Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder is the GOV.UK search service for public contracts, especially opportunities and awards in England and records created under earlier procurement rules. It is free to search and can provide alerts, but it is not the same notice system as the current central digital platform.
Reviewed
For English buyers and legacy records, Contracts Finder remains a useful source for public-sector opportunities, future activity and awarded contracts. You can search without an account, or create one to save searches and receive email updates.
How it fits with Find a Tender
For new procurements under the Procurement Act 2023, the central digital platform and Find a Tender carry the statutory notice sequence. Contracts Finder still contains useful records and may be used for information that a buyer publishes voluntarily or under a transitional rule. A process started under PCR 2015 generally keeps its earlier publication route. Check the notice date and legislation stated in the record before assuming which deadlines or documents apply.
Search with a supplier’s workflow in mind
Use buyer, keyword, location, procurement stage and CPV codes to find early engagement, future opportunities, live opportunities and awards. Open the linked documents and follow the buyer’s stated response system: the listing may point to an e-sourcing portal. England’s publication duties and thresholds differ by organisation and change over time, so do not treat an old listing’s value threshold as a current universal rule. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have dedicated portals such as Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI.