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Security Contracts for Tender

Security tenders can take many different forms as public and private-sector organisations seek to protect people, property and assets.

Public-sector buyers for these types of services include local authorities, NHS trusts, universities, housing associations and transport organisations. Importantly, security contracts are frequently awarded for several years before being re-procured, creating recurring opportunities for established providers and SMEs capable of meeting the buyer’s requirements.

Typical services include:

  • Manned guarding
  • Car park security
  • Event security
  • Corporate security
  • Cash collection services
  • Keyholding
  • Cyber security
  • Concierge services
  • Mobile patrols
  • CCTV monitoring and alarm response.

Public and private-sector organisations use security contracts both to manage day-to-day requirements, such as guarding buildings and managing access, and to mitigate wider risks affecting employees, service users and members of the public.

Security services are also commonly combined with cleaning, waste, grounds maintenance and other services within integrated facilities management contracts or frameworks. Larger procurements may be divided into lots, allowing specialist providers to compete for individual elements rather than deliver the complete FM service.

Fire alarm installation and maintenance sit within a different specialist area; see our Fire and Security tender page for support with those opportunities.

You can also view live security contract notices published through our tender notices resource.

At Executive Compass, we support a range of clients with bid and tender writing services to help maximise their chances of winning security tenders.

Finding Live Security Tenders

Public-sector opportunities can be found through the Find a Tender service, which is now the Central Digital Platform for regulated public procurement, as well as relevant below-threshold notices and buyer procurement portals. Framework agreements are also widely used, particularly where buyers want to appoint multiple security providers across regions or service categories.

Our Government Contract Notices resource regularly includes opportunities for manned guarding, keyholding, concierge, mobile patrol and related security services. Using appropriate search alerts and monitoring likely buyers can help businesses identify opportunities early enough to make a considered bid/no-bid decision with the support of an expert bid writer from Executive Compass.

Finding the contract is only the first stage. Once an appropriate opportunity has been identified, the quality and evidence within the tender submission will determine whether you progress. See our bid and tender writing service if you need support with the response.

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    What Security Tenders Assess

    Security buyers need confidence that the successful provider can protect people and property consistently while managing risk appropriately.

    Existing tender topics such as health and safety, responsiveness, communication, monitoring and the value of attending a site visit should remain.

    Licensing and organisational accreditation are also important. Front-line security operatives undertaking licensable activities must have the appropriate SIA licence. Separately, the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) assesses the firm rather than the individuals within it. The ACS is voluntary in regulatory terms, but individual procurements usually make approved-contractor status a condition or of tendering

    Depending on the services being tendered, buyers may also look for:

    • BS 7858 screening and vetting arrangements
    • NSI or SSAIB approval where monitoring and alarm-response services are included
    • ISO 9001 quality management
    • ISO 45001 occupational health and safety
    • Cyber Essentials where information and technology risks are relevant
    • clear risk assessment, lone-working and incident-management procedures.

    TUPE is particularly important when an existing guarding contract is re-procured and a tender response will need to explain how incumbent officers will transfer, how consultation will be managed and how the new provider will maintain service continuity throughout mobilisation.

    Social value has become another important scoring area. Security contractors can offer relevant commitments through local recruitment, apprenticeships, routes into employment, community-safety initiatives and engagement with local organisations. Commitments should be contract-specific and measurable rather than generic corporate statements.

    See The Social Value Practice for specialist support.

    Depending on the type of security service, you may also be required, or invited, to undertake a site visit as part of the procurement process. It is a good idea to visit the site if you are given the opportunity to gather any local knowledge and to personalise your tender response accordingly.

    For more detailed guidance, read our how to tender for security contracts article.

    Event Security Tenders

    High-profile events require careful planning and effective security, particularly where large numbers of members of the public are present.

    Event-security opportunities range from major transport or public events to smaller local, university and civic events. Contracts may involve guarding, crowd management, access control, stewarding, incident response and coordination with other agencies.

    Smaller and regional security companies can compete successfully where the scale and requirements of the contract match their resources and experience.

    Executive Compass has supported security businesses bidding for contracts including:

    • Great Ormond Street Hospital Security Services
    • Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Manned Guarding
    • Swansea University Provision of Security Services
    • Derby City Council Provision of Security Services
    • Tower Hamlets Community Housing Provision of Concierge and Fire Marshal Service
    • Transport for Wales Crowd Management Services.

    See our London Waking Watch and Security Services case study for a related example of our work.

    Explore Other Industries We Work In

    How We Support Security Companies

    Executive Compass provides security tender writing and wider security bid consultancy for businesses ranging from SMEs pursuing individual guarding contracts to established providers bidding for large frameworks.

    Depending on the support required, we can:

    Since 2009, Executive Compass has supported more than 7,000 tender submissions across all industries and helped clients secure more than £5 billion in contracts. Our security experience includes successful submissions involving NHS trusts, universities, councils, housing organisations and transport bodies.

    The important distinction is that our bid writers do not simply make a response read better. We work with your operational team to identify the strongest evidence, explain how your service will work on the specific contract and make the benefits clear to the evaluator.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I find security tenders in the UK?

    Public-sector security tenders are advertised through Find a Tender, buyer procurement portals, frameworks and relevant lower-value procurement channels. Executive Compass also maintains a resource containing live Government Contract Notices and opportunities, including guarding, keyholding and security contracts.

    Do I need to be SIA approved to bid for security contracts?

    Individual officers undertaking licensable activities need the appropriate SIA licence. The SIA Approved Contractor Scheme relates to the security company itself and is voluntary nationally, although individual buyers can require ACS approval as part of their procurement conditions. Always check the specific tender requirements.

    Can a small security company win public-sector contracts?

    Yes. Security procurements can be divided by geography, service type or contract value, and smaller contracts can be well suited to SMEs. The key is to select opportunities that match your staffing capacity, accreditations, experience and financial resources rather than pursuing contracts that are unrealistic for the business.

    How can Executive Compass help with a security tender?

    We can provide complete bid writing, tender reviews, PQQ/SQ support and framework applications. If you already have an opportunity, upload your tender and we can review the documents and provide a fixed-fee quotation.

    Our team has supported security providers bidding successfully to NHS trusts, universities, councils, housing organisations and transport bodies.

    Upload a Tender

    Upload your PQQ or tender document here to get a fast and fair, no-obligation, fixed-fee quotation.

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