If you’ve been looking into government contracts in the UK, you’ve probably come across the Find a Tender Service — sometimes abbreviated to FTS. It can look a little daunting at first: long lists of contract notices with reference numbers, CPV codes and procurement procedure types that mean nothing if you haven’t seen them before.
This guide cuts through the jargon and shows you exactly how to use FTS as a small business, startup or charity to find contracts you can genuinely compete for.
What is the Find a Tender Service?
The Find a Tender Service (find-tender.service.gov.uk) is the UK government’s central database of high-value public procurement notices. It was launched at the start of 2021, replacing the EU’s Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) after Brexit.
Any public body in the UK — central government, NHS trusts, local authorities, universities, housing associations — must publish contract opportunities on FTS when the value exceeds certain thresholds. As of 2025, those thresholds are:
- Goods and services: £139,688 for central government; £214,904 for other public bodies
- Works (construction): £5,372,609
If a contract is below these values, it will appear on Contracts Finder instead — which is generally a better hunting ground for SMEs starting out.
That said, FTS is worth monitoring for several reasons:
- Prior Information Notices (PINs) signal upcoming contracts before they are formally advertised — giving you weeks to prepare
- Framework agreements — which allow pre-qualified suppliers to win call-off contracts without competing each time — are advertised here
- Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) — open, flexible frameworks that SMEs can join at any time — are published here too
The difference between FTS and Contracts Finder
Many people confuse these two platforms. Here’s a simple distinction:
| Find a Tender Service | Contracts Finder | |
| Contract value | Generally £139,688+ | Generally £10,000–£139,688 |
| Best for | Experienced bidders, frameworks, DPS | First-time bidders, SMEs, charities |
| Mandatory? | Yes, above thresholds | Yes, for most public bodies |
| Search and alerts | Yes | Yes |
For most small businesses and charities bidding for the first time, Contracts Finder is the better starting point. But FTS becomes increasingly important as your organisation grows and you start looking at larger contracts or framework agreements.
How to search FTS effectively
Go to find-tender.service.gov.uk and click Search. You can filter by:
Keywords — use specific terms related to your service. “Training” is too broad. “Leadership development training public sector” is more targeted.
Notice type — the most useful types for suppliers are:
- Contract Notice — a live tender you can bid for
- Prior Information Notice — advance warning of an upcoming contract
- Contract Award Notice — shows who won recent contracts (useful for market research)
Organisation type — filter by the type of buyer (central government, local authority, NHS, etc.)
Sector / CPV code — CPV codes are standardised procurement classification codes used across the EU and UK. Every contract is tagged with one or more codes that describe what’s being bought. Finding your CPV code and searching by it dramatically improves the relevance of your results.
How to find your CPV code: Search “CPV code list” and find the category that best describes your service. For example, IT consultancy services = 72220000-3. Once you have your code, you can search FTS, Contracts Finder, and third-party platforms by that code to find every relevant contract.
Setting up alerts so you never miss a contract
The best way to use FTS is not to search it daily — it’s to set up saved searches that send you email alerts automatically.
To do this, create a GOV.UK One Login account (the same login used across government services). Once signed in, run your preferred search and save it. You’ll receive email notifications whenever a new contract is published that matches your criteria.
Set up multiple alerts: one for your primary service keyword, one for your CPV code, and one for specific buyer organisations you want to target (your local council, a nearby NHS trust, a university).
Framework agreements: the opportunity most SMEs overlook
One of the most valuable things you can do on FTS is find and join a framework agreement relevant to your sector. A framework is essentially an approved supplier list — once you’re on it, you can be awarded contracts directly through a simplified “call-off” process without going through a full tender each time.
Frameworks typically run for two to four years and cover a specific category of spend. Common examples include:
- The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) G-Cloud framework for IT and cloud services
- The Health Systems Support Framework for NHS service providers
- The DfE Learning and Skills framework for education training providers
- Various local authority frameworks for care services, grounds maintenance, and professional services
Being awarded a place on a relevant framework can generate a steady pipeline of work for years. Search FTS for “framework” plus your service category to find relevant opportunities, and watch for Prior Information Notices that signal when a framework is about to go out to re-procurement.
Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS): the most SME-friendly route
A Dynamic Purchasing System is similar to a framework but with one crucial difference: suppliers can join at any time during the DPS’s life, not just at the start. This makes them exceptionally well suited to SMEs and newer businesses.
Once admitted to a DPS, you will receive invitations to quote (ITQs) or mini-competitions for specific contracts within the DPS’s scope. The requirements to join are generally lighter than a full tender — typically a standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ) plus evidence of relevant experience.
Search FTS for “Dynamic Purchasing System” to find active DPS opportunities in your sector. Many local authorities and NHS trusts use DPS arrangements for care services, consultancy, construction, and IT.
Using FTS for intelligence, not just bidding
Even when you’re not actively bidding, FTS is a powerful research tool:
Track your competitors. Contract Award Notices show you who won recent contracts, what value they were awarded at, and which buyers they work with. This gives you a clear picture of the competitive landscape.
Benchmark your pricing. Award notices include contract values, which you can use to calibrate your own pricing before submitting future bids.
Identify target buyers. If a particular NHS trust, council or government department keeps awarding contracts in your area, they’re a warm target. Look them up on FTS, find their contact details, and make contact ahead of the next procurement.
Spot upcoming contracts. Prior Information Notices (PINs) are published months before the formal tender. Responding to a PIN (even just by registering your interest) gets your name in front of the procurement team early
