Definition
Find a Tender Service(FTS)
The UK service publishing higher-value public procurement notices.
Find a Tender Service (FTS) is the UK government's official platform for advertising public sector contract opportunities above certain financial thresholds, replacing the EU's OJEU system after Brexit. Public buyers are legally required to publish qualifying opportunities and award notices on it.
What gets published on FTS
FTS carries planned procurement notices, live ITTs and RFPs above threshold, contract award notices, and standstill-related information for central government, wider public sector and utilities contracts. It works alongside Contracts Finder, which covers many lower-value opportunities.
Since the Procurement Act 2023 came into force, FTS has taken on an expanded role for transparency notices covering the full contract lifecycle, not just the advertising stage.
Using FTS effectively as a supplier
Suppliers can search FTS by keyword, Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) code, buyer name or region, and can set up saved searches or alerts so new opportunities matching their profile are flagged automatically rather than relying on manual daily checks.
Because FTS listings link through to buyer e-tendering portals for the actual ITT documents and submission, suppliers should register on the relevant portal as soon as an opportunity of interest appears.
- Search by CPV code for a precise match to your sector
- Set up email alerts for saved searches
- Check planned procurement notices for early market engagement
- Note the buyer's e-tendering portal link for full documents
FTS versus Contracts Finder
FTS covers above-threshold contracts subject to full procurement regulation, while Contracts Finder covers a broader range of contracts including many below-threshold opportunities. Serious bidders typically monitor both to avoid missing relevant work.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Find a Tender the same as Contracts Finder?
- No. Find a Tender covers above-threshold public contracts previously advertised on OJEU, while Contracts Finder covers a wider range including lower-value opportunities. Many suppliers monitor both to see the full range of live tenders.
- Do I need to register to use Find a Tender?
- Anyone can search and view notices on Find a Tender without registering, but creating an account lets you save searches and receive alerts, which is far more efficient than checking the site manually every day.
- Why did OJEU move to Find a Tender?
- OJEU was the EU-wide publication system, and after the UK left the EU, Find a Tender Service was launched as the UK's domestic replacement for advertising above-threshold public contracts, continuing similar transparency obligations.
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