Tender notice
A tender notice is the formal public notice that starts or announces a procurement route and tells suppliers how to compete. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it gives core information about the buyer, requirement, procedure, timetable and submission route.
Reviewed
Once a buyer is ready to seek tenders, the published notice gives suppliers the route, timetable and minimum information needed to assess the opportunity. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it identifies the contracting authority, procurement, subject matter, procedure, key dates and how suppliers can obtain documents and submit tenders. Older procurements may use the earlier contract-notice terminology and fields.
Read the notice with the documents
Use the notice as your index, then open the specification, conditions of participation, pricing template, evaluation model and draft contract. Check whether the procedure is open or competitive flexible, whether there are lots, the clarification deadline, submission format, portal and exact closing time. A CPV code helps discovery but does not define the complete requirement. Where the notice links to a separate e-sourcing portal, submission normally happens there, not by replying to the publication page.
Decide and submit carefully
Map every mandatory requirement to evidence, nominate an authorised signatory and allow time for file validation and upload. Ask questions through the stated channel and keep the buyer’s answers with the bid. An illustrative tender notice for a council’s catering service might set a 30-day response window and three lots; you can bid for one lot if the documents permit it, but you still need to meet the relevant conditions and lot-specific method statements. Check the applicable jurisdiction and transitional rules: a notice on Find a Tender, Contracts Finder or a devolved portal may use a different legal sequence.