Winning Tenders with Health & Safety (H&S): A Practical Guide

How H&S Helps You Win a Tender (in 60 seconds)

Winning a construction tender on health and safety grounds comes down to proving you are a competent, reliable contractor. Buyers and Principal Contractors (PCs) need to see clear, proportionate evidence at every stage.

They typically expect to see:

1. Organisational competence proven at the PQQ/SQ stage, ideally via a Common Assessment Standard (CAS) or SSIP certificate.
2. Project-specific Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) that directly address site risks and align with the Construction Phase Plan.
3. Proof of competent people, including relevant training, supervision structures, and site induction plans.
4. A clean track record and sensible controls for risks to the public or at interfaces with other trades.
5. Clear, concise presentation that provides the exact evidence requested, without waffle.

Under the CDM 2015 regulations, a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) must be in place before work starts on site. As a contractor, your H&S submission at the tender stage demonstrates you understand your duties and can provide the necessary information for the CPP. This guide walks you through exactly what to provide and when.

Stage 1 (PQQ/SQ): Prove Organisational Competence

The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), now more commonly the Selection Questionnaire (SQ), is the first hurdle. It’s a pass/fail gateway where buyers check your company’s fundamental capabilities before inviting you to tender.

This stage assesses your economic and financial standing, technical ability, and whether any grounds for exclusion apply. Under the latest public procurement guidance (PPN 03/24), references to the old PAS 91 standard have been removed, with contracting authorities now pointed towards the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) for works contracts. For smaller firms, the evidence required should always be proportionate to the size and risk of the contract.

The Common Assessment Standard (CAS) is an industry-agreed question set that is increasingly accepted by major clients, reducing the need to complete multiple different pre-qualification schemes. It comes with two levels of certification—desktop and site-based—and offers a proportionate route for micro-businesses.

Many firms also hold an SSIP accreditation (such as CHAS, SafeContractor, or SMAS). These schemes reduce duplication by assessing your H&S management system against a core standard. While not a legal requirement, holding an SSIP certificate is one of the most common health and safety tender requirements. It demonstrates basic competence, but buyers will still check your project-specific capability at the next stage (ITT).

For companies with fewer than five employees, the HSE states you are not legally required to have a written H&S policy or record your risk assessment findings. However, most buyers will still expect to see this documentation. To avoid losing marks, it’s best practice to prepare it anyway.

What to Submit at PQQ/SQ

This is your core H&S evidence pack. Ensure it’s up-to-date, organised, and clearly labelled.

• CAS or SSIP certificate (if held).
• Health & Safety Policy, signed and dated within the last 12 months.
• Training Matrix showing operative and management qualifications.
• Valid Insurance Certificates (Public Liability, Employers' Liability).
• Accident/near-miss statistics and your RIDDOR record for the last 3 years.
• Sample Risk Assessments relevant to your trade.
• Evidence of supervision and competence (e.g., sample CSCS, SSSTS, SMSTS cards).
• Statements on how you manage your supply chain.

Where the SQ includes optional health and safety questions (like Q7.3 in Annex A of the Standard SQ), provide concise answers that are proportionate to the project's risk profile.

CAS vs PAS 91: What Changed

The landscape for pre-qualification has simplified. The British Standards Institution (BSI) has withdrawn the PAS 91 standard.

In line with this, the UK Government's PPN 03/24 has removed all references to PAS 91 from its Standard Selection Questionnaire. For construction works contracts, it now directs contracting authorities to use the question set aligned with the Common Assessment Standard (CAS).

Stage 2 (ITT/Quality): Prove You Can Deliver This Job Safely

Once you pass the PQQ/SQ stage, you are invited to tender (ITT). Here, the focus shifts from your company’s general competence to your specific plan for this project. Generic, copy-pasted RAMS will lose you marks.

Buyers and PCs want to see that you have read the Pre-Construction Information (PCI), understood the site-specific hazards, and developed tailored controls. Your submission is a key part of how to structure the H&S section of a tender and provides vital information for the Principal Contractor to develop the Construction Phase Plan (CPP).

Project‑Specific RAMS That Win Marks

Your RAMS are the core of your quality submission. They must be more than a tick-box exercise.

• Start with the basics: Follow the five HSE steps for risk assessment (identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls, record findings, review).
• Cover the specifics: Address key site risks like adjacent works, public interfaces, traffic management, temporary works, buried services, environmental constraints, and work sequencing.
• Keep it simple: Use plain English and clear layouts. The person on site needs to understand it.
• Include delivery methods: Show how you will communicate the controls, such as through daily briefings, Toolbox Talks, and permit-to-work systems.

Interface With CPP and PCI

Your H&S submission must show you understand your CDM 2015 duties. The information you provide—particularly your RAMS and site plans—directly supports the Principal Contractor’s duty to prepare and maintain the CPP.

Under CDM, a Construction Phase Plan must be prepared before any construction work begins. If more than one contractor is involved, the PC is responsible for this. For single-contractor projects, the contractor must ensure a CPP is drawn up. Your tender documents prove you have the capability to contribute effectively.

Proving Competent People, Supervision and Induction

Beyond paperwork, buyers need assurance you have the right people on the ground. This is about showing what Principal Contractors look for in their supply chain.

Provide evidence of:

• Competent individuals through up-to-date training records and role-specific qualifications (e.g., SSSTS for supervisors).
• Clear supervision arrangements, including who is responsible on site.
• A plan for site-specific inductions that covers the key risks and emergency procedures.

