Quick answer: To register as a UK government supplier, you need accounts on the Supplier Registration Service (SRS), Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, and Public Contracts Scotland or Sell2Wales if targeting those markets. Have your Companies House number, insurance certificates, and accreditation certificates ready. The whole process takes 1-2 hours and is completely free.
Before you register — what you need
Companies House registration number
If you are a sole trader, use your UTR number instead
Last 2 years' accounts
Or accounts from incorporation if less than 2 years old
Public liability insurance certificate
Minimum £2 million — £5-10m for many contracts
Professional indemnity insurance
Required for professional services and design work
Employer's liability certificate
Required if you employ anyone
Key accreditation certificates
ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials, CHAS — as applicable
Step-by-step registration guide
Supplier Registration Service (SRS)
30-60 minutes
Strongly recommended
supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
The central government supplier database. Register here and your information can be reused across multiple procurement exercises. Required for central government contracts under the Procurement Act 2023.
What you need:
GOV.UK One Login (for Find a Tender)
10 minutes
Required for alerts
find-tender.service.gov.uk
Create a GOV.UK One Login account to save searches and set up email alerts on Find a Tender. You can search without an account but cannot save searches or receive alerts.
What you need:
Contracts Finder
10 minutes
Recommended
contractsfinder.service.gov.uk
Register for alerts on English contracts of all values. Free to use. Use the same GOV.UK One Login account as Find a Tender.
What you need:
Public Contracts Scotland
15 minutes
Required for Scottish market
publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Register to access Scottish procurement opportunities, submit expressions of interest, and receive alerts. Free supplier registration.
What you need:
Sell2Wales
15 minutes
Required for Welsh market
sell2wales.gov.wales
Register to access Welsh procurement opportunities and set up alerts. Free supplier registration.
What you need:
Digital Marketplace (for G-Cloud/DOS)
20 minutes
Required for technology suppliers
marketplace.service.gov.uk
Register to apply for G-Cloud and Digital Outcomes frameworks. Note: you can register but can only list services when a competition window is open.
What you need:
Accreditations to obtain before bidding
These accreditations are commonly required in public sector Selection Questionnaires. Obtain them before you start bidding — being disqualified at selection stage because you lack an accreditation is avoidable with good planning:
Cyber Essentials
Before bidding for IT/digital contracts
~£300-600
2-4 weeks
ISO 9001
Before bidding for most service contracts
~£1,500-3,000
3-6 months
ISO 14001
Before bidding for contracts with environmental criteria
~£1,500-3,000
3-6 months
CHAS
Before bidding for construction/maintenance contracts
~£300-600
2-4 weeks
Constructionline
Before bidding for construction framework applications
~£300-800/year
2-4 weeks
JOSCAR
Before joining defence supply chains
Annual subscription
4-8 weeks
After registration — finding your first opportunity
Once registered, the most efficient way to find relevant opportunities is to set up alerts using PSIP rather than manually checking four separate portals daily. PSIP aggregates all four UK procurement portals and uses AI to score each opportunity for relevance to your specific business — saving hours of manual review every week.
- ✓Set up your PSIP business profile with a detailed description of what you do
- ✓Create saved alerts with relevant keywords and CPV codes
- ✓Use AI scoring to identify your highest-priority opportunities from daily alerts
- ✓Research target buyers using buyer intelligence before submitting your first bid
- ✓Check the procurement pipeline for upcoming contracts 12 months in advance
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to bid for government contracts?
You do not need to register anywhere to find and respond to most government tenders — they are published publicly. However, to express interest in opportunities, set up alerts, and submit bids, you typically need accounts on the relevant procurement portals. The Supplier Registration Service (SRS) is strongly recommended as it stores your information for reuse across multiple bids.
Is there a single government supplier register in the UK?
The Supplier Registration Service (SRS) at supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk is the closest to a single register, introduced alongside the Procurement Act 2023. However, Scotland uses its own PCS-Tender system, and many individual buyers have their own supplier portals. You may need to register on multiple systems.
How long does government supplier registration take?
Registering on the main portals typically takes 1-2 hours in total. The Supplier Registration Service takes 30-60 minutes with your documents ready. Each portal takes 10-15 minutes. Have your Companies House number, insurance certificates, and key accreditations to hand before starting.
Do I need to be VAT registered to supply government?
No. VAT registration is not a prerequisite for government contracting. However, most above-threshold contracts go to businesses of sufficient scale that VAT registration (above £90,000 turnover) would typically apply. Some buyers specify minimum turnover requirements that effectively require VAT registration.
Can sole traders and freelancers bid for government contracts?
Yes. Sole traders and freelancers can bid for government contracts, particularly through frameworks like Digital Outcomes and Specialists. However, financial standing requirements (typically minimum turnover 2x the contract value) can be challenging for smaller operators. Frameworks with lower turnover requirements and below-threshold contracts are more accessible.
What documents do I need to register as a government supplier?
Commonly required documents include: Companies House registration number, last 2 years' accounts, public liability insurance certificate (minimum £2-5m), professional indemnity insurance certificate, employer's liability certificate (if you have employees), and any relevant accreditation certificates (ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials etc).
How do I register on Public Contracts Scotland?
Go to publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk and click Register. Create a supplier account with your company details and contact information. Once registered, you can search for opportunities, submit expressions of interest, and access tender documents. Registration is free.
Find your first public sector opportunity
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