Two official England portals, similar names, overlapping content — no wonder suppliers get confused. This guide clears up what Contracts Finder and Find a Tender each do, and which one a contract appears on.
At a glance
- Find a Tender (FTS) is the central platform under the Procurement Act 2023; Contracts Finder is the older portal it has largely replaced.
- The split is mostly about timing and value: new, higher-value procurements go on Find a Tender.
- Higher-value (above-threshold) goods and services contracts start at £135,018 for central government and £207,720 for other public bodies (inc. VAT, from 1 January 2026).
- Below those, authorities must still advertise contracts above £12,000 (central government) or £30,000 (wider public sector) on the central platform.
- During the transition, both portals are worth watching.
Why there are two portals
Before the Procurement Act 2023, Contracts Finder was the main England portal for lower-value and below-threshold contracts, while Find a Tender handled higher-value notices. The Act, live from 24 February 2025, consolidated publishing onto an enhanced Find a Tender as the new central digital platform.
So the simplest rule is about when the procurement started:
- Started on or after 24 February 2025 → notices publish on Find a Tender.
- Started before that date (under the old rules) → may still sit on Contracts Finder.
Contracts Finder hasn't switched off — it still carries legacy procurements — but for new opportunities, Find a Tender is the one to watch.
The thresholds that decide things
Procurement law uses contract value to decide how something must be advertised. Two sets of figures matter.
High-value (above-threshold) thresholds
These trigger the full set of rules. From 1 January 2026, for goods and services (inclusive of VAT):
- Central government: £135,018
- Sub-central authorities (e.g. councils, NHS bodies): £207,720
Works contracts have a much higher threshold of £5,193,000. These figures are revised roughly every two years, so always check the current set — they changed on 1 January 2026 from the previous (2024–2025) values.
Below-threshold publication floors
Below the high-value thresholds, authorities still have to advertise contracts over certain values on the central platform:
- Central government: £12,000
- Wider public sector / sub-central: £30,000
A useful catch: NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts are classified as central government, so their floor is £12,000, not £30,000 — meaning more NHS opportunities are published than many suppliers expect. (See our guide to winning NHS contracts.)
So which should you use?
For practical purposes today:
- Search Find a Tender first — it's where current opportunities live.
- Check Contracts Finder too during the transition, for procurements still running under the old rules.
- Set up saved searches with alerts on both, rather than remembering to look. During the transition, assuming one portal covers everything is the most common way to miss relevant work.
For the full picture of every UK portal, see where to find UK tenders.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Contracts Finder and Find a Tender?
Find a Tender is the central platform under the Procurement Act 2023 and carries current procurements. Contracts Finder is the older England portal, now used mainly for procurements that started before 24 February 2025.
What is the Find a Tender threshold?
From 1 January 2026, above-threshold goods and services contracts start at £135,018 (central government) or £207,720 (sub-central), inclusive of VAT. Works contracts start at £5,193,000.
What's the minimum value that must be advertised?
Authorities must advertise contracts above £12,000 (central government) or £30,000 (wider public sector) on the central platform. NHS trusts count as central government, so their floor is £12,000.
Is Contracts Finder closing?
It has been superseded by Find a Tender for new procurements but remains live for legacy ones. No formal closure date has been published.
Sources
- GOV.UK — PPN 023: 2026 threshold amounts
- GOV.UK — Below-threshold contracts guidance
- GOV.UK — Thresholds guidance