UK tender questions, answered

How do I find UK public sector tenders?

UK tenders are published across several official portals; the reliable way to find them is to bring every source into one searchable feed and filter to what fits your business.

Where are UK government contracts advertised?

Higher-value contracts appear on Find a Tender; lower-value ones in England on Contracts Finder; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own portals.

How do I find local council tenders?

Councils advertise on the national portals and often on regional procurement systems; filter by your location and the council buyers to find them.

How often are new UK tenders published?

New opportunities are published every working day across the UK's procurement systems, which is why a daily-refreshed feed and alerts matter.

What is a tender alert and how do I set one up?

A tender alert notifies you when new opportunities match your criteria, so you don't have to check portals by hand. Set one up by saving a search of your CPV codes, nation and value.

How do I search tenders by CPV code?

Map your products and services to their CPV divisions, then filter tenders to those codes — it's the most precise way to cut the noise.

How do I find NHS tenders?

NHS opportunities appear on the main UK portals and through NHS-specific frameworks; filter by the healthcare CPV codes (33 and 85) and the relevant buyers.

How do I sell to the NHS?

Get on the relevant NHS frameworks, target the right buyers (trusts, ICBs), filter by healthcare CPV codes, and meet common requirements like data security standards.

What is NHS Shared Business Services?

NHS SBS runs frameworks and procurement services used across the NHS, giving suppliers a route to sell to many NHS organisations through pre-set agreements.

How do I find tenders in Scotland?

Scottish public bodies advertise through Public Contracts Scotland; filter to Scotland to see councils, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government and universities.

How do I find tenders in Wales?

Welsh public bodies advertise through Sell2Wales; many also appear on Find a Tender. Welsh buyers place strong emphasis on social value.

How do I find tenders in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland public bodies use eTendersNI; NI opportunities advertised UK-wide also appear on Find a Tender.

What is the best alternative to Contracts Finder?

Contracts Finder only covers part of the picture; a tool that aggregates every UK portal and scores opportunities against your company gives broader coverage and saves time.

What is the best alternative to Find a Tender?

Find a Tender shows higher-value notices but not the full UK picture; aggregating all sources and adding match scoring is a stronger setup for suppliers.

What is the Procurement Act 2023?

It's the law, live since 24 February 2025, that reformed how UK public bodies buy — a single platform, new earlier notices, and more focus on SMEs and transparency.

What are the current UK procurement thresholds?

Thresholds are set contract values — differing for works, supplies and services — above which the full procurement rules apply. Below them, lighter rules and separate advertising apply.

What is the difference between MEAT and MAT?

Both mean awarding on best overall value rather than lowest price. MAT is the Procurement Act 2023 term that succeeds MEAT, with more flexibility on how value is weighed.

What is social value in UK public sector procurement?

Social value is the wider economic, social and environmental benefit a contract delivers. It's scored in most public bids, commonly weighted around 10% under PPN 06/20.

What is a framework agreement?

A framework pre-approves suppliers and fixes terms so buyers can award contracts (call-offs) quickly, either directly or via a mini-competition between framework suppliers.

What is a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)?

A DPS is an electronic, open-to-join list of approved suppliers used for repeat purchases — now broadened into 'dynamic markets' under the Procurement Act 2023.

Can small businesses bid for UK government contracts?

Yes — the government actively wants more SME spend, contracts are often split into lots, and below-threshold work is frequently more accessible to smaller suppliers.

Do I need Cyber Essentials to bid for government tenders?

Often yes — Cyber Essentials is commonly required for contracts that involve handling government data, and getting certified early removes a frequent pass/fail barrier.

What is a Selection Questionnaire (SQ)?

An SQ screens suppliers on capability and standing — experience, finances, insurance, compliance — before they're invited to tender. It's usually pass/fail or scored.

How do I write a winning tender response?

Qualify hard, decode the scoring, answer exactly what's asked, and evidence every claim. Structure and specificity beat eloquence.

What is a bid/no-bid decision?

It's the disciplined call on whether an opportunity is worth pursuing, weighing fit, capacity and win chance against the cost of bidding. It's the biggest lever on win rate.