put up for tender

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put up for tender" is correct and commonly used in formal written English.
It refers to the process of making something available for bidding or competition, typically in the context of business contracts or government projects. You can use "put up for tender" when you want to describe the act of inviting bids or proposals for a specific job, project, or contract. For example: - The city council has decided to put up the construction project for tender, with bids being accepted until next month. - The company put up their IT support services for tender and received multiple competitive offers from qualified vendors. - The government has put up the rights to develop the new airport for tender, in hopes of finding the most qualified and cost-efficient company for the job. - The art museum put up their prized painting for tender, inviting bids from interested buyers who meet their requirements.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Bank regulation has been kicked into 2019 – political neverland: in a trice the entire NHS is put up for tender to "any qualified provider", but banks get seven years to "prepare" while they lobby against already weak reforms.

The Guardian - Opinion

In Phedi, Dawa and Lakpa Sherpa tell us that three and half years ago, the National Park Authority informed the guesthouse owners that in five years, the land their lodges reside on will be put up for tender, effectively sold to the highest bidder.

The Guardian - Travel

Two of Iraq's gas fields were put up for tender as part of a first round of foreign investment deals last month.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Masakichi was put up for adoption.

The New York Times

Warner Music Group was recently put up for sale.

The New York Times

The property was put up for sale.

Wikipedia

11/474 (2.3%) of the babies were put up for adoption.

BMC Pediatrics

Those items are put up for auction.

WikiHow

"Once the case is closed, we either destroy [the aircraft] on request of the insurers, or they may put it up for tender and it will be sold to whoever wants to buy it".

Huffington Post

He suspects the Tafe sector will bid when the contract is put out for tender.

The Guardian

If this funding is put out for tender it would mean bankruptcy for many institutes". .

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "put up for tender", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being offered and the criteria for selection.

Common error

Avoid using "put up for tender" when a simple price quotation is sufficient. The phrase implies a formal, competitive process with specific requirements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put up for tender" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a phrasal verb. It describes the action of making something available for bidding or competition. According to Ludwig, this usage is correct and common in formal written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put up for tender" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb denoting the action of making something available for competitive bidding, primarily in formal contexts such as business and government. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage in formal writing. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives, it carries a specific implication of a structured and competitive process. To use it effectively, ensure the context justifies the formality and competitive nature of the tender process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call for tenders

A more formal and direct synonym, commonly used in government and business contexts.

issue an invitation to tender

A formal way of announcing and inviting participation in a tender process.

announce a tender

Focuses on the declaration of a tender process, often used in official announcements.

launch a bidding process

Highlights the start of a competitive process for receiving and evaluating bids.

open for bidding

Highlights the availability for offers, suitable for auctions and competitive processes.

make available for bidding

Describes the act of making something accessible for competitive offers or bids.

invite bids

Focuses on the act of asking for offers, omitting the formal process implied by "tender".

seek offers

A general term for looking for offers, less formal than "invite bids" or "solicit proposals".

solicit proposals

Emphasizes the request for formal proposals, suitable for professional contexts.

request quotations

Specifically asks for price estimates, suitable for procurement and cost comparison.

FAQs

What does "put up for tender" mean?

It means to make something available for a formal bidding process, where different parties can submit offers or proposals to win a contract or opportunity.

How is "put up for tender" used in a sentence?

For example, "The city council decided to "put up for tender" the contract for the new bridge construction."

What are some alternatives to "put up for tender"?

Alternatives include "invite bids", "solicit proposals", or "call for tenders".

Is "put up for tender" formal or informal?

It is considered a formal phrase, typically used in business, government, or legal contexts.