In most cases you will have found out about the contract in OJEU, in one of the trade journals or on a 'selling to' website. This is likely to be your first stage in the process and will give you an opportunity to decide whether the contract is suitable for your business. If there is a contact name or number in the advert, you can contact the customer to check that you understand the requirement. This could be useful as the advertisement alone may not give all the relevant information. Be aware that OJEU adverts are limited to a certain number of words and you may need to get extra clarification.
Tips:
Don't be shy of making enquiries to public-sector bodies about available contracts. Look out for news and events in the magazines and publications in your own business sector.
Explore the internet for 'selling to' sites.
Feel free to market your products and services to the public sector just as you would to a private-sector firm.
Contact your local training provider, for example Business Link, to see if they provide training on preparing bids and selling to the public sector.
Business Advice 