Every day, public sector organisations across the UK publish contracts worth millions of pounds. Most small businesses never see them. Not because they are not eligible, but because they do not know where to look or how to search effectively. This step-by-step guide fixes that.

Step 1: Understand the Two Main Portals

There are two key government-run platforms where public sector contracts are advertised in the UK.

Find a Tender (FTS)

Find a Tender is the official UK e-notification service. It replaced the EU's TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) portal after the UK left the EU. Contracts above certain value thresholds must be advertised here. You can access it at find-tender.service.gov.uk. It is free to use and no account is needed to browse, though you will need to register to receive alerts.

Contracts Finder

Contracts Finder (contractsfinder.service.gov.uk) covers a wider range of contracts, including lower-value opportunities that do not reach the Find a Tender thresholds. Central government buyers must publish contracts above a set value here. Many local authorities and other public bodies use it too. For SMEs starting out, Contracts Finder often surfaces more accessible, smaller opportunities.

Check the latest value thresholds on GOV.UK, as these can be updated and vary depending on the type of buyer and the category of supply.

Step 2: Run Your First Search

Both platforms have a search bar and filters. Here is how to use them effectively.

  1. Start with keywords from your trade. Think about how a buyer would describe the service, not how you would describe your company. Search for "facilities management", not the name of your firm.
  2. Filter by location. You can narrow results by region or buyer location. For service contracts, this is particularly useful.
  3. Filter by contract value. If you are a small business, filtering out multi-million pound contracts early saves time.
  4. Filter by status. Look for "open" opportunities — ones still accepting submissions. Closed notices are useful for research but you cannot bid on them.
  5. Filter by buyer type. Local authority, NHS, central government, and education buyers all procure differently. If you know your sector, filter accordingly.

Do not rely on a single keyword. If you supply IT equipment, try "hardware", "devices", "technology procurement", and "ICT" — buyers use inconsistent language.

Step 3: Read a Contract Notice Properly

When you find a promising notice, do not just skim the title. A proper read takes ten minutes and saves you from wasting hours on a bid you were never going to win.

Look for these key details:

  • Scope and specification: Does it actually match what you do?
  • Estimated contract value: Is it a realistic size for your business?
  • Buyer and location: Do you know this buyer's sector? Can you serve this geography?
  • Deadline for submissions: Do you have enough time to prepare a competitive bid?
  • Procedure type: Is this an open procedure (bid straight away) or a two-stage restricted procedure (SQ first)?
  • Contact details: Most notices include a name or email for clarification questions. Use it if something is unclear.
Before investing time in any bid, ask yourself honestly: could my business deliver this contract well? A strong bid for a well-matched contract beats a rushed bid for an exciting one you are not ready for.

Step 4: Set Up Alerts So You Never Miss an Opportunity

Manually searching portals every day is unsustainable. Both Find a Tender and Contracts Finder allow you to save searches and receive email alerts when new notices match your criteria. Setting these up takes about five minutes and can save hours every week.

  1. Create a free account on each platform.
  2. Run a search using your best keywords and filters.
  3. Save the search and choose how often you want alerts (daily is usually right for active searchers).
  4. Review your alerts periodically and update your keywords if you are getting irrelevant results.

It is worth setting up two or three different saved searches with slightly different keywords to avoid missing opportunities that use different terminology.

Step 5: Go Beyond the Two Main Portals

Find a Tender and Contracts Finder are the starting point, but they are not the whole picture. Some buyers publish opportunities on their own procurement portals or use regional and sector-specific platforms. NHS organisations, for example, often use dedicated NHS procurement systems. Some local authorities run their own e-tendering systems in addition to Contracts Finder.

Trade associations, local enterprise partnerships, and sector networks can also surface opportunities before they are formally advertised. Building relationships with buyers in your sector remains one of the most effective ways to learn about upcoming contracts early.

How Tendarix Helps

Searching multiple portals, reading every notice, and keeping track of deadlines across different systems is time-consuming. Tendarix brings relevant contract opportunities together in one place, matches them to your business profile, and helps you manage your pipeline — so you spend less time searching and more time writing winning bids.

If you are just starting out with public sector work, our guide on winning your first government contract covers how to assess your readiness and choose the right opportunities to pursue.

Quick-Start Checklist

  • Bookmark Find a Tender and Contracts Finder
  • Create a free account on each portal
  • Run keyword searches using buyer-facing language, not your company description
  • Set up saved searches with daily email alerts
  • When you find a notice, read the full details before deciding to bid
  • Check the deadline — allow realistic time for a quality response
  • Use the buyer contact details to ask clarifying questions if needed