Pipeline Notice
Quick answer
A Pipeline Notice is a mandatory forward-look published under Section 93 of the Procurement Act 2023. Contracting authorities expecting to spend over £100 million per year on above-threshold contracts must publish one within 56 days of each 1 April, listing upcoming procurements on the Central Digital Platform.
Last updated: 18 May 2026
What is a Pipeline Notice?
A Pipeline Notice is one of the thirteen notice types under the Procurement Act 2023. It gives suppliers advance visibility of what a buyer plans to procure in the coming financial year, published on the Central Digital Platform via Find a Tender.
The notice must include each planned procurement's subject matter, estimated value, expected publication date, and whether it is a contract or framework agreement.
Who must publish a Pipeline Notice?
The obligation applies to any contracting authority that reasonably expects its total above-threshold procurement spend to exceed £100 million in a financial year. This covers most central government departments, the NHS, and larger local authorities.
Smaller buyers are not required to publish Pipeline Notices, though the Cabinet Office encourages voluntary publication as good practice.
How suppliers should use Pipeline Notices
Pipeline Notices are one of the most practically useful outputs of the new Act for SME suppliers. They allow you to:
- Identify opportunities 6–12 months early, before a Tender Notice is published
- Plan resource and capacity around upcoming bid windows
- Start pre-engagement by responding to related Preliminary Market Engagement Notices
- Build a 12-month bid pipeline with confidence
On TenderLedger, Pipeline Notices are indexed and searchable alongside live opportunities, so you can track future procurements by sector, buyer, and CPV code.
Key dates
- Financial year deadline: Within 56 days of 1 April (by late May each year)
- First year under the Act: Deadline was 56 days after 24 February 2025 (go-live)
- Obligation threshold: £100 million total above-threshold spend per year
Common questions about Pipeline Notices
Who has to publish a Pipeline Notice?
Any contracting authority that reasonably expects to spend over £100 million in a financial year on contracts above the procurement threshold.
When must a Pipeline Notice be published?
Within 56 days of 1 April each year. For the first year under the new Act, the deadline was 56 days after 24 February 2025.
Where are Pipeline Notices published?
On the Central Digital Platform, accessible through Find a Tender at find-tender.service.gov.uk.
What contracts must be included?
Planned public contracts and frameworks with an estimated value above the relevant procurement threshold (currently £139,688 central goods/services, £214,904 sub-central, £5,372,609 works until 31 December 2025).