Blog/How to Use PSIP

How to Use PSIP to Find and Win UK Public Sector Contracts

A step-by-step guide to getting the most from PSIP — from setting up your profile and running your first search to using AI scoring, buyer intelligence, and competitor tracking to build a winning public sector pipeline.

Published by PSIP·March 2026·10 min read·Last updated: March 2026

What PSIP does: PSIP aggregates tender data from all four UK procurement portals — Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, and Sell2Wales — into one searchable database updated daily. It adds AI relevance scoring, buyer intelligence, incumbent tracking, framework monitoring, and real-time alerts so you find the right opportunities faster and win more contracts.

Getting started — 8 steps to your first win

01

Set up your business profile

Before searching, go to your Profile page and complete your business description, select your target sectors, and add keywords that describe what you do. This is used by the AI scoring engine — the more specific and accurate your profile, the more relevant your scores will be.

💡 Tip: Be specific. "Cloud-based case management software for local government housing teams" will generate more relevant scores than "software company".

Go to Profile →
02

Search for tenders

Use the Search page to find tenders across all four UK procurement portals simultaneously. Filter by keyword, CPV code, source portal, status, contract value, and date range. Results are sorted by published date by default — or by AI relevance score after scoring.

💡 Tip: Try searching by CPV code rather than keyword to catch contracts with vague titles that still match your category.

Go to Search →
03

Score with AI

After running a search, click "Score with AI" to have Claude evaluate each result against your business profile. Each tender receives a score from 1-10 and a reasoning statement. Sort results by score to immediately see your highest-value opportunities. Available on Growth plan and above.

💡 Tip: Tenders scoring 8-10 are strong candidates. Review the reasoning statement to understand why — it often highlights specific aspects of the tender that match your capabilities.

Try AI scoring →
04

Set up saved alerts

Save your best search criteria as named alerts. PSIP will email you matching new tenders — daily (Starter), 4-hourly (Growth), or hourly (Professional+). You can create up to 3 alerts on Starter, 10 on Growth, or unlimited on Professional+.

💡 Tip: Create separate alerts for different aspects of your business — one for your core service, one for adjacent opportunities, one for a specific target buyer. This ensures you never miss a relevant contract.

Go to Alerts →
05

Research buyers with Buyer Intelligence

Click any buyer name in search results to access their Buyer Intelligence page. See their historic contract spend, top supplier relationships, procurement patterns, and upcoming re-tenders. Available on Professional plan and above.

💡 Tip: Before bidding on a contract, research the buyer. Understanding their spending patterns and incumbent relationships helps you position your bid more effectively.

View Buyer Intelligence →
06

Track competitors with Incumbent Tracker

Search any supplier by name to see their full UK public sector contract win history — values, buyers, dates, and contract durations. Identify which competitors hold contracts in your target market and when those contracts expire.

💡 Tip: Set up alerts for your top competitors' names. You'll be notified when they win new contracts — intelligence you can use to understand where they are building relationships.

View Incumbent Tracker →
07

Monitor the procurement pipeline

The Pipeline page shows all procurement pipeline notices published under the Procurement Act 2023 — upcoming contracts announced 12 months in advance. Filter by sector, value, and buyer to identify target contracts before they go to tender.

💡 Tip: Check the pipeline page weekly. When you spot a relevant upcoming contract, contact the buyer's commercial lead immediately to express interest and request pre-market engagement.

View Pipeline →
08

Track CCS frameworks

The CCS Frameworks page shows all active Crown Commercial Service frameworks with expiry dates and lot information. Monitor for upcoming framework competitions and plan your application schedule.

💡 Tip: Set an alert for "G-Cloud" and "Digital Outcomes" as keywords — you'll be notified the moment a new competition window opens on Find a Tender.

View CCS Frameworks →

PSIP plans — which is right for you?

FeatureStarterGrowthProfessionalBid Agency
Price£99/mo£599/mo£1,199/moContact us
Saved alerts310UnlimitedUnlimited
Alert frequencyDaily4-hourlyHourlyHourly
AI scoring
Buyer intelligence
API access
Client workspaces
Team management

Frequently asked questions

What is PSIP?

PSIP is a UK public sector contract intelligence platform that aggregates tender data from all four official UK procurement portals — Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, and Sell2Wales — into one searchable database. It provides real-time alerts, AI relevance scoring, buyer intelligence, incumbent tracking, and framework monitoring for suppliers, consultants, and bid agencies.

How much does PSIP cost?

PSIP starts at £99 per month for the Starter plan, which includes up to 3 saved alerts, daily email digest, and 3 months data history. Growth (£599/month), Professional (£1,199/month), Bid Agency, and Enterprise plans offer additional features including AI scoring, buyer intelligence, API access, and team management. A 7-day free trial is available on the Starter plan with no credit card required.

How does PSIP AI scoring work?

PSIP uses Anthropic's Claude AI to score each tender 1-10 for relevance to your specific business profile. You provide a business description, sector focus, and keywords in your profile. The AI reads each tender notice and scores how well it matches your capabilities — allowing you to quickly identify the most relevant opportunities from hundreds of daily notices.

What procurement portals does PSIP cover?

PSIP aggregates data from four official UK government procurement portals: Find a Tender Service (UK-wide above-threshold), Contracts Finder (England all values), Public Contracts Scotland, and Sell2Wales. Data is updated daily from official government APIs.

Can bid agencies use PSIP for multiple clients?

Yes. The Bid Agency plan includes client workspaces — separate profiles for each client with their own business description, sectors, and keywords. When you switch to a client workspace, AI scoring automatically uses that client's profile. Team management allows you to assign team members to specific client workspaces.

Does PSIP have an API?

Yes. Professional plan and above users can access the PSIP REST API with Bearer token authentication. The API provides access to tender data with filters for keywords, status, source, and more. API keys are managed in the profile settings.

How do I set up tender alerts on PSIP?

Go to the Alerts page in your dashboard and create a saved search with your preferred keywords, CPV codes, buyer names, and value ranges. Give it a name and save it. PSIP will email you matching new tenders according to your plan's alert frequency — daily (Starter), 4-hourly (Growth), or hourly (Professional+).

Start your free trial today

7-day free trial on the Starter plan. No credit card required. Search 65,000+ UK public sector tenders and set up your first alerts in minutes.

Start free trial