Guides

UK public tenders

• How to find construction tenders in the UK (2026)
  Where UK public construction contracts are advertised, which values must be published, how to search Find a Tender and what to check before you bid. Published 30 October 2026.
• PAS 91 and PQQs in 2026: what they ask for, and what replaced them
  PAS 91 is withdrawn. Construction pre-qualification now asks for the Common Assessment Standard, the Procurement Specific Questionnaire and key documents. Published 30 October 2026.
• Why tender bids get rejected
  Why UK public sector bids are thrown out or score badly under the Procurement Act 2023, from missed pass/fail conditions to answers that miss the question. Published 30 October 2026.
• Tender help for small businesses
  Tender help for small businesses in the UK: the free places to find public tenders, what paid help covers, and how to choose bids worth your time. Published 30 October 2026.
• Tender writing services cost: how bid writers charge
  Tender writing services cost explained: how UK bid writers usually charge, what changes the price, and how to check a tender is worth paying for. Published 30 October 2026.
• How many bids do public tenders get?
  How many bids do public tenders get in the UK? Median bids by procedure and sector from Find a Tender award notices, Sep–Oct 2026, with the caveats. Published 30 October 2026.
• UK public tenders by sector
  UK public tenders by sector: how many new tenders Find a Tender publishes a month, how many are under £500,000, and how often small businesses win. Published 30 October 2026.
• How to win public sector contracts
  How to win public sector contracts as a small business: how buyers score tenders, what price and quality are worth, and what to do at each step. Published 30 October 2026.
• Social value in tenders: what buyers ask and how it's scored
  Social value in tenders: how often UK buyers score it, what it's usually worth, the 10% central government rule, and how a small business can answer. Published 30 October 2026.
• How to get cleaning contracts from the public sector (UK, 2026)
  Where UK councils, schools and the NHS advertise cleaning contracts, how many there are, what buyers ask cleaning businesses for, and how to pick the few worth bidding on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Central Digital Platform: how to register and get your share code (2026)
  What the Central Digital Platform is, when a small business must register to win public contracts, the steps to register on Find a Tender, and how to share your information with a buyer. Published 30 October 2026.
• SSIP accreditation: what it is and when tenders ask for it (2026)
  What SSIP is, whether it's a legal requirement, why main contractors and public buyers ask for it, how Deem to Satisfy means you need only one scheme, and what a small business can show instead. Published 30 October 2026.
• Council tenders: how to find and win council contracts
  Where UK councils advertise tenders, how many there are by sector, how to see who holds a council contract now, and which ones are worth bidding on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Training tenders in the UK: where to find them and which to bid for
  Where UK public training and education tenders are advertised, how many there are, how many go to small businesses, and how to pick the ones worth bidding on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Transport tenders in the UK: where to find them and which to bid for
  Where UK public transport tenders are advertised, how many there are, how many bids they get, which licences buyers check and which ones to bid on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Care tenders in the UK: where to find them and which to bid for
  Where UK public care tenders are advertised, which rules apply, how many bids they get, what buyers check and how to pick the care contracts worth bidding on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Catering tenders in the UK: where to find them and which to bid for
  Where UK public catering contracts are advertised, how many there are, how many bids they get, what buyers check and how to pick the ones to bid on. Published 30 October 2026.
• Carbon Reduction Plans for tenders: when you need one and what goes in it
  When UK public buyers have to ask for a Carbon Reduction Plan under PPN 006, what it must include, and how often tenders for small businesses ask for one. Published 30 October 2026.
• UK procurement thresholds for 2026
  The UK procurement thresholds from 1 January 2026 under the Procurement Act 2023, checked against GOV.UK, plus the £12,000 and £30,000 notice limits. Published 31 October 2026.
• How to use Find a Tender and Contracts Finder
  How to search Find a Tender and Contracts Finder for UK public tenders: keywords, procurement stage, CPV, location and value filters, and free email alerts. Published 31 October 2026.
• Below-threshold tenders: what the notice rules mean for you
  What a below-threshold tender notice is under the Procurement Act 2023, when buyers must publish one, the £12,000 and £30,000 limits, and what it means. Published 31 October 2026.
• Low value council contracts: how smaller work gets bought
