Public tenders in the United Kingdom: platforms, thresholds and rules

At a glance

Law: Procurement Act 2023
Oversight: Cabinet Office
Central portal: Find a Tender

Thresholds

Goods, services or works, central government authorities (Procurement Act 2023, incl. VAT)	£ 135.018
Goods, services or works, sub-central and other contracting authorities (incl. VAT)	£ 207.720
Works contracts (incl. VAT)	£ 5.193.000
Light touch contracts (incl. VAT)	£ 663.540
Utilities: goods and services (incl. VAT)	£ 415.440
Notifiable below-threshold contract, central government authority (notice on Find a Tender if advertised)	£ 12.000
Notifiable below-threshold contract, other contracting authorities including devolved Welsh authorities	£ 30.000
Scotland: regulated procurement, contracts other than works (Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, excl. VAT)	£ 50.000
Scotland: regulated procurement, works (Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, excl. VAT)	£ 2.000.000

Law and buyers

After leaving the EU, the UK replaced the EU-derived regulations with the Procurement Act 2023, which applies to procurements started on or after 24 February 2025 by UK-wide, English, Welsh and Northern Irish contracting authorities; procurements started earlier stay under the old regulations such as the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Scotland is different: devolved Scottish authorities follow the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Buyers include central government departments and agencies, the NHS, local councils, universities, schools, housing associations and utilities. The Cabinet Office sets policy and its Procurement Review Unit investigates compliance, while central purchasing bodies such as Crown Commercial Service run frameworks used across the public sector.[1][8][10][12]

Where tenders are published

Under the Procurement Act 2023, notices are published on the Find a Tender service, which is the Central Digital Platform, for both above-threshold and notifiable below-threshold contracts. Contracts Finder remains for procurements started under the old rules. Welsh authorities also publish on Sell2Wales, Northern Irish bodies use eTendersNI, and Scottish authorities publish on Public Contracts Scotland. Many buyers run tenders through e-tendering systems such as Atamis, Delta eSourcing, In-tend, JAGGAER, Proactis or myTenders, and the notice links to the right one. Registration on the Central Digital Platform is free; a winning supplier needs a unique identifier, and above-threshold bidders share core supplier information through it. No national eID is required.[7][13][20][21]

Procedures and thresholds

The Procurement Act 2023 offers two competitive procedures: the open procedure, a single-stage tender, and the competitive flexible procedure, which buyers can design with stages such as shortlisting, negotiation or demonstrations. Direct award without competition is allowed only on specific statutory grounds, such as extreme urgency or when only one supplier can deliver. Frameworks, including open frameworks, and dynamic markets are common. Below the thresholds, central government bodies that advertise contracts of £12,000 or more, and other bodies from £30,000, must publish a notice on Find a Tender. Scotland still uses the EU-style open, restricted and competitive procedure with negotiation, and regulated procurements of £50,000 or more for goods and services and £2 million for works must be advertised.[4][9][22][23]

Documents and language

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the European Single Procurement Document is no longer used. Instead suppliers store core supplier information on the Central Digital Platform, including company details, connected persons, financial information and exclusion grounds, and share it with each buyer, who then adds procurement-specific questions. Buyers check mandatory and discretionary exclusion grounds and may consult the debarment list. Typical evidence includes accounts, insurance certificates, references for similar contracts, and certifications such as Cyber Essentials or ISO standards. Scotland still uses the Single Procurement Document (Scotland). Tenders are in English, and in Wales Welsh may also be used; documents in other languages normally need an English translation.[7][10][19][24]

Deadlines, award and challenges

Under section 54 of the Procurement Act 2023, the minimum tendering period is normally 25 days with electronic submission and all documents available at once, 30 or 35 days otherwise, and 10 days after a qualifying planned procurement notice or in urgency. Contracts are awarded to the most advantageous tender, judged against published award criteria that may include price and quality. Before signing, the buyer publishes a contract award notice and must observe a mandatory standstill of eight working days, and unsuccessful bidders receive an assessment summary. Claims go to the courts and must be started within 30 days of when the supplier knew or ought to have known the facts. In Scotland the standstill is 10 days for electronic notices.[2][3][5][17]

How to win a tender in the United Kingdom

Under the Procurement Act 2023, which applies to procurements started from 24 February 2025, the contract goes to the most advantageous tender against published award criteria. Section 23 requires the buyer to describe how tenders will be assessed and to show the relative importance of criteria by weighting, ranking or another description. Central government buyers following PPN 002 must give social value at least 10 per cent of the total score, so make commitments concrete and measurable. Ask clarification questions through the buyer's e-tendering system before the stated deadline; answers are usually published anonymously to all bidders. To know the buyer, read its pipeline, planned procurement and contract award notices on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, plus its published strategy and annual report. Answer each question within the word limit, evidence claims with named people, case studies and KPIs, and keep your Central Digital Platform information current. Bids fail when late, non-compliant with mandatory requirements, from excluded suppliers or with prices the buyer considers abnormally low. Every bidder receives an assessment summary with its scores and reasons, and the contract cannot be signed until the eight-working-day standstill has passed; use the summary to compare yourself with the winner.[16][17][18][19]

Note each award criterion, weighting and word limit from the tender documents.
Read the buyer's pipeline and award notices on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
Submit clarification questions before the deadline and read every published answer.
Offer measurable social value commitments where the criteria reward them.
Keep Central Digital Platform details current and submit before the deadline.
Study the assessment summary and act within the eight-working-day standstill.

