How to Ask Clarification Questions in Social Care Tenders (Without Raising Red Flags)
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❓ How to Ask Clarification Questions in Social Care Tenders (Without Raising Red Flags)
💬 Why Clarification Questions Matter
Clarification questions are a key part of the tender process — designed to ensure bidders fully understand the requirements and evaluation criteria. However, the way you ask questions can influence how commissioners perceive your organisation’s competence and readiness.
✅ Best Practice for Asking Clarifications
- Be Clear and Specific — Phrase your question simply and directly. Avoid ambiguity or overly complex wording.
- Avoid Revealing Gaps in Understanding — Don’t ask questions that suggest you haven’t read the documents thoroughly. Clarifications should be about clarity, not covering missed content.
- Focus on Impact — Frame questions around how clarity will help you align your service to their needs. This demonstrates professionalism, not weakness.
- Use Neutral, Non-Challenging Language — Keep tone polite, objective, and focused on understanding, not criticism.
💡 Examples of Good Clarification Questions
- “Can you please confirm whether TUPE applies to this contract?”
- “Could you clarify the expected volume of hours per week for Lot 2?”
- “Is there a preferred format for submitting social value examples within our response?”
- “Please confirm the evaluation weighting for the Quality vs Price criteria.”
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Revealing gaps in basic understanding (e.g., asking about content already provided)
- Challenging the process or question design aggressively
- Asking speculative or irrelevant questions “just in case”
- Sending multiple disorganised questions instead of a considered list
📥 Bid Writing Support from Impact Guru
If you'd like help navigating the clarification process or strengthening your bid strategy, visit our Bid Writing for Social Care Providers page to see how we can support you.
Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers.
Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.