UK government contract finder
Start with the official notice. Check buyer fit, route access, evidence, value and deadlines against your firm’s services.
Which UK government contract finder should suppliers use?
Use Find a Tender for notices under the current UK procurement regime. Contracts Finder remains available for earlier procurements. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have dedicated procurement sites. TenderLead searches its configured UK sources and adds company-specific qualification so suppliers can decide which opportunities deserve closer review.
TenderLead is independent software operated by Studea Limited. The official notice remains the source of record for dates, documents, eligibility and submission instructions.
Worked example: an IT support supplier searching for a contract.
Hypothetical supplier: a small IT support firm serving Yorkshire councils. It can deliver weekday support and prove two comparable projects, but cannot provide round-the-clock cover. These are example criteria, not a real supplier or live opportunity.
- Start with the official notice search. Open Find a Tender and search for IT support. Filter for notices inviting tenders, then check each result's stage. Planning notices describe future work but do not yet invite a bid.
- Narrow by delivery area. Filter to regions the firm can serve. Read the scope and lots before imposing a value ceiling: a whole-contract estimate may differ from the lot available to one supplier.
- Check Contracts Finder separately for earlier procurements. Search IT support at Contracts Finder, filter by region and open opportunities, then check each notice's status. If nothing fits, try another service phrase or widen geography; an empty search does not prove there is no demand.
- Qualify before preparing a bid. Check the source notice and buyer documents for the closing time, submission route, lot scope, eligibility and evidence requirements. In this example, mandatory 24-hour cover means SKIP. Weekday cover with comparable references could justify further BID review, subject to the remaining checks.
Find a Tender’s search page distinguishes procurements published from February 2025 under the Procurement Act 2023 from notices under other legal regimes. Check the buyer’s instructions and the appropriate portal for the procurement. Search filters are a starting point, not proof of eligibility.
What a government contract finder should check before drafting starts.
Finding a notice is the first step. Supplier-focused software should then check whether the route is open, the buyer matches your evidence, the deadline is workable and the opportunity fits your commercial rules.
Choose the official portal for the notice.
| Source | What it helps with | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Find a Tender | Procurement Act 2023 and other regulated notices, saved searches and email notifications. | Filter for tender notices when you need an opportunity to bid on. Planning notices can describe future work. |
| Contracts Finder | Search and email updates for notices from procurements started under earlier rules. | Check the notice date, stage and buyer instructions before preparing a response. |
| Devolved-nation portals | Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI provide dedicated local searches. | Check the buyer's procurement documents and submission system for the final requirements. |
Search first, then qualify the opportunity against your firm.
For a supplier or contractor, the workflow runs from notice search to buyer and route checks, evidence fit and a clear BID or SKIP call. See how to set up IT tender alerts and use the bid/no-bid checklist before drafting.
See one government contract scored against your firm.
Browse tenders free to see the source, buyer, route, value and deadline. Pro adds company-specific scores and reasons.
Common questions.
Where is the official UK Government Contracts Finder?
Find a Tender is the central digital platform for notices under the current procurement regime. GOV.UK Contracts Finder remains available for procurements started under earlier rules.
What does a government contract finder do for suppliers?
It helps suppliers search notices by keyword, buyer, sector, value or deadline. TenderLead also compares notices with a supplier profile and provides source-linked BID/SKIP reasoning.
Is TenderLead part of GOV.UK?
No. TenderLead is independent software operated by Studea Limited. Official portals remain the source of record; TenderLead adds supplier-specific search and qualification.