How to Find Public Sector Tenders in the UK

Start with Find a Tender

Find a Tender states that, from 24 February 2025, both above- and below-threshold notices about new UK procurements are published there, except below-threshold notices in Scotland.

Use its opportunity search to see upcoming pipeline notices and active tenders. Pipeline notices are useful because they can show planned procurements before the tender itself opens.

Know the other platforms

Procurements that began under earlier rules may continue on the platforms used at the time, including Contracts Finder in England, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI. Below-threshold opportunities in Scotland are published on Public Contracts Scotland.

Individual buyers often also run their own e-tendering portals, where the tender documents are downloaded and responses submitted.

Search the way buyers write

Buyers describe requirements in their own language. A marketing agency might need to search for 'communications', 'engagement' or 'campaign' as well as 'marketing'. Keep a list of terms and refine it as you read notices.

Note the deadline, the buyer, the estimated value and whether the opportunity is an open tender or a call-off from a framework.

Build a weekly routine

Set aside a regular slot to search, shortlist and record opportunities in a simple tender calendar. Consistency matters more than volume: a short list of well-matched opportunities is more valuable than dozens of poor fits.