What to Say in Tenders About IT & Systems Resilience
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π§ Blog 4 of 7 in our Cyber Resilience series for social care providers
π‘ When commissioners ask about business continuity or IT resilience, theyβre not just checking whether youβve gone digital. They want assurance that your service can withstand disruption β and recover quickly if something goes wrong.
Simply writing βWe use Birdieβ or βWe use a secure systemβ wonβt cut it. Instead, your tender response should demonstrate practical resilience β something a skilled domiciliary care bid writer can help you articulate.
π§© 1. System Security
- Name your system (e.g. Birdie, Nourish, CarePlanner) β but go further.
- Describe how data is protected (encryption, access controls, user permissions).
- Highlight any supplier audits or compliance certifications (e.g. ISO27001).
In home care tender writing, commissioners expect clarity on both technology and governance.
π 2. Staff Awareness and Practice
- Explain how staff are trained to use systems safely and securely.
- Mention phishing training, password policies, and internal reporting protocols.
For learning disability services, staff competence is central β highlighting cyber training adds strength to your bid.
πΎ 3. Data Backups and Recovery
- State how frequently data is backed up and where itβs stored (off-site/cloud).
- Confirm your ability to recover data in the event of a system failure or breach.
- Link this to maintaining care continuity and regulatory compliance.
π 4. Manual Protocols and Testing
- Describe your contingency plan if systems are unavailable (paper MARs, rotas, care notes).
- Show that these have been tested β not just theoretical.
Well-written answers matter β our proofreading services ensure your responses are clear, professional, and tender-ready.
π€ 5. Shared Responsibility with Your Supplier
Even if your tech provider hosts the system, your organisation is still responsible for service continuity. Make this clear by showing:
- How you monitor system performance and outages
- How you escalate issues and communicate with staff/families
- How you ensure data remains accessible in an emergency
π£ Pro Tip: Make It Personal
Back up your answer with a real-life example β even if it was just a short outage. What did you learn? What changed? This builds credibility and shows a proactive learning culture.
πΌ Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)
- β‘ 48-Hour Tender Triage
- π Bid Rescue Session β 60 minutes
- βοΈ Score Booster β Tender Answer Rewrite
- π§© Tender Answer Blueprint
- π Tender Proofreading & Light Editing
- π Pre-Tender Readiness Audit
- π Tender Document Review
π Need a Bid Writing Quote?
If youβre exploring support for an upcoming tender or framework, request a quick, no-obligation quote. Iβll review your documents and respond with:
- A clear scope of work
- Estimated days required
- A fixed fee quote
- Any risks, considerations or quick wins
π Prefer Flexible Monthly Support?
If you regularly handle tenders, frameworks or call-offs, a Monthly Bid Support Retainer may be a better fit.
- Guaranteed hours each month (1, 2, 4 or 8 days)
- Discounted day rates vs ad-hoc consultancy
- Use time flexibly across bids, triage, library updates, renewals
- One-month rollover (fair-use rules applied)
- Cancel anytime before next billing date
π Ready to Win Your Next Bid?
Chat on WhatsApp or email Mike.Harrison@impact-guru.co.uk
Updated for Procurement Act 2023 β’ CQC-aligned β’ BASE-aligned (where relevant)
π Explore the Full Cyber Resilience Blog Series:
- π 1. Your System Provider Isnβt Your Shield: Why Cyber Risk Still Falls on You
- β οΈ 2. What Happens If You Ignore the Cyber Risk in Social Care?
- ποΈ 3. How to Build Cyber Resilience into Your Service
- π§Ύ 4. What to Say in Tenders About IT & Systems Resilience
- π 5. Cyber Resilience: Staying One Step Ahead in Social Care
- π₯οΈ 6. Digital Resilience in Social Care: Why You Canβt Afford System Failures
- π 7. Cybersecurity in Social Care: Why Itβs a Business Continuity Issue