A commercial cleaning tender is a structured competition in which a buyer publishes a specification, suppliers respond to scored quality and price questions, and the contract is awarded on best value. In the UK, public tenders now run under the Procurement Act 2023, and this guide explains the portals, thresholds and stages so your bid lands in the right place.
How does a cleaning tender work?
A tender begins when a buyer publishes a specification — the areas, tasks, frequencies and standards it wants delivered — and invites suppliers to respond by a deadline. Responses are usually split into a prequalification stage (a pass/fail check on insurance, accreditations, financial standing and policies) and an award stage where scored quality answers and price are weighted together. The highest combined score wins. Understanding output-based versus input-based specifications helps you answer what the buyer is really asking for.
The Procurement Act 2023 and what changed
Public-sector procurement in the UK is now governed by the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025 and replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 with a single framework. It keeps the emphasis on transparency and value, and public buyers continue to advertise through Contracts Finder and the Find a Tender Service. For the detail of where each opportunity appears, see public-sector cleaning contracts.
Where cleaning tenders are published and the thresholds
The value of the contract determines where it must be advertised. Lower-value public work appears on Contracts Finder; higher-value work is advertised on the Find a Tender Service. Much soft-services work is also awarded through frameworks such as Crown Commercial Service RM6378, where cleaning sits in Lot 3 (Soft FM).
What buyers score, and how to pass prequalification
At prequalification, expect checks on Employers' Liability insurance (compulsory, £5 million minimum), Public Liability (commonly £5 million), health-and-safety accreditation (SafeContractor, CHAS or SSIP), and core policies. At the award stage, scored questions typically cover mobilisation, staffing and TUPE, quality management and auditing, health and safety, environmental and social value, and business continuity. Read our companion guide on writing a cleaning tender response.
Price, and why the wage floor matters
Price is scored alongside quality, not in isolation. Because no compliant bid can sit below the cost of legally employing the cleaner — the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour from April 2026, with the real Living Wage at £13.45 (£14.80 in London) often required in tenders — an unusually low price is a red flag to evaluators. Build your price transparently and validate it against a fixed monthly quote.
UK public cleaning tender — where it is advertised by value
| Route | Value (including VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts Finder (central government) | £12,000 and above | Lower-value opportunities and awards |
| Contracts Finder (councils / NHS Trusts) | £30,000 and above | Sub-central authorities publish here |
| Find a Tender Service | Usually above £139,688 | High-value goods and services threshold |
| CCS RM6378 framework | Call-off by competition or direct award | Cleaning is in Lot 3 (Soft FM) |