedIn is buzzing with bid invites, especially from smaller orgs and consultancies.

Bonus Tip: Search for award notices to see who's winning what. Reverse-engineer your target list.

Getting into Closed / Private Tenders

Most juicy tenders never get posted publicly. They're invite-only. Here's how to get in the room:

1. Vendor Registration

Big companies and public bodies have portals. Hunt down their supplier registration pages. Fill in their forms. Don't just wait for them to find you.

Examples:

  • NHS Supply Chain
  • Network Rail
  • Bausch + Lomb
  • Barclays

2. Be Seen

This is where sales, marketing, and BD overlap. If you want on the shortlist, the buyer has to know you exist before the ITT drops. That means:

  • Reaching out to procurement teams (nicely).
  • Sharing creds, case studies, certifications.
  • Mentioning your local presence, DEI status, or niche expertise.

3. Get on Brokers'/Consultants' Radar

Third-party consultants often run tenders for clients. They like safe bets. Make their lives easier:

  • Send short intros.
  • Tailor creds to their sector.
  • Stay on their radar without spamming.

Public vs Private Tenders: Pros & Cons

| Type | Pros | Cons | | --- | --- | --- | | Open | Transparent, public, higher value | Competitive, slow, complex formats | | Closed | Faster, targeted, less competition | Smaller value, harder to access | | Hybrid | Flexible exposure + control | Still requires strong positioning |

Five Real Tips for Actually Winning

  1. Don't Bid Everything

    If you're not a real contender, don't waste your team's energy. Build a go/no-go checklist. Stick to it.

  2. Shred That Doc

    Break the tender into chunks. Track every requirement. Map your answers. Compliance wins points.

  3. Talk to the Buyer

    Ask clarifying questions. Buyers prefer engaged bidders. Just be respectful of timelines and channels.

  4. Tailor, Don't Copy-Paste

    Reuse smart, not lazy. A good proposal sounds like it was written just for them. Because it was.

  5. Follow the Damn Instructions

    Wrong font, wrong file name, or missing a form? You could be out before they read page one.

The BidScript Way

At BidScript, we help teams not only write faster, but also think, work, and win smarter. We combine AI tech with human insight and sharp strategy to deliver real results. If you want:

  • Scaled win rates
  • Accessible & scalable technology
  • Intelligence compounded over time

...we're your crew.

Want to win more RFPs, ITTs or RFQs? Let's make it happen. Reach out.