How we helped a UK SME win a spot on a major Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework

Securing a spot on a major government framework is an excellent way for SMEs across the UK to increase revenues. We provide professional bid writing help to businesses across the UK and in this case study, we explore how Jason and our team here at Tsaks Consulting UK helped an SME in Manchester navigate the complex application process and win.

The Challenge: Completing the framework application.

Our client had a strong but small presence in the construction and maintenance industry in Manchester. They mostly serviced the private sector and had acted as a sub-contractor on a number of government projects. However, they had never held a government contract and had limited success in framework applications to date.

They had no internal capabilities or experience completing an SSQ or framework application and were intimidated by the process. They also had limited supporting documentation since this was never requested by their private sector clients.

They identified a framework with CCS for building maintenance services for buildings in the Manchester area. This was fell directly within their scope and capabilities and the deadline was in 3 weeks. They contacted our team here at Tsaks Consulting to provide professional tender writing services for public sector, and specifically, CCS procurement help. They needed a full bid and tender writing service from strategy to writing and submission. The client had limited existing content and documentation.

The strategy: A tailored bid and tender writing consulting for the CCS framework

We worked with the client to create a tailored strategy for them to win the tender and be appointed to the CCS framework. We then implemented the SME framework bidding strategy and helped the client write the tender. We did this by:

 

• Identifying their key win themes. Our client had strong quality control in their building process, a great safety track record. They also had a strong focus on innovation and equipment. We integrated these through the response as win themes.
• Writing a tailored response to the ITT / framework. The client had no existing content. This was excellent as it allowed us to develop a highly tailored response for the opportunity. We sat with key SMEs and wrote a tailored response which was direct and evidence based.
• Compliance gap analysis. The framework requested the usual compliance documentation that covered finance, safety and quality. There were mandatory framework thresholds and our client had the financial and insurance documentation but lacked the safety and quality documentation. We created the required documentation from scratch and ensured it aligned with all regulatory requirements.
• Writing detailed responses to qualitative questions. From methodology to equipment and other questions on innovation we worked with them to deconstruct each question, develop a framework for a comprehensive response and write each response.
• Social Value development: The idea of social value in tenders and frameworks was foreign to our client although they did do a lot of practical social value initiatives. We worked with them to put these initiatives on paper, quantify them and write a comprehensive social value plan and response.

The result: A 100% compliant and winning CCS framework submission with a total score of 92.

Our comprehensive bid and tender writing process here at Tsaks Consulting UK resulted in a win for our client for the first public sector tender they had submitted in the construction and maintenance sector. They were extremely happy with the outcome, and it was a three-year framework with CCS.

Key features of the outcome:

• The application was fully compliant.
• Our client scored well in all questions including 18 out of 20 in Social Value.
• They were awarded a place on the CCS framework.
• They are leveraging on this experience to apply for more public sector work.
• All of the supporting documentation was deemed compliant.
• They have access to call-off contracts.

A quote from our Director, Jason Cooney:

“Navigating CCS framework bids can feel like learning a completely different language. At Tsaks Consulting, we take the stress out of the process, helping UK businesses translate their real-world expertise into high-scoring tender submissions. We are experts at CCS submissions and applications.”