# Find a Tender API

> Find a Tender provides UK public-sector tender notices and opportunity details as a workflow and API.

Find a Tender searches open UK public-sector tender notices using required keywords and optional region, value, and closing-date filters.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/find-a-tender
- Handle: `@find-a-tender`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/tools/category/government)
- Source website: https://find-tender.service.gov.uk
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Search tenders

Operation `search_tenders`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find open UK public-sector tender notices matching keywords, optionally filtered by contract region, estimated value and closing date. Results are ordered by publication date, newest first. Estimated values use GBP excluding VAT when available, otherwise the listed GBP amount.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `region` | string | no | `"London"` | UK contract region in words, for example London or Scotland. Defaults to all regions. |
| `keywords` | string | yes | `"IT support"` | Words to find in tender notices, for example social care. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `5` | Maximum tender notices to return, for example 25; maximum 100. |
| `closing_after` | string | no | `"2026-10-01"` | Earliest closing date (inclusive), YYYY-MM-DD, for example 2026-10-01. Defaults to today in the UK. |
| `max_value_gbp` | number | no | `2000000` | Maximum estimated contract value in GBP, for example 5000000. Leave blank for no maximum. |
| `min_value_gbp` | number | no | `100000` | Minimum estimated contract value in GBP, for example 100000. Defaults to no minimum. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "keywords"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "region": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "all",
      "description": "UK contract region in words, for example London or Scotland. Defaults to all regions.",
      "examples": [
        "London",
        "Wales"
      ]
    },
    "keywords": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Words to find in tender notices, for example social care.",
      "examples": [
        "IT support",
        "social care"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 25,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum tender notices to return, for example 25; maximum 100.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        5,
        21,
        1
      ]
    },
    "closing_after": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "Earliest closing date (inclusive), YYYY-MM-DD, for example 2026-10-01. Defaults to today in the UK.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-10-01"
      ]
    },
    "max_value_gbp": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Maximum estimated contract value in GBP, for example 5000000. Leave blank for no maximum.",
      "examples": [
        2000000
      ]
    },
    "min_value_gbp": {
      "type": "number",
      "default": 0,
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Minimum estimated contract value in GBP, for example 100000. Defaults to no minimum.",
      "examples": [
        100000
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "region": "London",
      "keywords": "IT support",
      "max_results": 5,
      "min_value_gbp": 100000
    },
    {
      "keywords": "social care",
      "max_results": 21
    },
    {
      "region": "Wales",
      "keywords": "social care",
      "max_results": 1,
      "closing_after": "2026-10-01",
      "max_value_gbp": 2000000
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `tenders` | array |  |  |
| `tenders[].title` | string | `"Cirrus Consortium Materials Supply Framework"` |  |
| `tenders[].cpv_codes` | array |  |  |
| `tenders[].notice_id` | string | `"091589-2026"` |  |
| `tenders[].notice_link` | string | `"https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091589-2026"` |  |
| `tenders[].procedure_type` | string or null | `"Open procedure"` |  |
| `tenders[].publication_date` | string | `"2026-09-28"` |  |
| `tenders[].closing_date_time` | string or null | `"2026-11-09T12:00:00+00:00"` | ISO 8601 time with offset; null when the notice has no published deadline. |
| `tenders[].short_description` | string or null | `"The Cirrus Consortium is a procurement consortium with members including Registered Providers of Social Housing, Local ` |  |
| `tenders[].suitable_for_smes` | boolean or null | `true` |  |
| `tenders[].buyer_organisation` | string or null | `"Cirrus Consortium c/o Coastline Housing Limited"` |  |
| `tenders[].location_or_region` | string or null | `"UKC - North East (England); UKD - North West (England); UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber; UKF - East Midlands (England); ` |  |
| `tenders[].estimated_value_gbp` | number or null | `1200000000` |  |
| `tenders[].suitable_for_voluntary_and_community_organisations` | boolean or null | `true` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "region": "London",
  "keywords": "IT support",
  "max_results": 5,
  "min_value_gbp": 100000
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "tenders": [
    {
      "title": "Cirrus Consortium Materials Supply Framework",
      "cpv_codes": [
        "44100000"
      ],
      "notice_id": "091589-2026",
      "notice_link": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091589-2026",
      "procedure_type": "Open procedure",
      "publication_date": "2026-09-28",
      "closing_date_time": "2026-11-09T12:00:00+00:00",
      "short_description": "The Cirrus Consortium is a procurement consortium with members including Registered Providers of Social Housing, Local Authorities, ALMOs and NHS Trusts. The Consortium is seeking bids for the followi…",
      "suitable_for_smes": null,
      "buyer_organisation": "Cirrus Consortium c/o Coastline Housing Limited",
      "location_or_region": "UKC - North East (England); UKD - North West (England); UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber; UKF - East Midlands (England); UKG - West Midlands (England); UKH - East of England; UKI - London; UKJ - South E…",
      "estimated_value_gbp": 1200000000,
      "suitable_for_voluntary_and_community_organisations": null
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@find-a-tender",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_tenders",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "region": "London",
    "keywords": "IT support",
    "max_results": 5,
    "min_value_gbp": 100000
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@find-a-tender\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_tenders\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"region\": \"London\",\n    \"keywords\": \"IT support\",\n    \"max_results\": 5,\n    \"min_value_gbp\": 100000\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@find-a-tender",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_tenders",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "region": "London",
    "keywords": "IT support",
    "max_results": 5,
    "min_value_gbp": 100000
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/find-a-tender`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `search_tenders`: Search tenders. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-find-a-tender https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/find-a-tender --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Find open tenders matching your services
- Identify opportunities in a specific region
- Filter opportunities by estimated contract value
- Track tender deadlines and publication dates
- Review opportunities suitable for small businesses

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Find a Tender tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Find a Tender account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from find-tender.service.gov.uk when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### Which open tenders match my keywords?

Search tenders returns matching open notices when you provide keywords.

### What tenders are available in a particular region?

Search tenders can filter notices by a region such as London or Scotland.

### Which tenders close after a given date?

Search tenders can filter notices by their earliest closing date.

## Related

- [Tenders Electronic Daily API](https://fous.com/tools/tenders-electronic-daily.md): Tenders Electronic Daily provides recently published EU procurement notices, open tenders with future deadlines, and newest-first contract awards; values and deadlines may be absent.
- [SAM.gov API](https://fous.com/tools/sam-gov.md): U.S. federal contract opportunities and government notices.
- [Grants.gov API](https://fous.com/tools/grants-gov.md): U.S. federal grant opportunities and application information.
- [Find Case Law API](https://fous.com/tools/find-case-law.md): Search official UK court judgments and tribunal decisions from The National Archives.
- [Companies House API](https://fous.com/tools/companies-house.md): Companies House returns UK public-register company details, officers, people with significant control and recent filings; records may be incomplete, and ceased entries are optional.
- [GOV.UK API](https://fous.com/tools/gov-uk.md): GOV.UK provides summarized current travel advice with linked details, published regional holidays (none for unpublished years), and possible matches on the current UK Sanctions List.
- [NHS API](https://fous.com/tools/nhs.md): NHS provides condition and medicine guidance, with condition dates reflecting the latest pages used, and nearby England service listings ordered by distance; availability details may be missing.
- [USAspending API](https://fous.com/tools/usaspending.md): USAspending provides official federal spending data and searchable awards from October 1, 2007 onward; figures and agency account reports may be revised or lag published award updates.
- [All Government tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/government)