When the Procurement Act 2023 went live on 24 February 2025, it brought a new piece of plumbing with it: the central digital platform. If you have heard the term and weren't sure what it means for your business, here is the plain-English version.
At a glance
- The central digital platform launched on 24 February 2025, alongside the Procurement Act 2023.
- Its public face is the enhanced Find a Tender service.
- It is free to use for everyone.
- Suppliers register once and reuse their core business details across multiple bids.
- You only need to register when you want to bid — there is no rush.
What is the central digital platform?
The central digital platform is the government's online system that underpins the new procurement regime. For suppliers, the part you interact with is the enhanced Find a Tender service — where public bodies publish their notices and where you register your organisation.
The big idea is "tell us once". Instead of re-entering the same company information on every portal for every bid, you store your core business details centrally and reuse them. That is meant to cut the repetitive form-filling that has long frustrated smaller suppliers.
How suppliers register
Registration runs through GOV.UK One Login, then on into the Central Digital Platform. The government describes it as a few straightforward steps to register your organisation and set up your first administrator.
When you register, you will typically need:
- Your organisation's name and address
- Your Companies House number (or equivalent, such as a charity number)
- Your VAT number, if applicable
- Any relevant qualifications or trade assurances
- Whether you are an SME, VCSE or public mutual
To complete a bid, you may also be asked for:
- Copies of your accounts from the most recent financial years
- Names and addresses of any connected persons (for example, people with significant control)
- Details of any exclusions that apply to you or connected persons, as set out in Schedules 6 and 7 of the Procurement Act 2023
You will also be given a unique identifier for your organisation as part of registration.
Do I have to re-register if I used the old Find a Tender?
Yes. The service was enhanced as part of the move to the new regime, and existing users need to re-register on the new platform.
When should I register?
There is no deadline and no hurry — you only need to register at the point you want to bid for a contract. Many suppliers choose to register early so their details are ready to go when the right opportunity appears.
Registering is the easy bit
Registration is genuinely straightforward — an hour of admin, once. What follows is the harder part, and it is worth being clear-eyed about it before you start.
The central digital platform is where the newest above-threshold notices are published, but contracts are still spread across Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland and Sell2Wales as well. Finding the right one is a monitoring job. Winning it is a writing job: a competitive submission for a £100k contract is typically several thousand words of method statement, social value response and quality answers, against a published scoring matrix, to a fixed deadline.
Plenty of capable suppliers register, look at that, and never submit. If that sounds like where you are heading, bidding alongside a prime who writes the submission is worth considering.
See where to find UK tenders for the full portal picture, and how to use Find a Tender for a step-by-step walkthrough.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Central Digital Platform the same as Find a Tender?
The enhanced Find a Tender service is the public-facing part of the central digital platform. In everyday use, suppliers register and search there.
Does it cost anything to register?
No. Find a Tender and registration are free to use for everyone.
What do I need to register?
At minimum your organisation's name, address, Companies House (or charity) number, VAT number if applicable, and your SME/VCSE status. To bid you may also need accounts, connected-person details and exclusion declarations.
I registered on the old Find a Tender — do I need to do it again?
Yes, existing users need to re-register on the enhanced service.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Central Digital Platform factsheet
- GOV.UK — Buyers and Suppliers: how to use the Central Digital Platform, the enhanced Find a Tender service
- GOV.UK — Suppliers: how to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps
- GOV.UK — How to register your organisation and find your unique identifier — a guide for suppliers
- Cabinet Office — Supplier Registration Service