Selling IT to government in the UK
The UK public sector spends heavily on digital services, and government policy has pushed for years to buy more from small and medium-sized firms. Central government, the NHS, local councils, universities and devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all buy IT, and many of them buy through shared frameworks.
The Procurement Act 2023
Since 24 February 2025, public buying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and by UK-wide bodies, follows the Procurement Act 2023, which replaced the EU-derived regulations. Scotland keeps its own regulations for devolved buyers. For suppliers, the main changes are:
- One central platform. Buyers publish notices on Find a Tender, and suppliers register there once and share their core details with every buyer.
- More notices. Buyers publish pipeline notices of what they plan to buy, notices of contract changes, and performance information, which make it easier to see what is coming.
- Simpler procedures. The open procedure and the competitive flexible procedure, which buyers can design with stages such as negotiation or demonstrations, replace most older procedures.
- "Most advantageous tender". Bids are judged on the best overall value, not only price.
Contracts let under the old rules keep running under them until they end.
Where UK IT tenders are posted
| Buyer | Where to look |
|---|---|
| UK-wide, England, Wales, Northern Ireland | Find a Tender |
| Lower-value work in England | Contracts Finder |
| Scotland | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Wales | Sell2Wales |
| Northern Ireland | eTendersNI |
Many councils, NHS trusts and universities also use their own e-tendering portals and regional frameworks.
Frameworks: G-Cloud and beyond
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) runs frameworks that public bodies across the UK use to buy technology without running a full tender each time:
- G-Cloud for cloud hosting, cloud software and cloud support. Suppliers list services in a catalogue, and buyers search, shortlist and award directly. It reopens to new suppliers roughly every year or two and has many small suppliers.
- Digital outcomes and specialist frameworks for agile delivery teams and individual digital specialists, bought through short competitions among framework suppliers.
- Technology products, network and cyber frameworks for hardware, software licences, connectivity and security services.
The NHS, councils and regional buying groups run their own frameworks too. Getting on the right framework when it opens is often the only way into recurring work with a buyer.
What UK buyers usually ask for
- Cyber Essentials (or Cyber Essentials Plus) for central government contracts that involve handling personal data or providing IT systems and services.
- Social value: central government scores it as part of every relevant tender, usually with at least 10% of the total marks. Concrete, local, measurable commitments score best.
- Accessibility: public sector websites and apps must meet the accessibility regulations, which point to WCAG 2.2 AA.
- Insurance: professional indemnity and public liability, at levels set in each tender.
- Security clearance (BPSS as a baseline, SC or DV for sensitive work) for staff on some government contracts.
Can foreign firms bid?
Yes, on most contracts. The UK is a member of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and has trade agreements with the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and others that cover procurement. Some contracts are reserved, for example to UK suppliers for certain below-threshold work or for national security reasons. A UK presence is not usually required to bid, though it often helps in delivery.
How to get started
- Register on Find a Tender and on the portals for the nations you work in.
- Get Cyber Essentials if you do not have it. It is inexpensive and opens a lot of central government work.
- Apply to G-Cloud when it next opens if you sell anything cloud-based, and to the digital frameworks that fit your services.
- Read the pipeline notices of the departments, councils or NHS bodies you want to work with.
- Read how to win government IT contracts for the bid itself.
Common questions
What replaced Contracts Finder?
Nothing yet fully replaced it. Under the Procurement Act 2023, Find a Tender became the central digital platform for notices, but Contracts Finder still lists many lower-value opportunities in England.
Is Cyber Essentials mandatory for UK government contracts?
It is required for central government contracts that involve handling personal information or providing certain IT systems and services. Many other public buyers ask for it as well, so most IT suppliers hold it.
How do I get on G-Cloud?
Apply through the Crown Commercial Service when a new version of G-Cloud opens to suppliers, describing each service you offer. Once accepted, your services appear in the catalogue for public buyers to find.
What is social value in a UK tender?
Social value is the wider benefit a contract brings, such as jobs, skills, environmental improvements or support for small businesses. Central government scores it as part of the bid, typically worth at least 10% of the total.