Here's a typical scored question from a school cleaning tender, answered the way I'd answer it for a client: written to the question, easy for an evaluator to score, and built around real commitments.
Question (15% weighting, max 750 words): Describe how you will mobilise the contract and manage the TUPE transfer of existing cleaning staff, ensuring no disruption to the school.
We will take over cleaning at [School] over a six-week mobilisation, led by one named Mobilisation Manager, so that on day one the school sees the same faces, the same standards and no gaps in service. Our plan rests on three commitments: early, respectful engagement with transferring staff; a site-specific specification agreed with the business manager before go-live; and on-site supervision throughout the first month.
Within five working days of award, our Mobilisation Manager, [Name], will meet the school's business manager to confirm priorities, access arrangements, safeguarding procedures and key dates such as INSET days and lettings. We will then walk every area of the site and build a zone-by-zone cleaning schedule, covering classrooms, EYFS, toilets, kitchen and dining areas, offices and circulation space, with frequencies matched to the school's specification. The schedule will be shared for the school's sign-off by the end of week 2.
We will request employee liability information from the outgoing contractor in week 1 and hold a group welcome session for transferring staff in week 2, followed by one-to-one meetings with every employee. In these meetings we explain clearly that their terms and continuity of service are protected, answer questions about pay dates, uniforms and rotas, and listen to any concerns. Staff who feel informed early stay with the contract, and continuity of staff is the single biggest protection against disruption for a school.
All staff, transferring and new, will hold an enhanced DBS check before working on site, and no one starts without one. Every operative completes our induction: COSHH, manual handling, safeguarding awareness, colour-coding and site-specific rules. New equipment and eco-labelled products are delivered and stored in a locked cupboard, with safety data sheets kept on site.
Our Area Supervisor will be on site for every shift in the first week and at least twice weekly for the rest of the first month. A first-week audit, scored against the agreed specification, will be shared with the business manager, and any issue is fixed by the next shift.
The business manager will receive a one-page mobilisation tracker every Friday showing completed actions, risks and next steps, and will have a direct line to the Mobilisation Manager throughout.
| Risk | How we prevent it |
|---|---|
| Staff leave during transfer | Early one-to-ones, clear communication, and a relief cleaner pool already vetted |
| Late employee information | Requested on day 1 and escalated via the school if not received within 10 days |
| Disruption during term | All set-up work outside teaching hours; go-live timed to suit the school |
We have mobilised [x] similar education contracts, including [named site], with no missed cleans during transfer. That record and a named, accountable manager give the school confidence that the change of contractor will be noticed only by an improvement in standards.
Send me the question and a few notes about your business. I'll send a first draft back so you can judge it before spending anything.
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