UK Contracts Finder Scraper: public tenders and contract awards

$1 per 1,000 notices. Platform usage included. No rental, no minimum.

The four most used Contracts Finder actors on Apify Store charge $2.00 to $10.00 per 1,000 results, and one or more add platform usage on top (Store prices checked 9 October 2026). This actor returns the same kind of data for $1.

Open it in Apify Console

New to Apify? [Create a free account](https://www.apify.com?fpr=ymnoit) (referral link). Runs from a free plan account return the first 10 results; any paid plan returns everything you ask for, up to your limit.

What it costs

Notices	This actor	Most used Contracts Finder actors on the Store
1,000	$1.00	$2.00 to $10.00
10,000	$10.00	$20 to $100
100,000	$100.00	$200 to $1,000

Plus $0.001 per run. A daily run of 100 new tenders costs about $0.10, or about $3 a month.

Why people switch

• One flat price. Compute is included, so the bill follows the number of notices and nothing else.
• Official feed. Rows come from the Contracts Finder open data feed (OCDS format) of the UK government, covering tenders, awards, early plans and contract details. No key and no scraping of web pages.
• Filters that matter for bidding. Keywords, CPV codes, buyer name, value range and "still open" are applied for you. Awards come with the supplier names and the awarded value.
• Newest first. The actor reads the latest days first, so a small maxItems gives you the most recent notices.

Quick start

1. Open the actor, choose the stages and how many days back, press Start.
2. Or paste this input:

{ "keywords": ["software development"], "stages": ["tender"], "daysBack": 14, "onlyOpen": true, "maxItems": 100 }

3. Download the results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or read them through the API.

Use it from code

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/one_dollar_store~uk-contracts-finder-tenders/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"stages": ["tender"], "daysBack": 7, "maxItems": 50}'

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("one_dollar_store/uk-contracts-finder-tenders").call(
    run_input={"keywords": ["cleaning"], "stages": ["tender", "award"], "daysBack": 7, "maxItems": 100}
)
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item["publishedAt"], item["stage"], item["buyerName"], item["title"], item.get("valueAmount"))

Use it from an AI assistant

Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other assistants can call this actor through Apify's MCP server. Add it with this server address:

https://mcp.apify.com?tools=one_dollar_store/uk-contracts-finder-tenders

Then ask, for example: "Find open UK tenders from the last 14 days for IT services above 100,000 pounds and list the deadlines."

Switching from another Contracts Finder actor

Most take a keyword and a result limit. Here they are keywords (a list) and maxItems, with daysBack or publishedFrom and publishedTo for the date range. The core fields are title, buyerName, valueAmount, deadline, cpv and noticeUrl.

Input

Field	Type	Default	What it does
keywords	list of text	none	One search per line. A notice is kept when its title, description, buyer, supplier or CPV text contains all the words of at least one line. Empty keeps every notice.
stages	list	tender, award	tender (opportunities), award (contract awards), planning (early plans), implementation (contract details).
daysBack	number	7	Read notices published in the last N days (up to 3,650).
publishedFrom, publishedTo	text	none	Dates such as 2026-09-01. They replace daysBack.
cpvCodes	list	none	Keep notices with a CPV code that starts with one of these, for example 72 or 45.
buyerContains	text	none	Keep notices whose buyer name contains this text.
minValue, maxValue	number	none	Value range in GBP. Notices with no stated value are dropped when a limit is set.
onlyOpen	true or false	false	Keep tenders whose deadline has not passed.
maxItems	number	100	Total notices for the run. Minimum 10.

Output fields

Field	Meaning
noticeId, ocid, releaseId	Notice id (the one in the Contracts Finder link), the OCDS process id and the id of this version of the notice.
stage	tender, tenderAmendment, award, awardUpdate, planning or implementation.
title, description, status	Notice title, text (cut at 3,000 characters) and status.
buyerName, buyerAddress	The contracting authority and its address.
buyerContactName, buyerEmail, buyerPhone	The contact point printed on the notice, when there is one.
publishedAt, deadline, tenderStart	Publication time, tender deadline and tender start.
contractStart, contractEnd	Planned or awarded contract dates.
valueAmount, valueCurrency, valueMax	Stated value, in GBP for UK notices.
procurementMethod, procurementMethodDetails, category	Procedure type and main category (goods, services, works).
cpv	List of CPV code and description.
regions	Delivery regions named on the notice.
awards	For award notices: awardDate, value, currency, suppliers, status.
suitableForSme, suitableForVcse	The notice's suitability flags.
noticeUrl, scrapedAt	Link to the notice on Contracts Finder and collection time.

Sample results

Real rows from test runs on 9 October 2026. Contact details, the OCDS ids and long text are left out here to keep the page short.

