How to find IT and software public-sector tenders in the UK

Councils, NHS bodies, government departments, police, universities and arm’s-length bodies all buy software, cloud services, connectivity and IT support. Those opportunities are published as official notices. This guide shows how to find them on the public portals, without relying on an unofficial copy of the data.

Use the official portals

New UK public procurements started on or after 24 February 2025 are advertised on Find a Tender, the central digital platform under the Procurement Act 2023. That includes below-threshold notices, except below-threshold opportunities in Scotland, which Find a Tender directs you to Public Contracts Scotland. Also check Sell2Wales and eTendersNI if you work in those nations.

Contracts Finder remains useful for processes that began under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, including some awards. The difference is explained in Find a Tender vs Contracts Finder.

How to search for IT and software work

1. Open the Find a Tender search.
2. Combine keywords for the thing you actually sell with the CPV codes used on official notices. Keyword-only searches miss notices titled “digital transformation”, “data platform” or a product brand name. CPV-only searches miss notices filed under a broader services code.
3. Common CPV codes for this work include: - 72000000 — IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 48000000 — Software package and information systems - 72200000 — Software programming and consultancy services - 72300000 — Data services - 72400000 — Internet services - 72600000 — Computer support and consultancy services - 50300000 — Repair, maintenance and associated services related to personal computers, office equipment, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment
4. Add the buyer or sector if you specialise (for example a named department, “local authority”, “NHS”, “police” or “university”), and a region if you only deliver on-site work in some areas. Cloud and remote software contracts may be UK-wide even when the buyer is local.
5. Filter by notice type. Tender notices are live competitions. Pipeline and preliminary market engagement notices are often the first public sign that a buyer is replacing a system. Award notices show who won similar work.
6. Read the official notice in full. Check whether it is an open competition, a framework or a dynamic market, whether there are lots, whether Cyber Essentials or equivalent is required, and which e-tendering portal accepts the bid.

Some public-sector software is bought through an existing commercial agreement rather than a new open tender. Crown Commercial Service publishes information about its agreements. The original framework notice and later transparency notices still appear on Find a Tender. If the buyer is calling off a framework you are not on, you generally cannot bid for that call-off.

Register and set official alerts

Register your organisation as a supplier on Find a Tender and complete your core supplier information, including any relevant qualifications and trade assurances. Official videos and guides are in the Cabinet Office information and guidance for suppliers.

Sign in with a GOV.UK One Login, save your search and turn on official email alerts. Do the same on Contracts Finder if you also want transitional notices. That is the free route.

If you would rather have one daily email

UK Tender Alerts is a daily email of new official notices from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, filtered by the keywords, CPV prefixes, regions and value range you choose after you subscribe. A typical IT setup might use keywords such as “software, digital, cloud, data” and CPV prefixes 72 and 48.

Start a 14-day free trial, then £15 a month. Cancel any time. Each item links back to the official notice, which you should always open before you bid. The service does not guarantee that every notice is listed.