# UK Government Tenders & Contracts Scraper (`komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders`) Actor

Scrape UK government tenders and public sector contracts from the official Contracts Finder API: buyer, value, deadline, CPV, suppliers, Companies House numbers, SME suitability. Daily tender alerts.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders.md
- **Developed by:** [Damian Fairholme](https://apify.com/komos_solutions) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Business
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 tender notices

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

### What is UK Government Tenders & Contracts Scraper?

**UK Government Tenders & Contracts Scraper** searches and exports **UK public-sector tenders and awarded government contracts from Contracts Finder**, the UK government's official procurement site, and gives you **daily UK tender alerts** for your sector, keyword or CPV code.

Try it now: click **Start** with the default input to get 10 open UK tenders (bid deadline still in the future) in a few seconds.

- 🏛️ Official **Contracts Finder OCDS API** (Cabinet Office, Open Government Licence v3.0): no login, no proxies
- 🔎 Filter by **keyword, CPV code, minimum value (£), SME suitability** and notice status (open / closed / awarded)
- 🏆 Awarded contracts with **winning suppliers and their Companies House numbers**
- 🔔 **Alert mode** (`onlyNew`): schedule it every morning and get only new notices
- ⚙️ Runs on the Apify platform: API, scheduling, integrations (email, Slack, Sheets, Zapier, Make, n8n, webhooks)

### What data can you get from Contracts Finder?

One row = one tender or contract notice.

| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| `title` / `description` | Grounds Maintenance / Grounds maintenance services |
| `noticeStatus` | open, closed or awarded |
| `buyerName`, `buyerEmail`, `buyerPostcode`, `buyerLocality` | as published by the buyer in the notice |
| `valueGbp`, `valueLow`, `valueHigh`, `valueDisplay` | 482798 / "£482,798" |
| `awardValueGbp`, `awardValueDisplay` | 482798 / "£482,798" |
| `supplierNames`, `supplierCompanyNumbers` | Mark Walker (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd / \["04662267"] |
| `cpvCode`, `cpvDescription` | 77314000 / Grounds maintenance services |
| `category`, `procurementMethod` | services / Call-off from a framework agreement |
| `deadline`, `deadlineDisplay` | ISO timestamp / "31 Oct 2026 23:59" (UK time) |
| `contractStart`, `contractEnd` | contract dates |
| `smeSuitable`, `vcseSuitable` | true / false |
| `publishedAt`, `publishedDisplay` | "16 Oct 2026" |
| `noticeUrl` | link to the notice on Contracts Finder |

Download as JSON, CSV, Excel, XML or HTML, or read it via the Apify API.

### Who uses UK tender data?

- 💼 **Suppliers and SMEs**: a daily list of new government contracts in your sector to bid on
- 🕵️ **Bid teams**: win-loss and competitor intelligence, who is winning contracts in your CPV codes and for how much
- 📈 **Sales and lead generation**: companies that have just won public money (with Companies House numbers)
- 📊 **Analysts and journalists**: public-sector spend by buyer, category and value

Ready-made examples: [UK IT & Cyber Security Tenders (Open)](https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders/examples/uk-it-cyber-security-tenders), [UK Construction & Facilities Tenders (Open)](https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders/examples/uk-construction-facilities-tenders), [UK Consulting & Professional Services Tenders](https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders/examples/uk-consulting-professional-tenders).

### How to scrape UK government tenders

1. Click **Start** with the default input to see a sample of open tenders.
2. Choose **Notice status**: open (live opportunities), closed, awarded or all.
3. Add **keywords** (e.g. `software`, `cleaning`) and/or **CPV code prefixes** (e.g. `72` IT services, `45` construction).
4. Optionally set **minimum value (GBP)** and **SME-suitable only**.
5. Set **Max results** to cap cost and click **Start**. Export or connect the dataset to your tools.

| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| daysBack | 30 (default) |
| status | open (default) / closed / awarded / all |
| keywords | \["software", "cleaning"] |
| cpvPrefixes | \["72", "48"] |
| minValueGbp | 25000 |
| smeOnly | true |
| maxItems | 10 (default) |
| onlyNew | false (default), alert mode |
| stateStoreName | uk-tenders-seen |

#### Notice status

- **open**: tender stage, still active and the bid deadline is in the future (default)
- **closed**: tender stage but the deadline has passed or it is no longer active, no award yet
- **awarded**: contract award notices with winning suppliers
- **all**: everything

### Daily UK tender alerts (only new notices)

Set **onlyNew = true**. The Actor remembers which notices it has returned (in a named key-value store, `stateStoreName`) and outputs only new ones. The first run returns everything that matches; later runs return only new notices, and you pay only for new rows. Use a different `stateStoreName` for each saved search (e.g. `it-tenders`, `cleaning-tenders`).

