The UK public sector procurement market is a complex and time-consuming route for suppliers looking to win government and corporate contracts. However, the advent of specialised platforms has made it easier for businesses to get access to the key contract opportunities. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the best platforms for finding public sector contracts in the UK to help procurement professionals, buyers and suppliers make the right decisions.
Overview of the UK Public Sector Procurement Market
Government spending in the UK amounts to billions of pounds each year, and the public sector is a substantial part of the national economy. Public bodies procure goods, services, and works from suppliers on a regular basis, from local councils to central government departments. Recent estimates put the value of public sector procurement in the UK at over £350 billion a year, providing ample opportunities for businesses to win contracts.
Despite this massive market, the procurement landscape is overwhelming for new suppliers or businesses looking to enter the government and corporate procurement space. That’s where contract and tender platforms come in. They aggregate contract opportunities from a number of sources, allowing suppliers to easily locate relevant opportunities without wasting hours searching across multiple government websites.
Changes to recent procurement, such as the introduction of new frameworks and digital platforms such as the Find a Tender Service, mean that suppliers need to keep up to date with the latest developments in public sector tendering.
Why Specialised Platforms are Necessary
In recent years, several public sector bodies have centralised their tender processes through digital platforms. Businesses have many procurement portals running across national, regional and sector-specific levels, which require specialised tools to search. As the number of digital procurement systems increases, suppliers need to access comprehensive platforms that aggregate data from a number of sources, otherwise they may miss out on relevant contracts.
Besides the ability to search and access public sector tenders, these platforms offer additional features such as bid tracking, alerts for new opportunities and access to historical data. Without these platforms, suppliers could be left behind in a fast-moving market, unable to compete or stay up to date.
How to Evaluate Platforms
You should think about the following while determining which platforms are best for public sector tenders:
- Coverage: Is the platform open to national or local opportunities, or is it region or sector specific?
- Search Functionality: What is the ease with which you can search for relevant contracts depending on your business capabilities, location, and sector?
- Alert Capabilities: Does the platform provide alerts focused on contract opportunities so that you can stay aware without having to continuously check?
- Historical Data Access: Can you see what tenders have been awarded in the past, so you can look at trends and learn from past bids?
- Value-Added Features: Does the platform provide any additional tools like analytics or reporting to help with your bidding strategy?
- Pricing Models: How much does it cost to use the platform, and is it worth it for the features offered?
An Overview of Public Sector Tender Platforms UK
1. Find a Tender
Core Functionality: A key government platform for advertising public contracts above £118,000 (or £181,000 for certain services) is the Find a Tender service. It is the main place for advertising government tenders across the UK, replacing the EU’s OJEU system post Brexit.
Unique Selling Points: It is government-run, which means it is highly reliable and trustworthy. It is the centralised point for all UK public sector tenders, and therefore a comprehensive list of public contracts is available to users.
Ideal Use Cases: Businesses looking for high-value contracts or national opportunities will find Find a Tender the best option.
Limitations: For smaller businesses, it’s harder to navigate without additional support or experience, as the platform is geared towards larger contracts.
Pricing Structure: It’s free to use and as such, is an attractive option for businesses looking for high-value opportunities without platform fees.
2. Contracts Finder
Core Functionality: Contracts Finder is a UK government website that allows users to search for public sector contract opportunities, primarily with central government bodies and arm’s-length organisations.
Unique Selling Points: The platform offers an easy-to-use search function, which allows suppliers to filter opportunities based on sector, region, and contract value. Users can set up tailored alerts to receive notifications of new contract opportunities.
Ideal Use Cases: Contracts Finder is best suited for businesses targeting central government contracts or suppliers new to the public sector procurement process.
Limitations: The platform lacks some of the advanced features available in premium services, such as detailed analytics and market insights.
Pricing Structure: This service is completely free, offering accessibility to all businesses, regardless of size.
3. Tracker Intelligence
Core Functionality: Tracker Intelligence is a comprehensive platform designed to help businesses discover and secure public sector contracts in the UK. It aggregates tender opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including construction, healthcare, IT, and professional services.
Unique Selling Points: User-friendly interface, a comprehensive database, and considerable filtering options make Tracker stand out from the crowd. Users can also set up bespoke alerts, track bids and enjoy in-depth market information from the platform.
Ideal Use Cases: This platform is perfect for businesses of all sizes looking to engage with public sector bodies, especially those who require access to both local and national opportunities. Its broad coverage and detailed insights make it ideal for businesses targeting multiple sectors.
Limitations: While Tracker Intelligence excels in aggregation and data reporting, some users may find the pricing structure less flexible, depending on the scale of their business needs.
Pricing Structure: Pricing is typically subscription-based, with different tiers available based on user requirements.
4. Public Tenders Scotland
Core Functionality: Public Tenders Scotland is the dedicated platform for public sector procurement opportunities within Scotland, covering contracts from national and local government bodies, as well as the NHS and other public organisations.
Unique Selling Points: This platform is essential for businesses targeting Scottish public sector contracts. It offers a tailored experience with a focus on Scottish procurement needs, including specific regulations and tendering guidelines.
Ideal Use Cases: Suppliers based in Scotland or those specifically targeting the Scottish market will find this platform particularly useful.
Limitations: It is region-specific and, therefore, not as comprehensive for businesses targeting broader UK markets.
Pricing Structure: The platform is free for suppliers to use.
5. Sell2Wales
Core Functionality: Sell2Wales provides a one-stop shop for finding public sector tenders in Wales, supporting businesses looking for opportunities with the Welsh government and public sector organisations.
Unique Selling Points: Sell2Wales offers a centralised location for Welsh government contracts, making it an excellent resource for Welsh businesses seeking public sector opportunities.
Ideal Use Cases: This platform is ideal for Welsh-based businesses or those focused on the Welsh market.
Limitations: Similar to Public Tenders Scotland, its geographic focus limits its scope for companies looking to bid for contracts outside Wales.
Pricing Structure: Free to access for businesses.
Sector-Specific Considerations
Different public sector platforms cater to distinct sectors, so it’s important to consider your industry focus when selecting the right platform. For instance, platforms like Tracker Intelligence and the Find a Tender often feature tender opportunities related to healthcare, including NHS services. Further, different platforms serve different regions across the UK, so keep in mind what regions your business operates in.
Choose The Right Platform For Your Business
The UK is a vast market for public sector procurement, but it can be a difficult one to navigate. Businesses can speed up their search for relevant contract opportunities by using specialised contract and tender platforms such as Tracker Intelligence, Find a Tender Service, and others. Since there are different advantages of each platform, it is important to think of factors like geographic focus, industry sector and user experience when choosing the right platform. Tracker Intelligence is a valuable tool for suppliers aiming to gain success in the public sector procurement market. Contact Tracker Intelligence today for a free demo and see how the platform can increase your tender bidding success.
