Contract notice
A contract notice is any notification that provides information about an upcoming construction contract. It is essentially an advertisement. Today, most contract notices appear online but they may also be published in the hard copy versions of professional or other journals.
The UK government publishes public contract notices on its website and in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The OJEU is the official on-line gazette of record for the EU. Publishing contract notices in the OJEU is required for public projects above a certain value.
Publishing contract notices in the OJEU is intended to open up public procurement and ensure the free movement of supplies, services and works within the EU. Private projects may also need to be published in the OJEU if they have been publicly subsidised.
Contracts posted in the OJEU may range from the supply of materials, to the installation of a school football pitch, to large multi-million-pound framework contracts for infrastructure. Details of the project will be provided to enable interested parties to ascertain whether the contract is of interest and how to pursue it.
Typical details published in the OJEU can include:
- Type of contract;
- Estimated value;
- Information about whether the project is divided into lots;
- Description of the procurement process;
- Duration of the contract;
- Any extension periods, and
- Administrative and procedural information
The UK Government’s Contract Finder provides a search engine for contract notices on government and agency projects worth more than £10,000. It divides project notices into public sector and supply chain, breaking opportunities down further into location and contract value.
In Scotland, public contract notices must be published on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) which provides free access to contract opportunities. It has details of contracts with Scottish local authorities, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government, agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), higher and further education and emergency services.
For more information, see Dynamic purchasing system under the Single Procurement Document (Scotland).
Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own separate procurement websites. See below.
See also: Prior information notice.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bespoke construction contract.
- Construction contractor.
- Contract documents for construction.
- Contractual obligation.
- Contractual right.
- Design and build procurement route.
- Dynamic purchasing system under the Single Procurement Document (Scotland).
- Early appointment / involvement.
- E-sourcing.
- JCT.
- JCT Construction management contract.
- Lump sum contract.
- Prior information notice.
- Procurement route.
- Procurement team.
- Reserved contract.
- Standard form of contract.
- Tender documentation for construction projects.
- Traditional contract for construction.
- Traditional contract: tender.
- Typical tender process for construction projects.
- Variations in construction contracts.
[edit] External sources
- Public Contracts Scotland for opportunities with public sector bodies in Scotland.
- Sell2Wales for opportunities with public sector bodies in Wales.
- eSourcing NI and eTendersNI for opportunities with public sector bodies in Northern Ireland.
Featured articles and news
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.