What’s the difference between proposals and bids?

4th April 2025
Bid Writing & Tender Management

Both proposals and tender responses are important forms of sales collateral, but they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts.

Here’s a summary:

  1. Proposals: These are documents prepared by a business to present to potential clients. They typically include an overview of the business, the client’s pain points, the services or solutions being offered, the delivery method, pricing, and any financial or operational restrictions (terms and conditions). Proposals are often free-form and allow the business to present their offer in their own words.
  2. Tender Responses: These are responses to specific questions asked by a potential client in a tender document. The client sets the agenda and the business responds accordingly. Tender responses might include details about service delivery, cost, any exclusions, and the solutions provided. These responses are often come with a word count limit.

Proposals are more common for smaller organizations or less complex projects, while tender responses are often required for larger contracts or more complex services.

https://www.tenderresponse.co.uk/

We understand that personalized guidance is key to your success. Contact Tender Response today and let our experienced team tailor a winning strategy for your specific needs.

Reach out to us via email at admin@tenderresponse.co.uk or give us a call at 0203 9300 664.

We are Tender Response – We are UK Public Sector specialists in Bid Writing (aka Tender Writing), Grant Writing, Business Advisors (aka finding contracts), Market Research, and Carbon Reporting.

Latest Insights From Tender Response

23rd April 2025 Living Wage Certification in Public Sector Tenders

In today’s public sector tendering landscape, organisations need every possible advantage to stand out. As both a Living Wage employer and public sector bid writing specialist managing bids up to £5 million, we’ve witnessed firsthand how ethical employment practices significantly influence tender outcomes. The landscape of public sector procurement is evolving, with social value becoming […]

Insights
21st March 2025 6 ways to respond to tenders and bids

The goal is to ensure a seamless process from start to finish, providing a holistic view of the entire bid. To complete a comprehensive bid always coordinate your application with relevant departments and stakeholders, possibly including outsourced project management or marketing teams (where relevant). Supplier Questionnaire: This is a form that collects information about your […]

Bid Writing & Tender Management
7th March 2025 Top 3 things all companies need for tender and bid responses

If you’re small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Here are the top three things you should consider for tender responses: Organisation: Having all relevant company information together in one place is crucial. This includes insurance documents and other necessary paperwork that may be required as part of the tender response. Personal Significant Control: If a company […]

Bid Writing & Tender Management