What is Find a Tender?
Find a Tender is the UK government's official procurement portal, replacing the EU's TED system post-Brexit. Since 1 January 2021, it has been the mandatory publication platform for all UK public sector contracts above threshold values.
The platform publishes over 12,000 opportunities monthly, representing contracts worth billions of pounds across all sectors of the UK economy. From NHS medical equipment to construction projects, defence systems to IT services, Find a Tender is the gateway to UK public sector opportunities.
How RFP Quest Integrates with Find a Tender
Our platform provides seamless integration with Find a Tender's API, offering:
Real-Time Opportunity Discovery
- Automatic daily synchronisation with new tender publications
- Smart filtering by CPV codes, regions, and contract values
- Instant alerts when matching opportunities appear
- Historical data access for market intelligence
Advanced Search Capabilities
Unlike the basic Find a Tender search, RFP Quest offers:
- Natural language search - describe what you're looking for in plain English
- Competitor tracking - see who else is bidding
- Buyer intelligence - understand procurement patterns
- Match scoring - AI-powered relevance ranking
Streamlined Workflow
- One-click import of tender documents
- Automatic requirement extraction using AI
- Deadline tracking with smart reminders
- Direct submission links back to Find a Tender
Find a Tender Thresholds 2026
Understanding procurement thresholds is crucial for UK suppliers:
| Category | Supplies & Services | Works | |----------|---------------------|--------| | Central Government | £138,760 | £5,336,937 | | Other Contracting Authorities | £213,477 | £5,336,937 | | Utilities | £426,955 | £5,336,937 | | Light Touch Regime | £663,540 | £663,540 |
Thresholds include VAT and are updated every two years
Key Features of Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
Find a Tender uses OCDS format, ensuring:
- Standardised data structure
- Machine-readable formats
- International compatibility
- Enhanced transparency
Publication Requirements
All contracting authorities must publish:
- Prior Information Notices (PIN) - advance notice of requirements
- Contract Notices - formal tender invitations
- Contract Award Notices - winning bid announcements
- Framework Agreements - long-term supplier arrangements
Search Filters Available
- CPV Codes - Common Procurement Vocabulary classifications
- NUTS Regions - UK geographical areas
- Procedure Types - open, restricted, competitive dialogue
- Contract Values - from small contracts to major projects
Benefits of Using RFP Quest with Find a Tender
Save Time
- Reduce search time by 80% with intelligent filtering
- Automated tender matching based on your capabilities
- Bulk document download for efficient review
- Centralised tender library for team collaboration
Increase Win Rate
- Competitor analysis reveals bidding patterns
- Buyer insights from Companies House integration
- Scoring criteria extraction helps focus responses
- Gap analysis identifies missing requirements
Never Miss Opportunities
- 24/7 monitoring of new publications
- Multi-channel alerts (email, SMS, in-app)
- Saved search profiles for different service lines
- Team notifications ensure coverage
API Integration Technical Details
Authentication
Find a Tender API requires registration and API key authentication. RFP Quest handles:
- Secure API key management
- Rate limit compliance (100 requests/minute)
- Automatic retry logic for resilience
- Error handling and logging
Data Synchronisation
Our integration polls Find a Tender every 4 hours to:
- Fetch new tender publications
- Update existing tender status
- Track amendments and clarifications
- Monitor contract awards
Supported Endpoints
We integrate with all major Find a Tender API endpoints:
/notices- search and filter opportunities/notices/{id}- retrieve specific tender details/notices/{id}/documents- access tender documents/statistics- market intelligence data
Getting Started with Find a Tender Integration
Step 1: Connect Your Account
Simply enter your Find a Tender API key in RFP Quest settings. Don't have one? We'll guide you through the registration process.
Step 2: Configure Your Filters
Set up your search criteria:
- Select relevant CPV codes for your industry
- Choose geographical regions you serve
- Set minimum and maximum contract values
- Define keywords for your specialisms
Step 3: Activate Monitoring
Enable automatic monitoring to:
- Receive daily opportunity summaries
- Get instant alerts for high-priority tenders
- Track competitor activity
- Monitor specific buyers
Step 4: Analyse and Respond
When opportunities arrive:
- Our AI analyses requirements automatically
- Match score shows opportunity fit
- Competitor intelligence informs strategy
- Automated bid writing accelerates response
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Find a Tender free to use?
Yes, Find a Tender is completely free for suppliers. There are no charges for searching, viewing, or downloading tender documents. RFP Quest adds value through intelligent analysis and workflow automation.
Who must use Find a Tender?
All UK contracting authorities must advertise contracts above threshold values on Find a Tender, including:
- Central government departments
- Local authorities and councils
- NHS trusts and CCGs
- Universities and colleges
- Police and fire services
- Utilities companies
How often is Find a Tender updated?
New opportunities are published continuously throughout the day. Most authorities publish during business hours, with peaks on Tuesday-Thursday. RFP Quest checks for updates every 4 hours to ensure you never miss opportunities.
Can I submit bids through Find a Tender?
Find a Tender is primarily a publication platform. Actual bid submission happens through:
- The buyer's e-tendering portal (linked from the notice)
- Direct submission to the buyer (for smaller contracts)
- Framework-specific portals (for call-offs)
What happened to OJEU/TED?
Following Brexit, UK public contracts are no longer advertised in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) via Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). Find a Tender replaced these systems on 1 January 2021 for all UK opportunities.
Next Steps
Ready to transform how you discover and win UK government contracts?
Start Free Trial - No credit card required Book a Demo - See the platform in action View Pricing - Transparent, value-based pricing