What Is Contracts Finder?
Contracts Finderis the UK government's free online service for publishing lower-value (sub-threshold) public contract opportunities. Managed by the Cabinet Office, it covers contracts from central government, local authorities, NHS trusts, and other public bodies across England. TenderTracker currently tracks 72,610Contracts Finder notices alongside Find a Tender's above-threshold contracts.
Key Fact
Since 2015, all central government departments must publish contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder. Other public sector bodies must publish contracts over £30,000.
What Gets Published
Contracts Finder includes:
- Open opportunities — live tenders you can bid on
- Closed opportunities — past tenders (useful for market research)
- Awarded contracts — who won, the value, and the supplier details
- Pipeline notices — advance signals of upcoming procurement
Transparency Requirements
Procurement Policy Note 02/15 requires contracting authorities to publish both opportunity and award information on Contracts Finder. This transparency obligation means a significant volume of sub-threshold contracts are publicly visible — particularly valuable for SMEs looking for smaller, more accessible opportunities as a route into public sector work.
Contracts Finder on TenderTracker
TenderTracker syncs Contracts Finder hourly and currently indexes 72,610 of its notices, combining them with Find a Tender results in a single searchable index. You can filter search results by source, set up alerts for specific sectors, and track buyer activity across both platforms without switching between sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Contracts Finder free to use?
Yes. Contracts Finder is a free Cabinet Office service; anyone can search opportunities and awarded contracts without an account. Registration is only needed if you want to receive its email updates.
What is the minimum contract value published on Contracts Finder?
Central government departments must publish contracts worth over £10,000, and other public bodies such as councils and NHS trusts must publish contracts over £30,000. Many buyers also advertise smaller contracts voluntarily.
What is the difference between Contracts Finder and Find a Tender?
Contracts Finder carries lower-value, sub-threshold opportunities, while Find a Tender carries above-threshold notices subject to the full procurement regime. Suppliers serious about public sector work usually need to watch both.
Can I see who won past contracts on Contracts Finder?
Yes. Award notices name the winning supplier and the contract value, which makes Contracts Finder a useful market research tool for sizing up competitors and understanding what buyers typically pay.
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