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What needs to go into a Business Continuity Plan

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What needs to go into a Business Continuity Plan

The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) serves as a reliability indicator for public sector buyers assessing tender submissions. In sectors such as Facilities Management, IT, and Construction, the absence of a properly tested BCP can result in losing the contract because these industries depend on continuous service delivery.

Current Challenges

Our company has evaluated more than 200 BCPs as a bid partner for UK-based SMEs. The main issue? Most plans exist only as theoretical concepts. They describe operations but lack evidence of actual testing, measurement, and real-world application.

Let’s change that.

Should Testing be included in a Business Continuity Plan?

A BCP without testing creates security risks. Buyers need proof that your organisation has conducted real exercises, not just thought about them.

What Your Submission Must Include

  • Testing dates and frequency
    (e.g., annual desktop scenario reviews, quarterly IT failover drills)
  • Team participation and roles
    (e.g., IT lead, client liaison, frontline delivery staff)
  • Continuous improvement evidence
    (show how assessments improved BCP implementation over time)
Why It Matters: Scenario testing proves your BCP works in practice. It ensures your team can respond effectively during emergencies because they’ve trained through realistic exercises.

Scenario Testing in your Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Generic plans fail evaluation. Your BCP scenarios must reflect industry-specific risks and client requirements.

What Your Submission Must Include

  • Three realistic scenarios, such as: 
     
    • Power outages during NHS night shifts
  •  
    • Data breaches on local authority systems
  •  
    • Flooding at housing construction sites
  •  
  • Response protocols for each scenario
  • Contingency plans for external suppliers and technology providers
Tip: Use a “Scenario · Action · Outcome” table format for clarity and better scoring.

Including Performance into your Business Continuity

Your BCP should evolve through performance tracking and data collection.

What Your Submission Must Include

  • Business continuity KPIs
  • BCP review schedules
  • Links to client satisfaction and compliance metrics
Best Practice: Show how your BCP performed during an actual emergency and the improvements made afterwards.

How Tender Response Helps

Tender Response helps UK-based SMEs win public sector contracts through:

  • Strategy development
  • Bid writing
  • Compliance assistance
  • Submission preparation
We provide direct support for SMEs needing help with their BCP section or a full tender review.

Ready to Strengthen Your Tender Submission?

Schedule a 15-minute discovery session with us to:

  • Assess your current status
  • Identify weaknesses
  • Create a solid, compliant tender
 

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Tender Response Limited

Tender Response Limited

20 Valley Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3NF

0203 9300664

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