  How councils in England and Wales buy smaller work: the £30,000 notice limit, quotes from targeted suppliers, contracts registers, and how a small business gets in front of it. Published 31 October 2026.
• Bid or no bid: a go/no-go checklist for UK tenders
  A bid/no-bid checklist for UK public tenders: the pass/fail checks, fit, odds and value questions to answer before you spend days writing a bid. Published 31 October 2026.
• Free tender alerts in the UK
  The free official UK tender portals, what each one covers and how to set up email alerts that send the tenders you want, not hundreds you don't. Published 31 October 2026.
• Contracts Finder vs Find a Tender: which one to search
  Contracts Finder or Find a Tender? What each UK service lists since the Procurement Act 2023 started on 24 February 2025, and which to search for new tenders. Published 31 October 2026.
• Home to school transport contracts: how councils buy SEN and taxi work
  How councils in England buy home to school transport, including SEN and taxi routes: the duty behind it, the checks on drivers and where to find the contracts. Published 31 October 2026.
• Domiciliary care tenders: how councils buy home care
  How UK councils buy domiciliary and home care: light touch rules, the £663,540 threshold, user choice, CQC registration and where to find home care tenders. Published 31 October 2026.
• Free tender alerts or a done-for-you shortlist?
  Free official alerts send you every notice that matches a search. A done-for-you shortlist tells you which live tenders suit your business. How to choose. Published 31 October 2026.
• Bid writer or Tender Desk?
  A bid writer helps you write a tender you've already chosen. Tender Desk helps you choose which live tenders are worth bidding for. How to tell which you need. Published 31 October 2026.
• Which tender tool do I need?
  A plain guide to the main kinds of help for UK public tenders, free official alerts, paid trackers, bid writers and a done-for-you shortlist, and who each one suits. Published 31 October 2026.
• Construction frameworks in the UK: how small businesses get on them
  How UK public construction frameworks work under the Procurement Act 2023, when you can get on one, what they ask for, and what to do if you missed the window. Published 31 October 2026.
• NHS tenders for small businesses: where to find them and how to start
  Where NHS contracts are advertised, how trusts, hubs and NHS Supply Chain buy, what they ask small suppliers for, and how to start with low-value work. Published 31 October 2026.
• Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ): what it asks and how to answer it
  What the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) asks under the Procurement Act 2023, what buyers can't ask for, how it's marked and how to prepare. Published 31 October 2026.
• Tender notice types explained: what each one means for a supplier
  Pipeline, preliminary market engagement, planned procurement and tender notices under the Procurement Act 2023: what each tells a supplier and what to do next. Published 31 October 2026.
• The Procurement Act 2023 for small businesses: what changed and what to do
  The Procurement Act 2023 changes that matter to small businesses bidding for UK public contracts, from registration to lots and payment, with what to do. Published 31 October 2026.
• Dynamic markets explained: what they are and how to join one
  What a dynamic market is under the Procurement Act 2023, how it replaced dynamic purchasing systems, and how a small business can join one at any time. Published 31 October 2026.
• How long does a tender process take?
  The stages of a UK public sector tender and the minimum time limits under the Procurement Act 2023, from planned notice to standstill and contract details. Published 31 October 2026.
• Tender alert services for construction businesses: what you pay and what you still do
  What free and paid tender alert services give a UK construction business, what they cost on our comparison, and five questions to ask before you renew. Published 31 October 2026.
• How to become an approved training provider and bid for public funding
  Which register, contract or tender you need for apprenticeship, Skills Bootcamp, adult skills and other public training money in England, and where to find it. Published 31 October 2026.
• Patient transport tenders: how NHS non-emergency transport contracts are bought
  How NHS non-emergency patient transport is bought in England: who is eligible, the Provider Selection Regime, CQC registration and where notices go. Published 31 October 2026.
• Supported living tenders: how councils buy supported living services
  How councils buy supported living in England: CQC registration for personal care, light touch rules, frameworks and dynamic markets, and what to check first. Published 31 October 2026.
• How to price a cleaning tender: rates, on-costs and the lowest-price trap
  How to build a commercial cleaning tender price in the UK from the 2026 wage rates, employer NI, pension, holiday and TUPE, and what buyers do with low prices. Published 31 October 2026.
• School catering tenders: how to win a school meals contract
  How schools and trusts in England buy catering: the School Food Standards, DfE-approved frameworks, allergen rules and where school catering tenders go. Published 31 October 2026.

