Current UK procurement thresholds (2025)
The following thresholds are in effect since 24 February 2025 under the Procurement Act 2023.
| Category | Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Central government goods and services | £139,688 | Central government departments, agencies, NDPBs |
| Sub-central government goods and services | £213,477 | Local authorities, NHS bodies, universities |
| Works (all authorities) | £5,372,609 | All construction and civil engineering |
| Light-touch regime | £663,540 | Health, social, education, cultural services |
| Utilities goods and services | £429,809 | Energy, water, transport, postal sectors |
| Utilities works | £5,372,609 | Same as general works threshold |
| Concessions | £5,372,609 | Concession contracts for works and services |
What do thresholds mean in practice?
Above-threshold procurements must be published on Find a Tender, follow a defined competitive process, and meet PA23 notice requirements. Between £12,000 and the relevant threshold, English authorities must publish on Contracts Finder and follow general procurement principles. Below £12,000, most buyers operate on discretionary quotation. TenderSignal captures notices published voluntarily below the national thresholds alongside all mandatory publications.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
The Procurement Act 2023 applies to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own procurement legislation with equivalent thresholds aligned to the WTO GPA. Scottish public bodies publish on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) rather than Find a Tender. Welsh bodies are subject to PA23 and also publish on Sell2Wales. Northern Ireland bodies publish on Find a Tender and eTendersNI.
The below-threshold market: often overlooked
The majority of UK public sector contracts by volume are below the main thresholds. Most council contracts for cleaning, grounds maintenance, social care, and minor works sit below £213,477. These are often the contracts SMEs can win most readily. Below-threshold contracts are published on Contracts Finder, PCS, Sell2Wales, buyer portals, and framework systems. TenderSignal aggregates all of these sources, making the below-threshold market as visible as the above-threshold market in your daily feed.
Light-touch regime: what qualifies?
The light-touch regime applies to health and social care services, education, hotel and restaurant services, legal services, and certain cultural and recreational services -- with a higher threshold of £663,540. For care providers, training companies, and professional services firms, this means buyers have more flexibility in procurement design, which can result in more relationship-based approaches that suit SMEs.
How to use thresholds when setting up tender alerts
TenderSignal's contract value filter lets you set a minimum and maximum value for your alerts. Matching your value range to your delivery capacity is one of the most effective ways to reduce alert noise and focus on winnable opportunities. Create a free account to set your filters and start receiving matched alerts.