Updated 22 October 2026 · Avenclear Cleaning
The rules
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025 for new procurements, replacing the previous regulations. Scotland has its own regime under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. Value thresholds decide which formal procedures apply.
Where opportunities are published
- Find a Tender, the central platform for notices under the Procurement Act
- Contracts Finder, still used for some lower-value opportunities in England
- Public Contracts Scotland in Scotland
- Sell2Wales in Wales
- eTendersNI in Northern Ireland
Frameworks
Many public bodies buy through frameworks, which are pre-approved supplier lists set up by organisations such as the Crown Commercial Service or regional purchasing consortia. Buying through a framework can be quicker than running a full tender.
Social value
Public buyers often score bids on social value as well as price and quality. For cleaning, that commonly includes paying the Real Living Wage, local employment, training and environmental measures.
What a good cleaning tender includes
- A clear specification with floor areas and frequencies
- Site visit arrangements for bidders
- TUPE information for any existing staff
- Quality measures and how performance will be audited
- Evaluation criteria and weightings
This guide is general information, not legal or procurement advice.