Guide
How to ask for a tender debrief, and what to do with it
How to request a debrief after a government tender, the questions to ask, how to read your scores, and how to turn every loss into a better next bid.
A debrief is the buyer explaining how your bid was scored. It's free coaching from the people who just marked your work, and too many small firms never ask for one.
When and how to ask
- Ask in writing to the contact named in the tender, as soon as you get the result.
- Check the deadline. Some buyers set a short window to request a debrief, and in some systems it's tied to the standstill period before the contract is signed.
- Ask whether you won or lost. Winners learn a lot from debriefs too.
In the UK, the Procurement Act 2023 requires buyers to give assessment summaries to bidders on many contracts. In Canada, federal buyers offer debriefs on request. In the US, there are formal rules for debriefings on many federal contracts.
What to ask
Keep it professional and specific:
- What were our scores on each criterion, and what were the winner's?
- What were the main strengths and weaknesses of our response?
- What would a top-scoring answer have included?
- How did our price compare?
- Was there anything that concerned the panel about our firm or team?
- Is there anything you'd like suppliers to do differently next time?
How to read the scores
- Lost on price, strong on quality? Look at your pricing model, rates or scope assumptions.
- Lost on one or two questions? Rewrite those answers for your bid library.
- Lost on experience? You may need stronger case studies, or a partner who fills the gap.
- Lost narrowly? You were close. Bid again.
Don't argue in the debrief
A debrief is a learning session, not a negotiation. If you believe the process was unfair or the rules weren't followed, that's a separate formal process, often a bid protest or challenge, with strict deadlines. Get advice quickly if you think you have grounds.
Close the loop
Within a week of every debrief:
- Update your answer library with the feedback.
- Note the result and scores in your bid tracker.
- Thank the buyer. You'll likely bid to them again.
Common questions
Do government buyers have to give a debrief?
In many systems, yes, at least on request and above certain values. Even where it's not required, most public buyers will give feedback if asked.
Can I see the winning bid?
Usually not in full, but you may be told the winner's scores and price, and some details may be available through freedom of information requests.
Should I ask for a debrief if I won?
Yes. Knowing where you scored highest and lowest helps you win the next one.