Government Construction Tenders UK
Find active construction contracts across NHS, local authorities, central government, and public sector frameworks.
Construction procurement in the UK public sector
UK public sector construction spending exceeds £60 billion per year, making it one of the largest and most accessible markets for SMEs in the built environment. Central government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, and educational bodies all commission construction works — from large capital projects to routine maintenance, refurbishment, and planned preventive maintenance.
Construction tenders range from small-works packages worth £50,000 to major new-build programmes running into hundreds of millions. The most SME-accessible opportunities sit in the £100,000 to £5 million bracket, where buyers are required to consider proportionate qualification requirements and cannot impose turnover thresholds more than twice the contract value. Many councils and housing associations deliberately disaggregate large works programmes into smaller lots to encourage local contractor participation.
The primary procurement routes are Find a Tender (above the Procurement Act 2023 thresholds) and Contracts Finder (below threshold). Many public bodies also use established frameworks — including Procure 22, Crown Commercial Service construction lots, and NHS SBS estates frameworks — to run call-off competitions. Suppliers on these frameworks benefit from repeated opportunities across multiple buying authorities without re-tendering each time.
Key compliance requirements include Constructionline or CHAS membership, public liability insurance of at least £5 million, employer's liability insurance, and ISO 9001 quality management. Social value commitments — covering local employment, apprenticeships, and carbon reduction — are now evaluated at 10 to 20 per cent on most central government and NHS construction tenders.
Common contract types
- ✓New build and capital works
- ✓Refurbishment and fit-out
- ✓Planned preventive maintenance
- ✓Reactive maintenance contracts
- ✓Decarbonisation and retrofit works
- ✓Roads and civil engineering
- ✓Demolition and enabling works
- ✓M&E installation and maintenance
Key frameworks
- ›Procure 22 (P22)
- ›Crown Commercial Service RM6165 Construction
- ›NHS Shared Business Services Estates
- ›LHC Group frameworks
- ›Southern Construction Framework (SCF)
Frequently asked questions — Construction tenders
What CPV codes cover construction tenders?
Construction tenders use CPV division 45 (Construction work). Key sub-categories include 45100000 (site preparation), 45200000 (building work), 45300000 (building installation), 45400000 (building completion), and 45500000 (plant hire with operator). Maintenance and repair services sometimes fall under CPV 50000000 rather than 45.
Do I need Constructionline to bid for government construction contracts?
Constructionline is not a legal requirement but it is widely specified in pre-qualification questionnaires for public sector construction work, particularly in local authority and NHS contracts. It functions as a supply chain management scheme that verifies your insurance, health and safety policies, financial standing, and relevant experience. Many buyers accept equivalent schemes such as CHAS, SMAS, or Acclaim instead of Constructionline.
What is the Procurement Act 2023 threshold for construction contracts?
Under the Procurement Act 2023, the works contract threshold for central government contracting authorities is £5,372,609. For sub-central authorities (local councils, NHS trusts, utilities) the threshold is the same. Above this value, contracts must be advertised on Find a Tender. Below threshold, contracts must still be published on Contracts Finder if awarded by a public body, unless the contract value is below £10,000 for central government.
How does social value scoring work in construction tenders?
Social value is scored under PPN 06/20 using the five TOMs themes: jobs, skills and growth; supporting business; supporting communities; place; and net zero and environmental resilience. Construction contracts typically weight social value at 10 to 20 per cent of the total evaluation score, with buyers requiring specific measurable commitments such as apprenticeship weeks, local spend percentages, carbon reduction targets, and community investment hours.
Can subcontractors find public sector construction opportunities on KimonBids?
KimonBids surfaces both prime contractor opportunities (published on procurement portals) and framework call-off notices where subcontract opportunities arise. The platform also monitors Dynamic Purchasing System openings where specialist subcontractors can register directly. Setting up keyword alerts for your specific trade — groundworks, M&E, roofing — will surface the most relevant sub-contract tender notices.
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