Guides / Public procurement in United Kingdom
Public procurement in United Kingdom: how to find and win tenders
Where United Kingdom publishes public contracts, the thresholds that decide which rules apply, how to register and bid, and the 174 tenders open right now.
Open tenders in United Kingdom right now
- 174 open tenders
- Largest category: Health and social work services (CPV 85000000)
CA18527 - Danes Educational Trust
Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant - Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant
Detergent Dosing System
Public Health Pharmacy Pseudo-Dynamic Purchasing System (PDPS) Round 9
Street Light Repair Project
GDPR Data Audit
Healthy Lives Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle - Category 4 Round 13 - Onboarding
Healthy Lives Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle - Category 3 Round 14 - Onboarding
Healthy Lives Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle - Category 2 Round 14 - Onboarding
Healthy Lives Dynamic Purchasing Vehicle - Category 1 Round 14 - Onboarding
Where tenders in United Kingdom are published
- Find a Tender. The central digital platform: all Procurement Act 2023 notices, and where suppliers register.
- Contracts Finder. England's lower-value opportunities and contract award details.
- Public Contracts Scotland. Scottish public sector notices.
- Sell2Wales. Welsh public sector notices.
- eTendersNI. Northern Ireland public sector notices.
Languages: English, Welsh (Sell2Wales).
What to know before you bid in United Kingdom
- Since 24 February 2025 most UK public procurement runs under the Procurement Act 2023. Suppliers register once on the central digital platform (Find a Tender) and get a unique identifier that buyers use to look up their core information.
- UK thresholds include VAT, unlike EU thresholds.
- Scotland keeps its own rules for devolved Scottish authorities and publishes on Public Contracts Scotland.
Procurement thresholds that apply in United Kingdom
UK Procurement Act 2023 thresholds from 1 January 2026
Procurements started on or after 1 January 2026. Including VAT.
| Contract type | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Works contracts (also utilities, concessions and defence works) | £5,193,000 |
| Goods, services or works for a central government authority | £135,018 |
| Goods, services or works for a sub-central authority (councils, NHS bodies and others) | £207,720 |
| Utilities, and defence and security, goods and services | £415,440 |
| Light touch contracts (for example health, social and education services) | £663,540 |
| Utilities light touch contracts | £884,720 |
Source: Cabinet Office, Procurement Policy Note 023: 2026 Threshold amounts (Annex A)
UK below-threshold notices (Procurement Act 2023, section 87)
In force since 24 February 2025. Including VAT.
| Contract type | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Advertised contracts of a central government authority must get a below-threshold tender notice from | £12,000 |
| Advertised contracts of any other authority (and all devolved Welsh authorities) from | £30,000 |
Source: Procurement Act 2023, section 87 (legislation.gov.uk)
How to register and bid in United Kingdom
- Register your organisation on the central digital platform (Find a Tender) and complete your core supplier information.
- Share your unique identifier with buyers when you respond; they read your core information from the platform.
- Set up searches or alerts on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder (and Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales or eTendersNI if you sell there).
- Respond through the buyer's own e-tendering system named in the tender notice.
What United Kingdom is buying: top categories
- Health and social work services (CPV 85000000) 43
- Construction work (CPV 45000000) 29
- Repair and maintenance services (CPV 50000000) 20
- Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services (CPV 71000000) 19
- IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support (CPV 72000000) 16
- Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security (CPV 79000000) 15
- Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services (CPV 90000000) 10
- Other community, social and personal services (CPV 98000000) 10
- Research and development services and related consultancy services (CPV 73000000) 9
- Industrial machinery (CPV 42000000) 8
- Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) (CPV 44000000) 8
- Education and training services (CPV 80000000) 8
Questions
Where are public tenders in United Kingdom published?
On Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales, eTendersNI.
What language are tenders in United Kingdom written in?
Mostly English, Welsh (Sell2Wales). Tender documents and responses usually have to be in the language the notice states.
How many public tenders are open in United Kingdom right now?
Bidstage currently lists 174 open tenders in United Kingdom from official sources, updated several times a day.
Guides for every step
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