Free tender alerts in the UK

You don't have to pay to get UK public tenders by email. The government's own services let you save a search and get alerts free. This guide lists the official portals, what each one covers and how to set up alerts that stay useful.

The official portals

• Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk). Since 24 February 2025 it has carried both larger and smaller notices for new UK procurements, except smaller notices in Scotland. Sign in, save a search and choose to get emails when new notices match it.
• Contracts Finder (contractsfinder.service.gov.uk). It covers procurements that started before 24 February 2025 and has past contracts. Create an account to get email updates and save searches.
• Public Contracts Scotland, for smaller contracts in Scotland.
• Sell2Wales, and eSourcing NI and eTendersNI in Northern Ireland, for smaller contracts from procurements that started under the old rules.

Check each portal's own alert options, as they work differently.

Councils' own websites

A council in England or Wales that advertises a contract worth £30,000 or more, including tax, must first publish a below-threshold tender notice on Find a Tender. Below that, it can ask for quotes or advertise on its own website, so check the procurement pages of the councils near you as well. Our guide to low value council contracts explains how that smaller work is bought.

How to set up alerts that stay useful

1. One saved search for each trade and area. A single broad search sends too much.
2. Use CPV codes as well as keywords. The common procurement vocabulary classifies contracts in a standard way, so it catches notices that use different words.
3. Set a value range that suits the size of your business.
4. Pick the procurement stage. On Find a Tender, "Open opportunities" limits the search to notices with deadlines in the future.
5. Add early notices. Preliminary market engagement and planned procurement notices tell you a contract is coming before it opens.
6. Review after two weeks. Tighten any search that mostly sends tenders you'd never bid for.

Our guide on how to use Find a Tender and Contracts Finder walks through each filter.

What free alerts don't do

They send every notice that matches your search. They don't tell you which tenders suit a business your size, or whether you meet the conditions. That's still your call, and our bid or no bid checklist helps you make it quickly.

Questions

Are there free tender alerts in the UK?

Yes. Find a Tender and Contracts Finder both let you save a search and get emails about new matching notices, free.

Which UK tender portal should I use?

For new procurements in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use Find a Tender. Scotland has Public Contracts Scotland. Contracts Finder still covers procurements that started before 24 February 2025.

Why do my tender alerts send so many irrelevant tenders?

Keyword searches match any notice that uses those words. Narrow each search with CPV codes, regions and a value range, and limit it to open opportunities.

Want a shortlist done for you?

UK Tender Desk, from Your Evenings Ltd (that's us), is a done-for-you tender shortlist for small businesses in construction trades, training, transport, care, cleaning and catering. We look at live tenders on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder and pick the ones that suit a business your size. See how UK Tender Desk works

Sources

• Find a Tender home page, About Find a Tender (read 31 October 2026)
• Find a Tender: search (filters, procurement stages, notice types and saved searches; read 31 October 2026)
• GOV.UK: Contracts Finder (read 31 October 2026) and Contracts Finder
• GOV.UK: Guidance: Below-Threshold Contracts (updated 13 July 2026; read 31 October 2026) (paragraph 23)

This guide summarises the official sources above. It isn't legal advice. Check the notice and tender documents for each contract.

Written with AI assistance by the Your Evenings team at Your Evenings Ltd. Last updated 31 October 2026.