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The Jonty glossary

Public procurement, in plain English

The words buyers use in tender packs, and what they mean for your bid. One short page per term.

  1. CPV code

    A number from the Common Procurement Vocabulary that says what a public contract is for, used to sort and search tenders.

  2. Framework agreement

    A list of approved suppliers a buyer can give work to without running a full tender each time.

  3. ITT

    Invitation to tender

    The set of documents a buyer publishes to ask suppliers for bids: what it wants, how to answer and how bids are scored.

  4. SQ

    Selection questionnaire

    The questions a buyer asks to check a supplier is eligible and able to do the work, before it scores the bid itself.

  5. Social value

    The wider good a contract does for people, places and the environment, which UK public buyers score as part of your bid.