Advisory service
Procurement & Tender Support
Solar Strategies acts as your independent client-side adviser through procurement. We provide a clear technical specification, a fair tender process, structured bid evaluation and contract support. That way, you appoint the right installer at the right price.
Installer quotes are notoriously hard to compare. Different panel counts, inverter brands, warranty terms and yield assumptions make a straight price comparison close to meaningless. We fix that by writing an output-based specification everyone prices against, so bids arrive on genuinely equal terms.
From there, we manage the tender and evaluate bids on a weighted scorecard. We also run due diligence on each bidder's competence and financial standing. And we support you through contract and performance-guarantee terms. That's the difference between the cheapest quote and the best value.
Bid evaluation also needs a cost benchmark to test against. Commercial rooftop solar in the UK typically installs for somewhere between £700 and £1,200 per kWp before VAT. Larger systems — 500 kWp and above — often come in under £800/kWp, thanks to economies of scale. So a quote well outside that range, in either direction, is a prompt to ask why.
We also check that every shortlisted bidder holds current MCS installer accreditation. That's the baseline most funders, insurers and warranty providers require.
For public-sector clients, we structure the process to run compliantly under the Procurement Act 2023. That Act replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for procurements starting on or after 24 February 2025. Or we use an existing framework, such as the Crown Commercial Service's Demand Management & Renewables Agreement. That route can be faster, and it's equally defensible.
What it delivers
- A technical, output-based specification bidders must price against
- Tender management — PQQ / ITT drafting, bidder queries and a level playing field
- Structured, weighted bid evaluation on price, quality, warranty and deliverability
- Due diligence on installer competence, financial standing and relevant accreditations
- Support through contract, programme and performance-guarantee terms
Outcomes
- Genuinely comparable bids, not apples-to-oranges quotes
- A documented, audit-ready selection process
- Better commercial and warranty terms, held in the contract
Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell or install any equipment?
No. We act only for you, the client. We hold no supplier relationships, commissions or product lines, so the tender is run purely in your interest.
Can you work within public-procurement rules?
Yes. We structure specifications and evaluation to support compliant, auditable procurement, including through established public-sector frameworks.
Further reading
Insights on procurement & tender support
Due diligence checklist: what to verify before signing any commercial solar contract
A practical, verify-it-yourself checklist for commercial solar buyers — installer accreditation, financial standing, warranty terms and what separates a fair contract from a risky one.
Read more →Solar procurement under the Procurement Act 2023: a guide for public-sector buyers
How councils, schools, universities and the NHS can run a compliant, audit-ready solar tender under the Procurement Act 2023 — or buy through the Crown Commercial Service's RM6314 framework instead.
Read more →Independent solar advisor vs installer survey: what's actually different
Why an installer's 'free survey' and genuine independent solar advice are structurally different things — and what that difference actually costs you if you get it wrong.
Read more →Talk to us about procurement & tender support
An initial consultation is free and carries no obligation. Tell us about your organisation and the site or estate you're weighing up.