Run your first tender, start to finish
The five steps from brief to award, with links to the detail.
Updated 7 October 2026
1. Create the tender
Go to Create tender and choose Start with AI, Start blank or Start from a template. Everything begins as a draft, and nothing goes to suppliers until you publish. See Create a tender.
2. Add requirements, criteria and suppliers
Add your requirements and documents, set evaluation criteria that add up to 100%, and add the suppliers you want to invite.
3. Review and publish
Ask your review team to check the tender (Blue Team and Red Team), then press Publish. Every supplier on the list is emailed straight away. See Publish a tender and invite suppliers.
4. Answer clarifications while it is live
Suppliers can ask questions until the clarification deadline. Reply privately or publish an anonymous answer to everyone.
5. Evaluate and award
Bids stay sealed until the closing time. Then your evaluators score them, you recommend a bidder, an approver signs it off and outcome letters go out. See Score bids and Recommend and approve an award.