Build a Tender‑Ready H&S Evidence Pack (Checklist)

Having a well-organised H&S pack ready to go saves huge amounts of time. Use this checklist to build yours.

Document Category	Evidence to Include
Policies & Management	H&S Policy (signed & dated), Organisation Chart with H&S roles.
Accreditations	CAS / SSIP certificate, ISO 45001 certificate (optional).
People & Training	Training Matrix, sample CSCS/SSSTS/SMSTS cards, plant/vehicle operator proofs.
Site Documentation	Project-specific RAMS, COSHH assessments.
Performance	Accident Frequency Rate (AFR), RIDDOR log summary, near-miss data and corrective actions.
Plant & Equipment	Sample equipment inspection/test records (e.g., lifting gear, PAT testing).
Site Arrangements	Example site induction brief, Toolbox Talk schedule, emergency plans.
Wider Compliance	Environmental controls, public protection plans, insurance certs, modern slavery policy.

Remember, the evidence you submit at tender should always be relevant and proportionate to the job. PPN 03/24 encourages buyers to avoid asking for burdensome information from smaller suppliers.

Common Mistakes That Lose H&S Marks

Small errors can make the difference between a pass and a fail. Here are common mistakes and how to fix them.

• Submitting generic RAMS: These show you haven’t read the PCI.
  • Fix: Reference specific site constraints, utility drawings, access routes, and work sequences mentioned in the tender documents.
• Out-of-date documents: An expired policy or mismatched training record looks unprofessional.
  • Fix: Keep a simple one-page "document control" index with review dates for all key policies and certificates.
• No clear plan for public protection: This is a major red flag, especially in urban areas.
  • Fix: Include simple, clear plans showing pedestrian segregation, traffic management, and security measures tied directly to site risks.
• Ignoring CDM roles: Failing to mention how you'll work with others is a common omission.
  • Fix: Explicitly state how you will coordinate with the Principal Contractor and Principal Designer and contribute to the live Construction Phase Plan.
• Overloading with irrelevant paperwork: Sending a 200-page file when 10 pages were asked for wastes the evaluator's time.
  • Fix: Provide exactly what is requested, clearly labelled, and in the order specified in the ITT instructions.

Mini Case Examples

1. Small civils contractor, urgent drainage works A firm won a 3-day emergency drainage repair contract next to a live road. Their bid stood out because their RAMS were highly site-specific, focusing on robust traffic management and pedestrian segregation. Their induction plan was realistic for a short-duration job, ensuring every operative understood the critical risks before starting.

2. Groundworks subcontractor on a major framework A groundworks firm pre-qualified for a large framework using their Common Assessment Standard (CAS) certificate. At the ITT for the first project, they scored top marks on H&S by mapping their RAMS directly to the headings in the Principal Contractor's CPP outline. They also provided clear evidence of their supervisor's SMSTS qualification and experience on similar sites.

FAQs

Do I need SSIP or CAS to bid for construction work? No, neither is a legal requirement. However, holding an SSIP accreditation or CAS certificate is a widely recognised and efficient way to demonstrate organisational competence at the PQQ/SQ stage. Buyers must still check your project-specific capabilities.

Is a Construction Phase Plan required for small projects? Yes. A CPP must be prepared before the construction phase begins on any project, regardless of size. The PC or contractor is responsible for ensuring it is drawn up, depending on whether there is more than one contractor involved.

Are method statements a legal requirement? Not specifically in law, but the HSE recognises them as a practical way to meet legal duties for planning, managing, and monitoring higher-risk work. Most major clients now expect detailed method statements (RAMS) as standard.

We’re under 5 employees—do we need written policies/RA findings? The HSE states it is not a legal duty for businesses with fewer than five employees to write down their H&S policy or risk assessment findings. However, most buyers in a formal construction tender will expect to see this documentation to assess your competence, so it is best practice to provide it.

What changed with PAS 91? The BSI withdrew the PAS 91 standard for construction pre-qualification. The UK Government's guidance for public procurement (PPN 03/24) has removed references to it and now directs contracting authorities to use the questions from the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) for works contracts.

How RAMSGen Helps You Win

Strong construction tender health and safety submissions require professional, consistent, and project-specific documentation. This takes time that most directors simply don't have.

RAMSGen is designed to solve this problem.

• Generate site-specific RAMS in minutes, not hours. Our software guides you through a logical process aligned with HSE guidance, helping you create tailored documents that directly address the risks outlined in the tender.
• Build a living library of evidence. Store your training records, policies, and insurance certificates in one place, ready to compile a tender pack quickly and efficiently.
• Present professional, consistent documents every time. Impress evaluators with clear, well-structured RAMS that demonstrate your commitment to your CDM 2015 duties, helping to strengthen your tender scores.

By cutting down admin time and improving the quality of your submissions, RAMSGen helps you reduce risk and win more profitable work.

See how RAMSGen creates tender‑ready, site‑specific RAMS in minutes—watch the 2‑minute demo.

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About the Author

Dylan is a co-founder of RAMSGen. As a former Site Manager and Troop Commander in the British Army’s Royal Engineers, he has managed high-risk construction and demolition projects across the globe. This hands-on experience on complex sites informs RAMSGen’s focus on creating pragmatic, useful safety documentation that makes sense to the people doing the work.