Tenders · coming soon
Win public sector contracts in the North East
We're building a single weekly feed of North East tender opportunities. Until it's ready, here's how tendering works in the region, where to find live contracts today, and how to give your bids the best chance.
What's coming
One weekly feed
North East opportunities from the NEPO Open portal, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, de-duplicated, in one list.
Filtered for you
Filter by area, category and contract value, so a Sunderland joiner doesn't wade through national IT frameworks.
Plain English
The deadline, value, buyer and what they actually want, with a link to the official notice.
How public sector tendering works in the North East
- Register once. Councils in the region buy through the NEPO Open e-tendering portal. Register free and choose your categories to get email alerts. For higher-value work you'll also need a free Central Digital Platform account on Find a Tender.
- Know the thresholds. Lower-value work is usually bought through quotations, often from a few invited suppliers. Larger contracts go to open or competitive tenders and are published nationally on Find a Tender. Each council sets its own thresholds in its contract procedure rules, so check the council's procurement page.
- Watch the pipeline. Many buyers publish forward plans and market engagement notices months before a tender. Responding early helps shape the requirement.
- Frameworks matter. A lot of spending goes through frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems. Getting onto one can lead to repeat work without a full tender each time.
Where to find live North East tenders today
- NEPO (North East Procurement Organisation)Buys on behalf of the region's 12 councils and runs the Open e-tendering portal, where North East councils advertise their contracts. Registration is free and you can set alerts for your categories.
- Find a TenderThe UK government's central service for public contract notices. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is also where suppliers register on the Central Digital Platform.
- Contracts FinderSearchable list of public sector contracts in England, including many lower-value opportunities. Filter by location and keyword.
- Newcastle City Council: doing business with the councilHow Newcastle buys, its commissioning plan and links to live opportunities.
- Durham County Council: working with the councilHow Durham procures, thresholds, and how to register.
- Durham County Council: procurement pipelineA forward look at planned tenders, useful for preparing early.
- Tees Valley Combined Authority: procurementHow the combined authority buys and where it advertises.
- GOV.UK: sell goods or services to the public sectorOfficial plain-English guide to finding and bidding for public contracts.
- GOV.UK: Procurement Act 2023 guidanceThe rules public bodies follow since the Procurement Act 2023 came into force in February 2025.
Links checked 15 October 2026. Some other North East councils (for example Sunderland and Gateshead) publish their procurement pages on their own websites, and advertise tenders through NEPO.
Tips for small firms
- Start small. Quotations and lower-value contracts are the easiest way to build public sector references.
- Read the whole pack before you start, and note the clarification-question deadline as well as the submission deadline.
- Answer the question asked. Quality answers are scored against stated criteria. Use their headings and give evidence.
- Show social value. North East councils weight local jobs, apprenticeships, supply chains and environmental commitments. Be specific and measurable.
- Have the basics ready: insurance certificates, accounts, health and safety, data protection and equality policies.
- Ask for feedback on every bid, won or lost. It's the quickest way to improve.
- Team up. Consortium or subcontracting bids let smaller firms go for larger contracts.
Need money to get bid-ready, such as accreditations, equipment or a new website? Browse North East grants.
Get tender alerts when we launch
Join our free Monday email. You'll get new grants every week, and we'll tell you the moment North East tender alerts go live.
Tenders FAQ
Where do North East councils advertise tenders?
The 12 North East councils advertise most contracts on the Open e-tendering portal run by NEPO, the North East Procurement Organisation. Higher-value contracts are also published on Find a Tender, and many appear on Contracts Finder.
Does it cost anything to bid for council contracts?
No. Registering on the NEPO Open portal, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder is free, and so is downloading tender documents.
Can small businesses win public sector contracts?
Yes. Councils use quotations for lower-value work, often price-only, and many encourage bids from local small firms, social enterprises and charities. Start with smaller quotes to build a track record.
When will Sourced North East launch tender alerts?
We are building a weekly North East tenders feed. Join the Monday newsletter and we will tell you as soon as tender alerts are ready.
Questions or suggestions? Email hello@northeastsourced.co.uk.