Where are UK government contracts advertised?

UK government contracts are primarily advertised on Contracts Finder (contracts over £10,000) and Find a Tender (contracts over EU thresholds), with some departments also using their own procurement portals.

Primary Government Contract Advertising Platforms

UK government contracts are primarily advertised on Contracts Finder for opportunities over £10,000 and Find a Tender for contracts above EU procurement thresholds (now retained as UK thresholds post-Brexit). These are the two main statutory platforms where public sector organisations must publish their procurement opportunities.

Contracts Finder (www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) serves as the central portal for lower-value opportunities, covering everything from £10,000 up to the threshold values. All central government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, and other public bodies are required to advertise applicable contracts here. The platform includes both tender opportunities and details of awarded contracts, providing transparency across the public procurement landscape.

Higher-Value Contract Advertising

Find a Tender (www.find-tender.service.gov.uk) replaced the EU's OJEU system following Brexit and handles contracts above the procurement thresholds: £213,477 for central government goods and services, £276,777 for other public sector bodies, and £5,336,937 for works contracts (2022-2023 figures). This platform maintains the same transparency standards as the previous EU system while operating as a UK-specific service.

Many government departments also operate their own procurement portals alongside these statutory requirements. For example, the Ministry of Defence uses Defence Contracts Online, while NHS organisations often use NHS Supply Chain portals. However, these departmental systems typically cross-reference opportunities on the main government platforms to ensure compliance with advertising requirements.

Additional Advertising Channels

Some public sector organisations supplement statutory advertising with industry publications, trade magazines, or professional networks, particularly for specialised services. Framework agreements established by Crown Commercial Service are advertised through these main channels, with call-off opportunities sometimes advertised separately depending on the framework terms.

The Digital Marketplace (www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk) serves as a specialist platform for digital and technology services, operating alongside the main advertising requirements for qualifying contracts.

For comprehensive guidance on where to find government contracts and how the advertising system works, visit our contract discovery section which provides detailed navigation of these various platforms and their specific requirements.