Office admin

• Inbox triage for small businesses: a simple daily routine
  A plain daily routine for sorting a busy business inbox: four labels, a two-minute rule, reply templates and a short morning summary of what needs you. Published 31 October 2026.
• How to chase unpaid invoices: a UK small business guide
  When a UK business invoice is legally late, the reminder steps to follow, what statutory interest and fixed recovery costs you can claim, and wording to use. Published 31 October 2026.
• Approve before it sends: keep the final say on office admin
  Let an assistant prepare emails, reminders and payments while you keep the final say: what to approve, what can run alone, and how to test it. Published 31 October 2026.
• What does a virtual assistant cost in the UK? Three ways to compare
  What it costs to employ an assistant, use a freelancer or have an assistant set up for you in the UK, with the legal minimums and what to compare. Published 31 October 2026.
• Responding to customer enquiries: templates and a simple routine
  Four reply templates for customer enquiries, how to log every enquiry, and the UK data protection and email marketing rules to know before you follow up. Published 31 October 2026.
• How to automate admin tasks in a small business
  Which small business admin tasks suit an assistant, how to set one up safely with dry runs and approvals, and what UK data protection guidance to read first. Published 31 October 2026.
• Admin support for small businesses: what to hand over, and to whom
  The admin that eats a small business's week, and the options for handing it over: a hire, a virtual assistant, an agency or a done-for-you setup. Published 31 October 2026.
• Grok Bot for business admin: an independent setup guide
  An independent guide to setting up Grok Bot for small business admin: five first jobs, approvals, what you pay for, and where Grok Bot's own prices are. Published 31 October 2026.
• Shared inbox management for small teams: how to stop emails being missed
  How a small team can run a shared inbox without missed emails: one owner, labels, response times, mailbox permissions, and replies that wait for approval. Published 31 October 2026.
• Letting agent admin: the dates, documents and chasers, and what to hand over
  The admin that fills a letting agent's week: compliance dates, documents to chase, new enquiries, and how to hand the routine work over with your approval. Published 31 October 2026.
• Companies House identity verification: what directors need to do
  Who must verify their identity with Companies House, when, and how: free via GOV.UK One Login, your personal code, and the confirmation statement link. Published 1 November 2026.
• How to check a UK company for free on Companies House
  Check any UK company free on Companies House: directors, owners, accounts, filing dates and status. What the register shows and what it can't tell you. Published 1 November 2026.
• UK small business filing deadlines: Companies House and HMRC
  Key UK filing deadlines for small businesses: confirmation statement, accounts, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment and payroll, with official sources. Published 1 November 2026.

US local government grants

• Grant management services for local governments: what's involved
  What managing a federal grant involves for a city, county or town: SF-425 and performance reports, SAM.gov, closeout deadlines and the single audit threshold. Published 30 October 2026.
• How much does a grant writer cost for a city or county?
  What US cities have paid grant writers, from public council papers, how retainers and per-application fees work, and why percentage-of-award pay is a problem. Published 30 October 2026.
• State revolving fund (SRF) loans for water and sewer projects
  How the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds work for towns and water districts: loan terms, grants and principal forgiveness, and how to apply. Published 30 October 2026.
• USDA Water and Waste Disposal grants for small towns
  How USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program works for rural towns and water districts: who can apply, grant limits, loan rates and how to apply. Published 30 October 2026.
• Grants for housing authorities: the HUD Capital Fund and competitive grants
  The HUD money open to public housing agencies: the Capital Fund and its deadlines, plus ROSS, Jobs Plus and Choice Neighborhoods, checked on Grants.gov. Published 30 October 2026.
• Grant writing services for municipalities: what to set up first
  Hiring a grant writer for a city, county or district? What to set up first: SAM.gov and Grants.gov, federal purchasing rules and how the cost is treated. Published 30 October 2026.

EU product identifiers (Shopify)

• What’s changed since 1 November 2026 for Shopify and Wix sellers shipping to the EU
  The EU product identifier rule has been enforced since 1 November 2026: what it means for Shopify and Wix stores outside the EU, and what to do if not ready. Published 26 October 2026.
• EU product identifiers for Shopify stores: a plain-English checklist
  A plain-English checklist for Shopify stores shipping to EU shoppers: SKU, maker's code, barcode or Y081, and how to check your product export. Published 25 October 2026.
• Shopify's "Has no standardized identifier" setting: when to turn it on
  What Shopify's "Has no standardized identifier" setting does for EU parcels, when to use it and when not, how to set it in bulk, and mistakes to avoid. Published 30 October 2026.
• The EU €2 handling fee since 1 November 2026, explained
  What the EU's €2 Union handling fee is, which parcels it applies to, how items are counted, who pays it and what to ask your carrier. Published 30 October 2026.