Clarification round: Clarification questions

How TenderRender helps you in the United Kingdom

TenderRender does the work behind each step above. Your team checks and refines.

1
Research the buyer
Brings together the buyer's earlier awards, policies and contracts, so your bid fits this buyer's situation in the United Kingdom.
2
Ask questions
Finds unclear points and risks in the documents and drafts questions about them for the clarification round: Clarification questions.
3
Write per criterion
Drafts a first version per award criterion, in the language of the tender, with citations to your own documents.
4
Review
Scores your bid per award criterion the way an evaluator would, with concrete improvements.
5
Fill in forms
Fills in the declarations, price schedules, questionnaires and Excel annexes from your own data and earlier bids, with a source per answer.
6
Submit
Builds a checklist of everything you need to submit on Find a Tender and prepares the documents ready to sign.

Tender search covers the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany; in the United Kingdom you upload the documents from Find a Tender and TenderRender works with them the same way.

Teams writing or reviewing with TenderRender won 49% of their completed tenders. How this was calculated

Book a demo

Tips for bidders

Register early on the Central Digital Platform, complete your core supplier information and keep it current, because buyers rely on it for every above-threshold bid. Read pipeline and planned procurement notices on Find a Tender to prepare before the tender opens, and attend preliminary market engagement where offered. For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, also watch the devolved portals. Check which regime applies, because procurements started before 24 February 2025 still follow the old rules. Social value is often weighted in award criteria, so give concrete, measurable commitments. Use the assessment summary after every award to understand your scores against the winner.[7][14][18][20]

Platforms in the United Kingdom

This country does not publish on TED, so there are no shares. These are the platforms from our market map, public ones first.

Contracts Finder
Search notices for contracts over £12,000 without an account; an account adds alerts and saved searches. Higher-value tenders appear on Find a Tender.
How it works →Website
Digital Marketplace (G-Cloud / DOS)
You can only join G-Cloud or DOS while a framework is open for applications; for G-Cloud 15 you also register on the Central Digital Platform.
How it works →Website
eTendersNI
Register your organisation and an administrator, pick CPV codes for alerts, then download documents and submit online; step-by-step walkthroughs cover each action.
How it works →Website
Find a Tender
Since 24 February 2025 suppliers register on Find a Tender (Central Digital Platform) and share supplier information; bids go via each buyer's e-tendering system.
How it works →Website
Public Contracts Scotland
Free supplier registration gives alerts and access to tender documents; user guides and videos cover each step, and many tenders are then run in PCS-Tender.
How it works →Website
Sell2Wales
Free Welsh Government site; register first on the UK Central Digital Platform for your Unique Identifier, which Sell2Wales registration requires.
How it works →Website
Atamis
Each UK buyer (e.g. NHS bodies, councils) has its own Atamis portal; register your company there, after which responses are submitted online.
Website
Delta eSourcing
A free supplier account lets you bid on Delta opportunities; for Procurement Act 2023 tenders, also add your Central Digital Platform share code.
How it works →Website
In-tend
In-tend is software used by many UK buyers, each with its own portal; register separately on each buyer's In-tend site to download documents and submit.
Website
JAGGAER
Each buyer runs its own JAGGAER portal, often invitation-only; supplier participation is free, and JAGGAER support helps with access issues.
How it works →Website
myTenders
Free supplier registration gives access to tender documents and the response tools; supplier user guides explain each step.
How it works →Website
Proactis
Proactis ProContract is used by many UK councils; register once with company details and categories to get alerts, download documents and upload responses.
How it works →Website