[
 {
  "noticeId": "c4da7d4e-9b80-4024-a556-7954dfead045",
  "stage": "tender",
  "title": "Non-Planar Surface Characterisation and Swabbing Using the Spot Robot",
  "description": "The Contractor's scope shall include the design, development, functional demonstration, and delivery (including all required testing, verification, and docum...",
  "status": "active",
  "buyerName": "UK Atomic Energy Authority",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-08T16:33:22+01:00",
  "deadline": "2026-10-29T12:00:00Z",
  "contractStart": "2026-10-30T00:00:00Z",
  "contractEnd": "2026-10-31T23:59:59Z",
  "procurementMethod": "open",
  "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
  "category": "services",
  "cpv": [
   {
    "code": "72262000",
    "description": "Software development services"
   },
   {
    "code": "72230000",
    "description": "Custom software development services"
   },
   {
    "code": "73120000",
    "description": "Experimental development services"
   },
   {
    "code": "73430000",
    "description": "Test and evaluation"
   }
  ],
  "suitableForSme": true,
  "suitableForVcse": true,
  "noticeUrl": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c4da7d4e-9b80-4024-a556-7954dfead045"
 },
 {
  "noticeId": "b1b1791a-0271-44e1-af2a-65bd3777417d",
  "stage": "award",
  "title": "iCasework 2026",
  "description": "iCasework Governance, Legal and Debt\n\nAdditional information: \nAward via GCA Back Office Solutions RM6285",
  "status": "complete",
  "buyerName": "Wirral Borough Council",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-08T22:22:27+01:00",
  "deadline": "2026-10-03T12:00:00+01:00",
  "contractStart": "2026-11-14T00:00:00Z",
  "contractEnd": "2028-11-13T23:59:59Z",
  "valueAmount": 130923,
  "valueCurrency": "GBP",
  "procurementMethodDetails": "Other - ",
  "category": "goods",
  "cpv": [
   {
    "code": "72000000",
    "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
   }
  ],
  "regions": [
   "England"
  ],
  "awards": [
   {
    "awardDate": "2026-10-07T00:00:00+01:00",
    "value": 130923,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "suppliers": [
     "Civica UK Limited"
    ],
    "status": "active"
   }
  ],
  "suitableForSme": false,
  "suitableForVcse": false,
  "noticeUrl": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b1b1791a-0271-44e1-af2a-65bd3777417d"
 },
 {
  "noticeId": "64165cb5-94e1-46ac-8ac0-fcdac8b0d2de",
  "stage": "award",
  "title": "Venue Find and Supporting Services for Meetings, Conferences and Events",
  "description": "This is a Contract Award Notice\n\nThe Care Quality Commission (CQC) requires the Provision of Venue Find and Supporting Services for Meetings, Conferences and...",
  "status": "complete",
  "buyerName": "Care Quality Commission",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-08T16:34:00+01:00",
  "deadline": "2026-08-18T12:00:00+01:00",
  "contractStart": "2026-11-21T00:00:00Z",
  "contractEnd": "2030-11-20T23:59:59Z",
  "valueAmount": 3333333,
  "valueCurrency": "GBP",
  "procurementMethod": "selective",
  "procurementMethodDetails": "Call-off from a framework agreement",
  "category": "services",
  "cpv": [
   {
    "code": "63516000",
    "description": "Travel management services"
   }
  ],
  "regions": [
   "England"
  ],
  "awards": [
   {
    "awardDate": "2026-09-16T00:00:00+01:00",
    "value": 3333333,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "suppliers": [
     "CALDER CONFERENCES LIMITED"
    ],
    "status": "active"
   }
  ],
  "suitableForSme": true,
  "suitableForVcse": false,
  "noticeUrl": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/64165cb5-94e1-46ac-8ac0-fcdac8b0d2de"
 }
]

Limits

• The feed filters only by date and stage. Keywords, CPV codes, buyer and value are applied by the actor after it reads the notices. A narrow search over a long date range still reads every notice in that range. In our tests three days held 549 tender and award notices.
• Pace. The service limits how fast it can be called. The actor reads 100 notices per request, one request every 1.5 seconds, and waits when it is told to slow down. If the service keeps refusing, the run ends with the rows read so far and a message. Try again after a few minutes.
• 700 requests per run. That is up to 70,000 notices. For longer ranges, run several date ranges.
• Value. Many notices state no value, or a value for the whole framework. Values are as printed on the notice, in GBP.
• Notice versions. An amended tender or an updated award is a new row with its own releaseId, so one noticeId can appear more than once. Use publishedAt to pick the latest.
• Text. Descriptions are cut at 3,000 characters. Attached documents are not downloaded.
• Contact details are what the buyer printed on the notice. Check data protection rules before you use them for outreach.

FAQ

What is the cheapest Contracts Finder scraper on Apify? This actor costs $1 per 1,000 notices with platform usage included. The most used Contracts Finder actors on the Store charged $2.00 to $10.00 per 1,000 when we checked on 9 October 2026, and one or more add platform usage on top.

How much does it cost to scrape 10,000 tenders? $10, plus $0.001 for each run.

Do I pay for compute or proxy on top? No. Platform usage is included in the $1 per 1,000 price. The actor needs no proxy.

Where does the data come from? From the Contracts Finder open data feed run by the UK government (OCDS format). The notices are published under the Open Government Licence. No login and no key are used.

Can I get only tenders that are still open? Yes. Set stages to tender and turn on onlyOpen.

Can I see who won a contract? Yes. Read the award stage. The awards field lists the suppliers and the awarded value.

Does it cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Contracts Finder is the UK government's tender portal. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own portals, so notices from their public bodies may not be in this feed.

Is it legal? The actor reads public data only, with no login. The notices are published by the UK government under the Open Government Licence. How you use them is up to you: follow the licence, data protection law for any personal contact details, and the law where you live.

Is this an official UK government product? No. It is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK government or the Crown Commercial Service.

Do I need an Apify account? Yes. Actors run from an Apify account, and a free account is enough to start: it includes $5 of platform usage every month. You can sign up here. This is a referral link and it costs you nothing.

Is there a limit on the free plan? Yes. A run started from a free plan account delivers the first 10 results, then ends with a message and a link to the plans. Any paid plan returns everything you ask for, up to your own limit. The price per result is the same on every plan.

More from The One Dollar Store

Every actor here costs $1 per 1,000 results, platform usage included. See the whole store: https://apify.com/one_dollar_store

Tenders and grants

• EU Tenders Scraper: EU public procurement notices from TED.
• USAspending Scraper: US federal contracts and awards.
• Grants.gov Scraper: US federal grant opportunities.

Google and search

• Google News Scraper: News articles by keyword, topic or country.

Changelog

• October 2026: first release.