Public data APIs

• SAM.gov API for contract opportunities: how it works and where it trips you up
  How the SAM.gov Get Opportunities API works: API key, required date range, limits and gotchas, plus the keyless daily CSV extract. Python included. Published 22 October 2026.
• SAM.gov API limits explained: keys, daily quotas and getting throttled
  SAM.gov API rate limits by account type, how to get or upgrade a key, why you're throttled after 10 calls, and the keyless daily extract. Python included. Published 22 October 2026.
• SAM.gov amendment alerts: how to catch changes to solicitations you're bidding on
  Catch SAM.gov amendments on bids you're working: track solicitation numbers, diff deadlines and notice types daily. Python included. Next-day alerts. Published 22 October 2026.
• CAGE code API: how to look up CAGE codes in code
  Look up CAGE codes in code with SAM.gov's Entity Management API: the cageCode parameter, API keys, daily limits, paging and a Python example. Published 30 October 2026.
• Grants.gov API: search federal grant opportunities from code, no key needed
  Use the Grants.gov search2 and fetchOpportunity APIs without a key: request bodies, paging, date formats and gotchas, with working Python. Published 22 October 2026.
• SEC EDGAR API: how to get filings, Form D rounds and financials in code
  How the SEC EDGAR APIs work: submissions JSON, daily indexes, Form D XML and XBRL company facts, the User-Agent rule and the 10-a-second limit. Python included. Published 30 October 2026.
• USAJOBS API: how to search US federal jobs in code
  How the USAJOBS Search API works: API key and headers, the 500-a-page and 10,000-a-query limits, salary buckets and pay intervals. Python included. Published 30 October 2026.
• UK Companies House Company Search & SIC Codes
  Use Companies House's free monthly company data: search 5.7M live UK companies by SIC code, postcode and status, and get a typed feed of what changed. Published 30 October 2026.
• Companies House API: rate limits, licensing and PSC streaming
  The Companies House API allows 600 requests per 5 minutes. How to raise it, what you may publish from register data, and moving PSC data to streaming. Published 30 October 2026.
• EU company register APIs: France, Norway, Finland, Czechia, Ireland and Poland
  The free official company register APIs for France, Norway, Finland, Czechia, Ireland and Poland: IDs, what each one returns, licences and attribution. Published 30 October 2026.
• State business entity search in code: New York, Colorado, Oregon and Connecticut
  Search state business registers in code: free open-data APIs for New York, Colorado, Oregon and Connecticut, plus new LLC filings, status checks and licences. Published 30 October 2026.
• Product recall API: EU Safety Gate, CPSC and FDA recalls in code
  Get product recalls in code from EU Safety Gate, the US CPSC recalls API and openFDA: what each feed covers, a keyless Python example and how to watch for new recalls. Published 31 October 2026.
• VAT number and EORI number checks in code: VIES, HMRC and EOS
  Check EU VAT numbers with the VIES REST API and EORI numbers with HMRC and EOS: a keyless Python example, what valid means and the trading-partner-only rules. Published 31 October 2026.
• Federal Register API: search rules, comment deadlines and public inspection in code
  Use the FederalRegister.gov API in code: search rules and proposed rules by agency or docket, find open comment periods and read public inspection. Python, no key. Published 31 October 2026.
• Canada Job Bank data: job postings, NOC codes and salaries in code
  Read Canada's Job Bank open data in code: monthly job posting files with NOC 2021 codes, locations and posted salaries. Python, no key. Published 31 October 2026.
• LEI lookup API: legal entity identifiers and parent companies in code
  Look up Legal Entity Identifiers with the public GLEIF API: legal names, LEI status, renewal dates and direct and ultimate parent companies. Python, no key. Published 31 October 2026.
• EU and UK public tenders from TED, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder in one feed
  Get EU and UK public tenders from TED, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder in code. How each API works, the limits, duplicates and licences. No key. Published 1 November 2026.
• FMCSA carrier lookup in code: USDOT, MC number, authority and insurance
  Look up FMCSA carriers by USDOT number in Python from the public files on data.transportation.gov: census, authority and insurance filings. No key. Published 1 November 2026.
• Academic papers API: OpenAlex and Crossref in code
  Get research paper metadata from OpenAlex and Crossref in Python: DOIs, citation counts, open access status and licences. No API key needed. Published 1 November 2026.
• Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and Workday jobs API: the free endpoints and their gotchas
  Free public job endpoints for Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and Workday: URLs, date fields, the 2,000-result Workday cap and working Python. Published 22 October 2026.
• How to scrape Greenhouse jobs without a headless browser
  Scrape any company's Greenhouse job board with plain HTTP: find the board token from its careers page, then read the public JSON. Python included. Published 22 October 2026.
• Shopify product feed audit: find the data behind Merchant Center disapprovals
  Shopify products disapproved in Merchant Center? Find missing GTINs, brands and product types across your catalogue with a short Python audit. Published 22 October 2026.
• Free company and jobs data APIs: Companies House, SEC EDGAR and USAJOBS
  Free company data API options: what the Companies House snapshot, SEC EDGAR and the USAJOBS API each give you, their limits and what to watch for. Published 30 October 2026.