Checklist
Bid or no bid checklist
A bid or no bid checklist is a short list of questions you answer before starting a tender: can we deliver it, do we meet the mandatory requirements, is the size right, can we evidence our answers, and do we have time. If you answer no to a mandatory question, do not bid.
Last updated 22 October 2026
The questions to ask
- Do we meet every mandatory requirement, such as insurance, accreditations and location?
- Is this work we already do well?
- Is the contract a size we can deliver and finance?
- Do we have recent, relevant examples to use as evidence?
- Do we know the buyer, or can we find out how they buy?
- Is the price likely to leave us a fair margin?
- Do we have the people and time to write a good response before the deadline?
- Does winning fit where we want the business to go?
How do you score it?
Give each question a score from no, to partly, to yes. Any no on a mandatory requirement ends the discussion. Otherwise, count the yes answers, and agree in advance what total justifies a bid. The exact numbers matter less than using the same list every time.
What if the answer is nearly yes?
Look at the gap. A partner, a subcontractor or a new reference may close it. If the gap is a lack of capacity, be honest. A rushed bid rarely scores well.
Why use a checklist at all?
It stops enthusiasm choosing for you, makes the decision easy to explain, and gives you a record to learn from.
How Opptix helps
Opptix pre-answers much of this list for you by screening each opportunity against your profile and showing a win chance with reasons. You still make the decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bid or no bid decision?
It is the decision about whether a tender is worth the time and cost of responding.
Who should make the bid decision?
Whoever will be accountable for the work and the cost of bidding, ideally with input from the people who would write and deliver it.
What if we are unsure?
Look for the gap, decide if it can be closed in time, and be honest about capacity.
Can Opptix make the decision?
No. It gives you an estimate and its reasons. You decide.
See it on your own market
Create a free account, describe what you sell, and use your £20 of free credit.