Win More With Our Bid Consulting Services

For over 20 years, we have helped our clients win bids, tenders, pitches and proposals by providing experienced bid professionals on a consulting or contract basis. There are several ways to engage these services:

1. Search and shortlist over 800 Bid and Proposal Consultants on our Bid Consultant Directory. You can search by skill, location, industry, day rate or keyword. Our Consultants can support you at any phase of the Bid Lifecycle and help you get into a winning position.
2. Bid Benchmarking Services – Let us show you the quickest way to improve your win rate and get your bidding costs under control.
3. Bid Capability Services – Let our consultants transform your bid capability by reviewing your current tools and processes and working with you to change habits to win more business.
4. Bid Marketing Services – We actively strengthen and streamline the bid marketing process, delivering submissions that clearly demonstrate your ambition, capability, and competitive edge.
5. Bid Lifecycle Support – Every stage of the Bid Lifecycle is critical. We provide expert guidance and hands-on support to ensure your bids stay on track – from qualification and storyboarding to submission and post-bid review. Take the Bid Lifecycle Challenge here.

From 5th April 2021, it became the client’s responsibility to determine the IR35 status of a contract. Bid Solutions’ clients must issue a Status Determination Statement (SDS) to both:

1. The Contractor / Consultant
2. The next party in the contractual chain (typically Bid Solutions, unless an RPO is involved).

The SDS must clearly state whether IR35 applies and include the reasoning behind the decision. Clients are required to take reasonable care when making this determination.

Until the SDS is provided, the client will be considered the fee-payer, meaning they are liable for IR35 and responsible for deducting the appropriate tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from the contractor and paying them to HMRC.

If Bid Solutions or the contractor disagrees with the IR35 determination, the client has 45 days to respond and must explain the basis for their decision. Failure to respond within this timeframe will result in the client becoming the fee-payer, assuming they are not already.

One of our dedicated team members will arrange an initial consultation to understand your requirements in detail. If you have not already chosen a preferred consultant from our Bid Consultant Directory, we will shortlist and present a selection of suitable Bid Consultants, complete with their CVs, relevant experience, rates, and current availability. We will also coordinate interviews and guide you through the selection process to ensure the best fit for your project.

Once you have selected your Bid Consultant, the following are required before mobilisation can begin:

1. An IR35 Status Determination Statement
2. A Purchase Order for the agreed spend
3. A signed contract and schedule of work

Your consultant will submit weekly timesheets for your approval. Bid Solutions will issue invoices on a monthly basis, or at the end of the contract if it concludes sooner. All payments are required in GBP.

To join our Bid Directory as a Bid Consultant or Bid Contractor, simply follow these steps:

1. Register Online
   Visit our registration page and complete the form in full, including your sector experience, skills, and qualifications.
2. Consultation
   Once you’ve submitted your registration, one of our consultants will get in touch to guide you through the next steps. They’ll also help you create an anonymous profile for the Bid Consultant Directory.
3. Published Profile
   Your profile will be visible to clients searching for Consultants. They can filter by sector, skills, or keywords to find the right match. Please note while your profile and CV are searchable, your name and personal details remain confidential.

The Bid Consultant Directory is free of charge and does not require a subscription. All profiles are anonymous so the client will request your details via Bid Solutions.

To work as a Bid Consultant or Bid Contractor through Bid Solutions, you’ll need to provide evidence of the following:

Insurance Requirements

• Professional Indemnity Insurance – minimum cover of £1 million
• Public Liability Insurance – minimum cover of £5 million
• Employer’s Liability Insurance – minimum cover of £5 million

These policies are generally affordable and offer valuable protection for you, Bid Solutions, and the end client.

Compliance Documentation

You’ll also be asked to complete our compliance process, which includes submitting:

• Proof of your right to work in the UK
• Proof of residence
• Company Registration Certificate (if operating as a limited company)
• VAT Registration Certificate (if VAT registered)
• Completed personal and company details
• A criminal convictions declaration
• Emergency contact information
• A signed IT Usage Policy agreement (confirming you understand and will comply with our data security and system access requirements

The Bid Solutions 2025 Salary and Day Rate Survey highlights how day rates for bid professionals vary significantly depending on the sector and scope of work. On average:

• Bid Writers charge £600 per day
• Bid Managers charge £659 per day

However, rates can fluctuate significantly based on industry and location. For example, charities and healthcare providers typically pay lower rates, whereas IT and construction sectors tend to pay more.

At Bid Solutions, we work closely with clients to understand their specific requirements, such as responsibilities, contract duration, and sector, which all influence the final rate. The rates appearing on our Bid Directory are based on a typical three month contract duration.