1. Run once with your filters and `onlyNew: true`, then **Save as a new task**.
2. **Schedules → Create new**, e.g. `0 7 * * 1-5` (07:00 on weekdays, Europe/London), and add the task.
3. In the task, open **Integrations**: email on *Run succeeded*, Slack, or Zapier / Make / n8n / webhooks into a Google Sheet, CRM or Teams. Tip: `daysBack` 3–7 and `maxItems` ~200 for daily alerts.

### How much does it cost to scrape UK tenders?

Pay per result: **$3 per 1,000 notices** ($0.003 per row, plus a tiny $0.00005 Actor start fee). You only pay for rows in your dataset; `maxItems` caps cost.

| Example | Rows | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Default input (sample) | 10 | ~$0.03 |
| Bigger export, e.g. open IT tenders | 200 | $0.60 |
| Daily alert averaging 15 new notices per weekday | ~330 / month | ~$1 / month |

### FAQ

#### Does it cover Find a Tender (FTS) too?

It reads Contracts Finder only: UK public-sector opportunities and contract awards (mainly England), including many lower-value contracts. Notices published only on Find a Tender or the devolved portals (e.g. Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales) may not be included.

#### Do I need an API key or login?

No. The Contracts Finder API is public.

#### How fresh is the data?

Each run queries Contracts Finder live, so you get notices published up to the minute the run starts.

#### Can I use it from Python, the API or an AI agent?

Yes, through the Apify API and clients, or the Apify MCP server.

#### Is it legal?

The data is public sector information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not affiliated with the UK Government. Buyer contact emails are published by the buyer in the notice; use them in line with UK GDPR/PECR.

### Related UK data Actors by Komos Solutions

- 🏗️ [UK Planning Applications Scraper & Alerts](https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-planning-applications): new and decided planning applications from 400+ councils, with daily alerts.
- 🌐 [UK Company Website Enricher](https://apify.com/komos_solutions/uk-company-website-enricher): enrich supplier or buyer websites with emails, phones, Companies House number and VAT number.

More UK data tools: [komossolutions.com/data-tools](https://www.komossolutions.com/data-tools/). Questions or feature requests: open an issue on the **Issues** tab.

# Actor input Schema

## `daysBack` (type: `integer`):

Only notices published within this many days.

## `status` (type: `string`):

Open = live opportunities you can still bid on. Uses the Contracts Finder stage filter plus a deadline check.

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

Case-insensitive match against title and description, any keyword matches, e.g. software, cleaning, cyber. Empty = all.

## `cpvPrefixes` (type: `array`):

CPV code prefixes, e.g. 72 (IT services), 48 (software), 45 (construction), 79 (business services). Empty = all.

## `minValueGbp` (type: `integer`):

Skip notices below this value.

## `smeOnly` (type: `boolean`):

Only notices marked suitable for SMEs.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

You pay per result; this caps cost.

## `onlyNew` (type: `boolean`):

Only output notices not returned by previous runs that used the same state store. Ideal for a daily schedule. The first run outputs everything that matches.

## `stateStoreName` (type: `string`):

Named key-value store that remembers seen notice IDs. Use a different name per saved search/schedule.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "daysBack": 30,
  "status": "open",
  "keywords": [],
  "cpvPrefixes": [],
  "minValueGbp": 0,
  "smeOnly": false,
  "maxItems": 10,
  "onlyNew": false,
  "stateStoreName": "uk-tenders-seen"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

All results (one billable item each) in the default dataset, overview view.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "daysBack": 30,
    "status": "open",
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "daysBack": 30,
    "status": "open",
    "maxItems": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "daysBack": 30,
  "status": "open",
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,komos_solutions/uk-contracts-finder-tenders"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/YnMzBUVSCYBNnGdiN/builds/nAg4IoX2cHc1XhV7u/openapi.json