The following links provide essential reading and excellent advice on how to win public sector contracts, covering the majority of the points detailed above.

The Routes-2-Sustainability training pack (developed by Campaign for Learning as part of the Building Trading Capacity Project) titled ‘Finding Your Way With Commissioning’ provides an excellent overview of commissioning together with a range of practical tips and resources: Finding_your_way_with_commissioning_Training_Pack.pdf

NCVO’s Public Service Delivery Network provides a range of excellent  tools and resources on service design, procurement and commissioning, negoatiating contracts and full cost recovery:

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/public-service-delivery-network/resources

NCVO also provide this guidance that includes information on PQQ’s, expressions of interest and a useful checklist:

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/public-service-delivery/submitting-a-tender

Hope Street Centre have developed the excellent Wigan Provider Toolkit for Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS): ‘How to find your way through the maze!’.  The toolkit is organised into a series of modules that you can dip into depending on your starting point and what is relevant to your organisation. The modules will take you through what practical guidance and help is currently available and point you to further sources of information.  The bulk of the information is appropriate to providers of other services:

Wigan%20Social%20Enterprise%20Toolkit%20for%20CYPS%20MEDIUM.pdf

Playing to Win Tenders is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to winning tenders has been produced by the Nationsal SME Engagement Programme.  This is a must have guide and includes extremely useful sections on myth-busting, procurement thresholds, jargon-busting and has useful dos and don'ts.  There's also information on training and other useful events, as well as an assessment guide on good and bad contracts if you succeed in winning a tender:

http://www.gmcvo.org.uk/sites/gmcvo.org.uk/files/Playing%20to%20Win%20Tenders.pdf

Third Sector Commissioning Guide produced by Voluntary Norfolk and NCVO have produced this checklist to intelligent commissioning and intelligent bidding:

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/sites/default/files/Third_sector_commissioning_checklist_FINAL1.pdf

KnowHow NonProfit provide this resource on the processes of commissioning and procurement for public service contracts, including top tips and information on various processes:

/commissioning-and-procurement/commissioning-and-procurement

The Finance Hub (Charities Aid Foundation) have produced the excellent Tendering and Bidding Briefing which outlines some excellent top tips and resources:

/FH12_1_Tendering_Briefing_appendix_3a_184.pdf