How to Align Your Tender with Local Authority Strategies — Without Copying and Pasting

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One of the most effective — and misunderstood — ways to strengthen your social care tender is to align your proposal with the local authority’s or NHS commissioning strategy. It shows you understand the bigger picture, not just your service.

But here’s the catch: just pasting a sentence from a local strategy document isn’t enough. Commissioners want to see meaningful alignment — where your proposal actively reflects their stated priorities in delivery, impact, and innovation.

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📍 Why Alignment Matters

Councils and NHS bodies are under pressure to deliver on strategic goals. That includes things like:

• Strengths-based, preventative care
• Digital inclusion and independence
• Community connections and co-production
• Value for money and system-wide efficiency

If your tender speaks directly to those goals — with real examples — it makes their job easier and your score higher.

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💡 What to Avoid

• ❌ Copying text directly from strategy documents
• ❌ Making vague references like “We support the local vision”
• ❌ Referring to outdated priorities (always check the publication date!)

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✅ What to Do Instead

• ✔️ Reference a strategy goal briefly — then show what you do to deliver it
• ✔️ Include named local initiatives or pilot projects you’re linked to
• ✔️ Highlight outcomes aligned with local KPIs (e.g. reducing hospital admissions)
• ✔️ Use commissioner language, but tailor it to your own service model

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🛠️ Tools That Help

Look at local JSNAs (Joint Strategic Needs Assessments), Market Position Statements, and Integrated Care Board (ICB) priorities. These will often include measurable targets — perfect for linking your tender response to local need and demand.

And remember: alignment doesn’t mean compromise. You’re not changing your service — you’re showing how it adds value to the local system.

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🔚 Final Thought

Commissioners want partners who understand their pressures and ambitions. Show that you’ve done your homework — not with generic statements, but with thoughtful, practical alignment. That’s what makes your bid stand out.

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Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers

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Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.