PublicCommercial

Tender search for this country

Altura
Bid management platform that uses AI to analyse tender documents, flag requirements and risks, and draft responses from past proposals.
BidStats
UK tender search with buyer, supplier and pipeline analysis built on Contracts Finder, Find a Tender and TED notices; free search with paid alerts.
Bidwell
AI tender response platform for UK SMBs that builds a knowledge base from past bids and policies, drafts cited answers and monitors UK tender portals.
BidWriter (WinAContract)
Bid management and AI writing platform for UK public sector tenders with AI-drafted answers, bid library, pipeline and framework/DPS tracking.
CleanTender
Tender platform for small UK soft facilities management firms: lists cleaning, security, grounds and catering tenders, scores fit and drafts bid answers.
Contracts Finder
UK government service listing public contract opportunities and awards in England, used for lower-value contracts procured before the Procurement Act 2023.
DCI (Defence Contracts International)
Defence-focused tender platform with contract search, alerts, award and spend data, market intelligence and buyer contacts for UK MOD, Europe and beyond.
Find a Tender
UK government service where public buyers publish procurement notices; since Feb 2025 covers above- and below-threshold notices outside Scotland.
myTenders
eProcurement platform where public buyers publish contracts and suppliers search and access all published notices free of charge.
Oxygen Insights (Oxygen Finance)
Public sector market intelligence on UK spend, pre-procurement signals, tender notices, frameworks and buyer contacts, from an early-payment specialist.
Public Contracts Scotland
Scotland's national portal where public buyers advertise contracts and awards; suppliers search notices and register free of charge.
Sell2Wales
Welsh Government portal for public sector contract opportunities in Wales, with buyer profiles and open contracting data downloads.
Stotles
Public sector sales and bid platform that aggregates procurement data, surfaces expiring contracts and buyer insight, and supports AI bid qualification.
Tenderlake
Tender intelligence service using natural-language capability matching across UK, EU and EEA notices, translated into English.
Tenders Direct
Tender alert service covering UK, Ireland and OJEU/FTS notices, with opportunity manager, competitor tracker, FOI tool, bid training and bid support.
Tendertrace
Public sector market intelligence platform with an AI assistant (Tracey) covering Australian and UK government spend, contracts, panels and open tenders.
Tendr (Tenderflow)
Bid response workspace that builds a knowledge graph of company evidence and drafts cited tender responses; includes a tender feed incl. TED.
Tracker Intelligence
Procurement intelligence platform for public sector suppliers combining UK and TED tenders, frameworks, award data, spend analytics and buyer insights.
Tussell
UK public sector market intelligence on government contracts, spend, frameworks and early buying signals, plus public sector decision-maker contacts.

Bid writing tools from this country

Altura
Bid management platform that uses AI to analyse tender documents, flag requirements and risks, and draft responses from past proposals.
AutogenAI
AI platform to draft, manage and review proposals, bids and grants, including for public-sector tenders.
BidScript
AI bid management software for in-house bid teams to find opportunities, draft tender responses and manage submissions.
Bidwell
AI tender response platform for UK SMBs that builds a knowledge base from past bids and policies, drafts cited answers and monitors UK tender portals.
BidWriter (WinAContract)
Bid management and AI writing platform for UK public sector tenders with AI-drafted answers, bid library, pipeline and framework/DPS tracking.
CleanTender
Tender platform for small UK soft facilities management firms: lists cleaning, security, grounds and catering tenders, scores fit and drafts bid answers.
DeepRFP
AI workspace that analyses RFPs, organises opportunity files and drafts proposal and government bid responses.
mytender.io
AI tender writing platform that analyses tenders and drafts first responses from a company's content library, with pipeline and team collaboration tools.
Stotles
Public sector sales and bid platform that aggregates procurement data, surfaces expiring contracts and buyer insight, and supports AI bid qualification.
Tendr (Tenderflow)
Bid response workspace that builds a knowledge graph of company evidence and drafts cited tender responses; includes a tender feed incl. TED.

Bid consultancies

Bid Services
Irish tendering consultancy that helps companies find, structure, write and review tender applications, and offers tender training.
Bid Solutions
UK bid recruitment, bid writing and training company that also runs a directory of bid consultants and a bid software comparison.
Executive Compass
UK bid and tender writing consultancy providing bid writing, bid management, PQQ/SQ writing, bid reviews and social value support since 2009.
Tenders UK
UK bid writing consultancy that writes and manages public sector tenders, with bid strategy, tender writing training and buyer support.
Thornton & Lowe
UK bid writing and tender management consultancy offering bid writing, training, bid administration, bid design and bid recruitment.

All players on the market map

Frequently asked questions

Where are UK public tenders published?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the Find a Tender service, the Central Digital Platform under the Procurement Act 2023. Scottish authorities publish on Public Contracts Scotland, Welsh authorities also on Sell2Wales and Northern Irish bodies also on eTendersNI.[13][14][15][20]

Do I need to register to bid?

Yes, registration on the Central Digital Platform is free and gives you a unique identifier. For above-threshold procurements you share your core supplier information through it, and buyers may also ask you to register on their own e-tendering system.[7][19]

What are the procurement thresholds in the UK?

From 1 January 2026 the thresholds, including VAT, are £135,018 for central government, £207,720 for other contracting authorities and £5,193,000 for works. Below those, advertised contracts from £12,000 (central government) or £30,000 (other bodies) must still be published on Find a Tender.[4][6]

Can foreign companies bid for UK public contracts?

Yes. Suppliers from countries covered by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or a UK trade agreement with procurement commitments have treaty-based rights to equal treatment. Other foreign suppliers can usually bid too but without those guaranteed rights.[1][19]

In which language must I submit my tender?

In English. Welsh public bodies may also accept or use Welsh.[1][13]

How much time do I have to submit a tender?

Under the Procurement Act 2023 at least 25 days in the usual electronic case, shorter after a planned procurement notice or in urgency, and longer when documents are not all available electronically from the start.[3]

What changed with the Procurement Act 2023?

Since 24 February 2025 there is one central platform for notices and supplier information, two main procedures (open and competitive flexible), award to the most advantageous tender, a standstill of eight working days and more transparency notices. Scotland kept its own rules.[1][2][12][22]