Find a Tender Service (FTS) explained
Find a Tender Service, or FTS, is the UK government portal where higher-value public sector contracts are published. It replaced the EU's OJEU and TED system for UK procurement after Brexit, from January 2021. Contracts at or above the public procurement thresholds must be advertised there, including many care frameworks and large care contracts. It is free to search, and setting alerts on FTS is one of the core ways to find significant care opportunities.
What FTS is and why it exists
FTS is the UK's central notice service for public contracts above the procurement thresholds. Since January 2021 it has replaced the requirement to publish in the EU's Official Journal, known as OJEU, via the TED system. UK buyers now publish their higher-value notices on FTS instead. For care providers it is the single national place where larger frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems and major contracts surface, which is why it belongs in your monitoring alongside Contracts Finder and the local council portals.
Thresholds and what appears there
Contracts at or above the relevant public procurement threshold must be advertised on FTS, while lower-value opportunities go on Contracts Finder in England. Thresholds are set in pounds, include any VAT treatment specified, and are reviewed periodically, so the exact figures change over time. Large care frameworks, DPS arrangements and major block contracts commonly clear them, while smaller spot packages usually do not. Always check the current threshold rather than relying on a remembered figure, because using an out-of-date number can mislead you about where work will appear.
FTS under the Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025, replacing the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and introducing a central digital platform, new transparency notices and a standstill and debrief regime. FTS sits within this new system, and you will see a wider range of notices across the procurement lifecycle, from pipeline and planning notices through to award and contract performance. The practical effect for providers is more advance visibility of upcoming work, so watching the earlier notices can give you time to prepare before a tender formally opens.
Transparency, standstill and debrief
Under the new regime, buyers publish more information at each stage and must observe a standstill period before entering into a contract, giving unsuccessful bidders time to seek a debrief on why they did not win. For providers this is genuinely useful: a debrief tells you how your bid scored against the criteria and where it fell short, which is some of the best free feedback available for improving the next submission. Treat each debrief as data, not just a result, and use it to sharpen your weaker answers.
Using FTS in practice
Search FTS by keyword and set up email alerts for the terms relevant to your service, such as home care, supported living, extra care or care framework. Note that the formal notice on FTS usually points you to the buyer's own portal, such as ProContract, Atamis or In-Tend, where you register interest and access the documents and clarifications. FTS finds the opportunity; the buyer's portal runs the bid. Combine FTS alerts with Contracts Finder and local portal registrations so you cover both the higher and lower value work in your area.
FTS versus Contracts Finder
The two national portals carry different value ranges. Many providers monitor both.
| Feature | Find a Tender Service | Contracts Finder |
|---|---|---|
| Value range | At or above the thresholds | Lower value and some sub-threshold |
| Coverage | Whole UK | England |
| Replaced | OJEU and TED, from January 2021 | Earlier sub-threshold advertising rules |
| Cost | Free to search and set alerts | Free to search and set alerts |
| Leads to | The buyer's own eSourcing portal | The buyer's own eSourcing portal |
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Common questions
What did Find a Tender Service replace?
It replaced the UK's use of the EU Official Journal, known as OJEU, and the TED system for advertising higher-value public contracts, from January 2021 following Brexit. UK buyers now publish their higher-value notices on FTS.
Is Find a Tender Service free to use?
Yes. Searching FTS and setting up alerts is free. The notices direct you to the buyer's own procurement portal, such as ProContract, Atamis or In-Tend, where you register and access the tender documents.
What is the difference between FTS and Contracts Finder?
FTS carries higher-value contracts at or above the procurement thresholds across the UK. Contracts Finder carries lower-value opportunities in England. Many care providers monitor both to see the full range of work in their area.
How has the Procurement Act 2023 changed FTS?
The Act, in force from 24 February 2025, brought a central digital platform, new transparency notices across the procurement lifecycle, and a standstill and debrief regime. In practice you get more advance visibility of upcoming work and clearer feedback on bids.
What is a standstill period?
A short pause after the buyer announces the intended winner and before the contract is signed, allowing unsuccessful bidders to request a debrief and, if needed, challenge the decision. Use the debrief to learn how your bid scored and where to improve.
Do I bid directly on FTS?
No. FTS advertises the opportunity, but you register interest and submit your bid on the buyer's own eSourcing portal, which the notice links to. FTS finds the work; the buyer's portal runs the bid and handles documents and clarifications.
Keep reading
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
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