# UK Contracts Finder Tenders and Awards Scraper (`talcoe/uk-contracts-finder`) Actor

Public UK sector tenders and contract awards from Contracts Finder, filtered by CPV code, region, minimum value and procurement stage, priced per result.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/talcoe/uk-contracts-finder.md
- **Developed by:** [M Usama](https://apify.com/talcoe) (community)
- **Categories:** Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $5.00 / 1,000 results

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 does UK Contracts Finder Tenders and Awards Scraper do?

This Actor returns live opportunity notices and contract awards from Contracts Finder, the UK government's portal for public sector procurement below the high value threshold. Each result includes the notice title, buyer, procurement stage, value, region, CPV category, closing date and a link back to the original notice. Use the stage, CPV code, region and minimum value filters to keep runs small and focused, since pricing is per result returned.

### Data source

Data comes from the public OCDS (Open Contracting Data Standard) release API at `contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Published/Notices/OCDS/Search`, published by the Cabinet Office and updated as buyers post and update notices, usually within minutes of publication.

### Why use it?

- Lead generation: find newly published tenders by sector, region or value to identify agencies buying what you sell.
- Competitor and market research: see who was awarded a contract, at what value and under which procurement method.
- Pipeline monitoring: track new opportunities in your CPV categories before they close.
- Replaces manually searching the Contracts Finder website notice by notice.

### How to use it

1. Open the Actor and set the procurement stage, CPV code, region and minimum value to match what you are looking for.
2. Click Start. Download results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or read them through the API.
3. Add a Schedule and an Integration (Slack, Google Sheets, webhook) to get new notices automatically.

### Input

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `stage` | Procurement stage: tender (open for bids), award, planning or implementation. Leave as All stages to get everything. |
| `cpvCode` | Only return notices whose CPV classification starts with this code, for example 72 for IT services or 45 for construction. Leave blank to skip. |
| `region` | Only return notices whose delivery location or buyer address mentions this text, for example London or Scotland. Leave blank to skip. |
| `minValue` | Only return notices with a published value at or above this amount in GBP. Notices with no published value are dropped when this is above zero. Set to 0 to skip. |
| `publishedFrom` | Only return notices published on or after this date, format YYYY-MM-DD. Leave blank for no lower bound. |
| `maxResults` | Hard stop for the run. You are billed per result, so this caps the cost. |
| `proxyConfiguration` | Apify proxy is recommended for larger runs. |

Example input:

```json
{
    "stage": "tender",
    "cpvCode": "",
    "region": "",
    "minValue": 0,
    "publishedFrom": "",
    "maxResults": 50
}
```

### Output

Every record has the same shape:

```json
{
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-fc3ca536-9cfb-4594-85d8-1fc231eca21f",
    "title": "Taxi and MPV (1-8 seats) Passenger Assistant",
    "buyer": "East Sussex County Council",
    "stage": "tender",
    "value": null,
    "currency": null,
    "region": "United Kingdom, Lewes",
    "closingDate": "2026-09-28T10:00:00+01:00",
    "cpvCode": "60000000",
    "cpvDescription": "Transport services (excl. Waste transport)",
    "publishedDate": "2026-09-23T09:20:48+01:00",
    "procurementMethod": "Restricted procedure (above threshold)",
    "supplier": null,
    "awardValue": null,
    "description": "Vehicle type: Saloon. Passenger Assistant Required: Yes...",
    "buyerContactEmail": "procurement@eastsussex.gov.uk",
    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f692f2e1-572e-4d6e-9802-c488689a4a90",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-09-23T08:28:42.257Z"
}
```

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `id` | Stable open contracting id (ocid), safe for deduplication between runs |
| `title` | Notice title |
| `buyer` | Name of the contracting public sector body |
| `stage` | Procurement stage of this release: tender, award, planning or implementation |
| `value` | Published contract or tender value, when available |
| `currency` | Currency of the value, usually GBP |
| `region` | Delivery region, country or buyer locality mentioned on the notice |
| `closingDate` | Deadline for bids, ISO format |
| `cpvCode` | Primary CPV classification code |
| `cpvDescription` | Human readable CPV category |
| `publishedDate` | Date this notice version was published, ISO format |
| `procurementMethod` | Procurement procedure, for example Open procedure or Restricted procedure |
| `supplier` | Awarded supplier name, only set on award-stage results |
| `awardValue` | Awarded contract value, only set on award-stage results |
| `description` | Full notice description |
| `buyerContactEmail` | Buyer contact email published on the notice |
| `url` | Link to the notice on Contracts Finder |

### Pricing

Pay per event: a small fee when a run starts, then a fixed price per result returned. You only pay for records that pass your filters. Set `maxResults` to cap any run.

### Limitations

- Only covers Contracts Finder, the UK's below-threshold procurement portal. It does not cover Find a Tender, the separate service for above-threshold notices.
- `value` and `region` are only as complete as the buyer's own filing. Many notices do not publish a value or a structured region.
- CPV filtering matches only the primary classification code on each notice, not secondary classifications.
- Data reflects the government's publication feed, not a fixed daily snapshot.

### FAQ

**Is this legal?** The Actor reads the open OCDS API that the Cabinet Office publishes for public use on Contracts Finder, and stores only the procurement information published for that purpose. You are responsible for how you use the data.

**Something is missing or broken?** Open an issue in the Issues tab; response time is usually under a day.

# Actor input Schema

## `stage` (type: `string`):

Limit results to one stage of the procurement lifecycle. Leave as All stages to get everything.

## `cpvCode` (type: `string`):

Only return notices whose CPV classification starts with this code, for example 72 for IT services or 45 for construction work. Leave blank to skip.

## `region` (type: `string`):

Only return notices whose delivery location or buyer address mentions this text, for example London, Scotland, Wales or South East. Leave blank to skip.

## `minValue` (type: `integer`):

Only return notices with a published value at or above this amount. Notices with no published value are dropped when this is above zero. Set to 0 to skip.

## `publishedFrom` (type: `string`):

Only return notices published on or after this date, format YYYY-MM-DD. Leave blank for no lower bound.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Hard stop for the run. You are billed per result, so this caps the cost.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Apify proxy is recommended for larger runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "stage": "tender",
  "minValue": 0,
  "maxResults": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

# 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 = {
    "cpvCode": "",
    "region": "",
    "publishedFrom": "",
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": false
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("talcoe/uk-contracts-finder").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 = {
    "cpvCode": "",
    "region": "",
    "publishedFrom": "",
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": False },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("talcoe/uk-contracts-finder").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 '{
  "cpvCode": "",
  "region": "",
  "publishedFrom": "",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}' |
apify call talcoe/uk-contracts-finder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/zGwunzNzf67DbAAzG/builds/FB62QfDBOUsjqc4a4/openapi.json