UK Procurement Glossary
Lot
A self-contained subdivision of a tender, allowing bidders to compete for only the parts of a contract they can credibly deliver.
Definition
A lot is a self-contained part of a larger tender that bidders can compete for separately. A facilities management tender, for example, might be split into lots for cleaning, catering, security, grounds maintenance and total FM — letting specialist suppliers bid only for the services they actually deliver, while still allowing multi-service primes to bid across all lots.
Lotting is used both for fairness (lowering the SME entry barrier) and to optimise the buyer's outcome (specialist suppliers may deliver each lot better than a single generalist). UK procurement law encourages lotting where it serves SME participation.
How this affects your bid
Bid for the lots you can credibly win — not all of them. Specialist focus often outscores broad capability claims. Read the lotting structure carefully: scoring weights and minimum requirements can differ lot by lot.
Common questions about lot
Can I bid for multiple lots?
Usually yes, subject to any "maximum lots per supplier" rule in the tender documents. Read the ITT lotting section before submitting.
Are lot evaluations done separately?
Yes — each lot has its own evaluation, scoring and award. Winning lot 1 does not guarantee anything about lot 2.
Related terms
Framework Agreement
A pre-agreed contract between one or more buyers and a panel of suppliers, used as the …
Open Procedure
A single-stage UK public sector procurement procedure where any interested supplier can…
Restricted Procedure
A two-stage UK public sector procurement: suppliers first pass a Selection Questionnair…
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