Find a Tender · January to September 2026

Single-bid tenders in the UK

10.7% of the 16,033 competed lots awarded through Find a Tender received one bid and no other. The median lot drew 5. The United Kingdom is missing from the European count because it stopped publishing to Brussels; this reads the register it publishes to now, on the same definition.

10.7%of competed lots drew a single bid
5bids on the median lot
16,033competed lots with a readable count
8,235lots excluded as not a competition

Buyers whose tenders draw the fewest bids

The 100 buyers that awarded at least 30 competed lots with a readable count. Find a Tender names its buyers, so no lookup is needed and none is guessed.

#BuyerSingle bidLots
1Bristol City Councilmedian 183.6%49
2North Lincolnshire Councilmedian 179.6%54
3NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)median 155.5%54
4LONDON BUS SERVICES LIMITEDmedian 155.4%92
5London Borough of Mertonmedian 347.3%93
6NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LIMITEDmedian 243.4%46
7Tees Valley Combined Authoritymedian 240.0%40
8Ministry of Defencemedian 234.3%67
9Kent County Councilmedian 333.3%33
10Stoke on Trent City Councilmedian 228.5%35
11Derry City and Strabane District Councilmedian 2.528.3%74
12Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Councilmedian 325.8%31
13City of Bradford Metropolitan District Councilmedian 523.0%39
14Carmarthenshire County Councilmedian 222.2%54
15Hull City Councilmedian 521.6%37
16UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)median 421.0%57
17Angus Councilmedian 319.6%66
18the Education Authoritymedian 319.5%41
19Cyngor Gwyneddmedian 218.3%49
20Hertfordshire County Councilmedian 518.0%50
21Wrexham County Borough Councilmedian 317.7%45
22Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councilmedian 10.517.6%34
23Gloucestershire County Councilmedian 5.517.5%40
24COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTmedian 316.6%30
25Wirral Councilmedian 615.6%32
26Derbyshire County Councilmedian 814.2%35
27Sheffield City Councilmedian 513.8%36
28BRITISH COUNCIL(THE)median 413.3%30
29Maidstone Borough Councilmedian 3.513.3%30
30The Association of North East Councils Limitedmedian 3.513.3%30
31Durham County Councilmedian 912.9%31
32DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)median 412.5%48
33London Borough of Tower Hamletsmedian 312.5%32
34Belfast Health and Social Care Trustmedian 512.5%56
35City & County of Swanseamedian 412.2%49
36Newcastle City Councilmedian 511.7%34
37Cumberland Councilmedian 2.511.7%34
38Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Governmentmedian 311.4%35
39Nottingham City Councilmedian 410.4%48
40NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)median 410.2%39
41Yorkshire Purchasing Organisationmedian 59.4%106
42Wolverhampton City Councilmedian 69.3%43
43Natural Resources Walesmedian 69.3%32
44Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Officemedian 48.6%46
45NHS Englandmedian 6.58.0%50
46Manchester City Councilmedian 57.8%38
47Hampshire County Councilmedian 57.3%41
48NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITEDmedian 46.6%30
49Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Servicemedian 66.2%128
50Lincolnshire County Councilmedian 76.2%32
51Neath Port Talbot County Borough Councilmedian 46.2%48
52Leicester City Councilmedian 86.0%33
53North Northamptonshire Councilmedian 106.0%33
54The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland) (PSD Scotland)median 36.0%33
55Northern Ireland Housing Executivemedian 85.5%54
56The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) (NSS)median 74.5%175
57Norfolk County Councilmedian 73.5%57
58Government Commercial Agencymedian 113.4%88
59Devon County Councilmedian 103.3%30
60University Of Edinburghmedian 5.53.1%32
61Department for Educationmedian 43.1%32
62APUC Limitedmedian 63.0%33
63Essex County Councilmedian 52.8%35
64Pembrokeshire County Councilmedian 9.52.1%46
65Fife Councilmedian 9.52.0%48
66Coventry City Councilmedian 31.7%56
67Beyond Housing Limitedmedian 101.5%63
68Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive T/A Nexusmedian 41.5%198
69Lincolnshire County Councilmedian 121.4%67
70Devon County Councilmedian 111.3%293
71Forestry Commissionmedian 71.3%72
72Surrey County Councilmedian 111.2%232
73NHS Englandmedian 251.1%168
74Sutton, Achieving for Children and Kingstonmedian 160.5%177
75Staffordshire County Councilmedian 50.0%40
76Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPOmedian 260.0%240
77The North Yorkshire Councilmedian 130.0%41
78Aberdeenshire Councilmedian 50.0%37
79Forestry and Land Scotlandmedian 8.50.0%68
80Regional Business Services Organisation, Procurement and Logistics Servicemedian 570.0%79
81SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION LIMITEDmedian 100.0%50
82Derbyshire County Councilmedian 210.0%48
83Carmarthenshire County Councilmedian 90.0%36
84East Riding of Yorkshire Councilmedian 33.50.0%56
85Surrey County Councilmedian 480.0%165
86The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of Londonmedian 60.0%35
87Leeds City Councilmedian 4.50.0%38
88Manchester City Councilmedian 2910.0%40
89The Council of the Borough of Kirkleesmedian 120.0%78
90Scotland Excelmedian 16.50.0%54
91Educomedian 30.0%36
92London Borough of Enfieldmedian 360.0%32
93Surrey County Councilmedian 660.0%41
94London Borough of Haringeymedian 660.0%44
95Crescent Purchasing Consortium Limitedmedian 80.0%57
96THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION LIMITEDmedian 11.50.0%32
97The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland ) (PSDS)median 170.0%32
98COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTmedian 710.0%61
99Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Councilmedian 210.0%54
100Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, trading as North of England NHS Commercial Procurement Collaborative ("NOE CPC")median 110.0%63

By CPV division

The 41 divisions carrying at least 30 competed lots.

CPVDivisionSingle bidLots
14Mining, basic metals and related products37.5%40
03Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products25.0%60
38Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)25.0%112
70Real estate services24.1%124
65Public utilities23.3%30
66Financial and insurance services20.8%504
75Administration, defence and social security services18.9%137
98Other community, social and personal services18.4%173
92Recreational, cultural and sporting services16.2%86
37Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories15.7%70
44Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)15.2%308
80Education and training services14.6%635
63Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services13.7%80
90Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services13.2%813
72IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support12.1%380
60Transport services (excl. Waste transport)12.1%1,749
35Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment12.0%100
85Health and social work services11.5%2,235
64Postal and telecommunications services11.4%35
34Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation10.8%452
77Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services10.8%377
30Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages10.4%144
50Repair and maintenance services10.0%676
73Research and development services and related consultancy services9.5%147
48Software package and information systems9.0%231
42Industrial machinery8.5%163
15Food, beverages, tobacco and related products8.3%155
45Construction work7.9%1,789
32Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment7.9%101
79Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security7.7%1,302
33Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products7.0%785
43Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment7.0%71
24Chemical products6.9%43
55Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services6.7%309
31Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting6.5%182
39Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products5.8%221
22Printed matter and related products5.8%86
71Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services5.3%764
09Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy5.0%180
18Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories2.0%100
16Agricultural machinery0.0%30

Code by code

The 80 CPV codes carrying at least 30 competed lots. Each opens its page in the CPV tree.

CodeDescriptionSingle bidLots
85140000Miscellaneous health services54.2%35
70333000Housing services42.8%56
60170000Hire of passenger transport vehicles with driver36.5%123
90510000Refuse disposal and treatment36.3%33
38000000Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)33.3%39
75200000Provision of services to the community31.4%54
60112000Public road transport services30.5%344
45210000Building construction work30.2%139
90000000Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services26.5%49
85323000Community health services23.4%47
90500000Refuse and waste related services22.8%171
80500000Training services21.7%46
79952000Event services21.5%51
66510000Insurance services20.5%306
98000000Other community, social and personal services19.1%47
79400000Business and management consultancy and related services18.9%37
77000000Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services16.1%62
33141720Walking aids16.1%31
66000000Financial and insurance services15.7%57
60120000Taxi services15.5%148
79212000Auditing services15.1%33
79620000Supply services of personnel including temporary staff13.7%51
15000000Food, beverages, tobacco and related products13.7%58
72000000IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support13.1%160
80000000Education and training services12.6%394
79410000Business and management consultancy services12.5%32
85312000Social work services without accommodation12.5%40
85300000Social work and related services11.7%119
77314000Grounds maintenance services11.0%118
45211000Construction work for multi-dwelling buildings and individual houses10.0%40
85000000Health and social work services9.1%944
34100000Motor vehicles8.8%34
50000000Repair and maintenance services8.4%249
34928480Waste and rubbish containers and bins8.3%36
73000000Research and development services and related consultancy services8.2%73
85100000Health services8.1%578
60172000Hire of buses and coaches with driver8.1%61
50700000Repair and maintenance services of building installations8.1%49
79600000Recruitment services7.8%51
45300000Building installation work7.6%92
72222300Information technology services7.6%39
79411000General management consultancy services7.6%39
45000000Construction work7.5%571
85311000Social work services with accommodation7.3%82
50750000Lift-maintenance services7.3%41
33000000Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products6.8%131
48000000Software package and information systems6.8%117
73110000Research services6.6%30
33600000Pharmaceutical products6.4%171
33140000Medical consumables5.6%106
60100000Road transport services5.3%130
09310000Electricity4.8%41
77200000Forestry services4.7%63
34121100Public-service buses4.7%63
09000000Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy4.6%65
33141110Dressings4.5%44
34121000Buses and coaches4.4%45
79000000Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security3.7%54
45211100Construction work for houses3.3%30
45310000Electrical installation work3.1%32
45260000Roof works and other special trade construction works3.0%33
55524000School catering services2.9%168
90900000Cleaning and sanitation services2.8%35
44000000Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)2.7%36
60000000Transport services (excl. Waste transport)2.5%897
45220000Engineering works and construction works2.3%85
39000000Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products2.3%42
79100000Legal services2.2%264
55520000Catering services2.2%44
71000000Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services2.0%97
79340000Advertising and marketing services1.7%56
45200000Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work1.4%71
79710000Security services1.2%78
71530000Construction consultancy services1.1%87
90919300School cleaning services0.7%139
45453100Refurbishment work0.0%47
33192100Beds for medical use0.0%35
90910000Cleaning services0.0%48
50711000Repair and maintenance services of electrical building installations0.0%40
80400000Adult and other education services0.0%49

How this is counted

The source is Find a Tender, the service the United Kingdom publishes to since leaving the Union, and the field is bids.statistics with measure "bids", which OCDS carries per lot. Awards made without a call for competition are excluded, 6,601 notices and 8,235 lots of them, because a single bid there is the design of the procedure and not a finding: in this edition those ran at 80.1% single bid against 9.7% for the open procedure, and Portugal and France exclude the same thing from their own registers for the same reason. The unit is the lot. A code is attributed exactly for 9,983 lots, where the award item carries both the classification and the lot it belongs to; the other 6,050 take the single code their notice carries for the whole of it, which is the same compromise the EU Official Journal forces everywhere. A division, code or buyer appears only above 30 lots. 88 lots were dropped above 500 bids, the same ceiling the French and European pipelines use. Harvested 2026-10-12.

Read against the other registers this site counts, each on its own competed procedure and its own months: Portugal 13.8%, France 17.5%, the EU Official Journal 35.9% above the European thresholds. Each counts a different universe, and none of them checks the others.

Frequently asked questions

01

What share of UK public tenders receives only one bid?

10.7% of the 16,033 competed lots awarded through Find a Tender from January to September 2026 received exactly one bid, and the median lot drew 5. Counted on the OCDS field bids.statistics. Awards made without a call for competition are excluded, all 8,235 of their lots, because there a single bid is the design of the procedure rather than a finding, which is the same rule Portugal and France apply to their own registers.

02

Which UK buyers publish the least contested tenders?

Bristol City Council: 83.6% of 49 lots. North Lincolnshire Council: 79.6% of 54 lots. NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust): 55.5% of 54 lots. LONDON BUS SERVICES LIMITED: 55.4% of 92 lots. London Borough of Merton: 47.3% of 93 lots. NORTHERN IRELAND WATER LIMITED: 43.4% of 46 lots. Tees Valley Combined Authority: 40.0% of 40 lots. Ministry of Defence: 34.3% of 67 lots. Kent County Council: 33.3% of 33 lots. Stoke on Trent City Council: 28.5% of 35 lots.

03

Why is the UK not in the EU single-bid figures?

Because it left the Union and stopped publishing to the EU Official Journal. TED carries 60 British lots for January to July 2026 against 571,148 across the Union, which is not a market but a residue. Find a Tender is where the UK publishes now, and it carries the same field, so the question is answered here instead and on the same definition.

See what is open under your code