Find a Tender (FTS)
Quick answer
Find a Tender (FTS) at find-tender.service.gov.uk is the UK's search portal for above-threshold procurement notices on the Central Digital Platform. It replaced OJEU for UK publications and is the main route to discover high-value Tender Notices under the Procurement Act 2023.
Last updated: 18 May 2026
What is Find a Tender?
Find a Tender is the supplier-facing window into UK regulated procurement above the financial thresholds. When a central department, NHS trust, or large local authority starts an above-threshold competition, the Tender Notice should appear on FTS (published via the CDP).
FTS is not a bid submission system. It advertises opportunities and links to buyer documents. Your bid still goes where the ITT specifies.
How does FTS work with the Procurement Act 2023?
Notice types you will see
Under the 2025 regime, FTS carries the CDP notice types, including:
- Forward-looking: Pipeline and Planned Procurement notices
- Live competitions: Tender Notices for Open and CFP procedures
- Engagement: Preliminary Market Engagement notices
- Awards and transparency: award, contract details, performance, and change notices
Thresholds (2024–2025)
Above-threshold values (until 31 December 2025, review annually):
- Central government goods/services: £139,688 (inc. VAT)
- Sub-central: £214,904
- Works: £5,372,609
Use the thresholds entry for light-touch and planning figures. Below threshold, many notices still appear on Contracts Finder, with more CDP use from 1 April 2026.
Search and CPV codes
FTS supports keyword and CPV code search. Build a saved search set per sector (e.g. IT 72000000, construction 45000000, professional services 79000000). Combine CPV with buyer name when targeting key accounts.
FTS vs OJEU — what changed?
| OJEU (legacy) | Find a Tender | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | EU-wide journal | UK regulated notices |
| Status | No longer used for new UK above-threshold | Current |
| Backend | TED | CDP |
| Act | PCR 2015 era | Procurement Act 2023 |
Teams still saying "check OJEU" should update process documents to FTS and CDP notice names.
FTS vs Contracts Finder
| Portal | Typical content |
|---|---|
| FTS | Above-threshold tenders, pipeline, many regulated notices |
| Contracts Finder | Sub-threshold tenders, quotes, many contract awards |
A complete capture plan uses both, plus devolved portals (PCS, Sell2Wales, eTendersNI) where you trade.
What does this mean for suppliers?
Daily monitoring
- Run saved FTS searches by CPV and region; review new Tender Notices each morning.
- Track Pipeline notices for strategic accounts six months ahead of ITT.
- Log award notices to map incumbents before re-competition.
Qualification discipline
FTS listings are summaries. Before a bid/no-bid, read the full notice pack: procedure, conditions of participation, award criteria, term, and social value weighting.
Reduce noise
Raw FTS alerts overwhelm SMEs. Filter by value, geography, buyer type, and stage. TenderLedger layers AI scoring and buyer intelligence on top of FTS/Contracts Finder data so you focus on winnable work.
Common questions about Find a Tender
Is FTS free to use?
Yes. Searching and viewing notices on FTS is free. Some buyers charge for tender documents or use paid e-tendering portals separately.
Can I bid directly on FTS?
No. FTS links to the buyer's submission route. Follow the Tender Notice for deadlines and upload instructions.
Does Scotland use FTS?
Scottish regulated procurements use Public Contracts Scotland. FTS remains relevant for UK-wide suppliers tracking non-devolved and cross-border buyers.
How often is FTS updated?
Notices publish as buyers submit them to the CDP. Use alerts rather than manual refresh for reliable coverage.