What Is Tender Software?
Tender software is a specialised platform designed to manage the entire tendering lifecycle — from discovering opportunities to submitting compliant, winning bids. Unlike generic project management or document tools, dedicated tendering software understands the unique requirements of procurement processes.
The UK tendering landscape is governed by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the newer Procurement Act 2023, which set strict rules around transparency, fairness, and evaluation. Good tender software helps you navigate these requirements while focusing on what matters most: writing compelling responses that score highly.
Why You Need Dedicated Tender Software
The Problem with Manual Tendering
Most organisations still manage tenders using a mix of Word documents, shared drives, email chains, and spreadsheets. This approach leads to:
- Missed deadlines — with no centralised tracking, opportunities slip through
- Inconsistent quality — without content libraries, each response starts from scratch
- Compliance gaps — manual checking of mandatory requirements is error-prone
- Poor collaboration — contributors work in silos without visibility of the full picture
- No learning — win/loss insights aren't captured systematically
According to GOV.UK procurement guidance, the government is actively encouraging digital transformation in procurement. Suppliers who adopt electronic tendering software have a measurable advantage.
The rfp.quest Approach
rfp.quest provides purpose-built tender software that addresses each of these pain points:
1. Opportunity Pipeline Aggregate opportunities from Contracts Finder, Find a Tender, and sector-specific portals into a single dashboard. Filter by value, location, category, and deadline.
2. AI-Assisted Bid Writing Our AI analyses the invitation to tender (ITT), pulls relevant content from your answer library, and generates first-draft responses scored against the evaluation criteria. This typically reduces first-draft time by 60%.
3. Compliance Engine Automatically maps your response against mandatory requirements, word counts, formatting rules, and required attachments. Get a compliance score before submission.
4. Collaboration Workspace Assign sections to subject matter experts, track progress in real-time, manage approvals, and maintain version control across the entire response document.
5. Content Library Build a searchable library of past responses, case studies, CVs, policies, and certifications. The AI suggests the most relevant content for each new question.
6. Analytics & Insights Track your win rate, average scores, common feedback themes, and team performance. Use data to continuously improve your tender responses.
Key Features of rfp.quest Tender Software
Tender Tracking & Alerts
- Automated opportunity alerts based on your criteria
- Deadline countdown and milestone tracking
- Bid/no-bid decision support with scoring matrix
- Pipeline reporting and forecasting
Document Generation
- Auto-populate standard sections (company info, policies, case studies)
- Dynamic formatting to match buyer requirements
- PDF, Word, and portal-compatible output formats
- Integrated e-signatures for declarations and commitments
Team Management
- Role-based access (bid manager, contributor, reviewer, approver)
- Workload visibility across concurrent tenders
- Comment and feedback threads per section
- Audit trail for governance and accountability
Integration
- Connect to Contracts Finder and Find a Tender
- Import ITT documents (Word, PDF, spreadsheet)
- Export to buyer portals and e-procurement systems
- API access for custom workflows
Who Uses Tender Software?
Bid Managers — Oversee the end-to-end tender process, coordinate contributors, and ensure quality and compliance. Our bid management software gives you full control.
Business Development Teams — Identify and qualify opportunities, make bid/no-bid decisions, and track conversion rates.
Subject Matter Experts — Contribute specialist content to specific sections without needing to understand the full tender context.
Senior Leaders — Review and approve submissions, access win/loss analytics, and make strategic decisions about which opportunities to pursue.
Procurement Consultants — Manage multiple client tenders simultaneously, maintaining separate content libraries and branding for each. See our tender management software capabilities.
Industries We Serve
Construction & Infrastructure
From PQQs for construction frameworks to project-specific ITTs, our templates and AI understand the terminology and requirements of the built environment sector. Learn more about our construction bid management software.
IT & Technology
Respond to technology RFPs with pre-built sections covering security standards, data architecture, development methodologies, and Cyber Essentials compliance.
Professional Services
Consultancy frameworks, outsourced services, and advisory contracts all have unique requirements. Our content library and AI handle case study selection, methodology descriptions, and pricing structures.
Healthcare & Social Care
Navigate the specific procurement requirements of NHS trusts and local authority care commissioning, aligned with NHS procurement standards.
Getting Started with rfp.quest
- Sign up for a free trial — no credit card required
- Import your past tender responses to seed your content library
- Set up alerts for relevant opportunities on Contracts Finder and Find a Tender
- Invite your team and assign roles
- Start responding to your next tender with AI assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between tender software and bid management software? They're closely related. Tender software typically emphasises the supplier's response process, while bid management software may also cover the buyer side or focus more on pipeline management. rfp.quest covers both perspectives.
Can tender software help with PQQs as well as ITTs? Yes. Pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs), selection questionnaires (SQs), and full ITTs are all supported with specific templates and compliance rules for each stage.
Is this suitable for sub-£100k tenders? Absolutely. While our enterprise features shine on complex, high-value tenders, the AI bid writing and compliance checking add value on opportunities of any size.
How does rfp.quest handle portal submissions? We generate outputs in the formats required by common UK e-procurement portals. For portals that require direct data entry, our copy-and-paste workflow with section mapping makes submission straightforward.
What about the new Procurement Act 2023? rfp.quest is updated to reflect the Procurement Act 2023 changes, including new transparency requirements, the competitive flexible procedure, and updated exclusion grounds.
Ready to transform your tendering process? Start your free trial → or explore our RFP software platform.