Clarification questions

See your count first: Spot my contracts counts how many notices would have reached a firm like yours in the last 90 days. If it's under about four a month, we don't offer a trial, and we show you how to widen your search instead.

Worth a bid: in your field, the value fits and the notice asks for nothing you lack. A stretch: one or two things you could fix, such as a higher insurance level. Not this one: something you can't fix in time, like an area reservation or SC clearance. Each comes with reasons.

The official sources: Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, read every hour, and Public Contracts Scotland, read each morning from 4am. Not covered: contracts a buyer doesn't advertise (under the Procurement Act a notice is needed only when a buyer advertises a contract worth £12,000 or more for central government and NHS trusts, or £30,000 or more for other buyers, including VAT; Scottish buyers need to advertise only from £50,000 for goods and services or £2 million for works, excluding VAT), buyers' own portals, and Sell2Wales-only and eTendersNI-only notices.

No. Bidlark is independent. It reads the official notices, which are published under the Open Government Licence, and links you to the official page for every one.

They're told to use only your facts and leave gaps in brackets, and every answer is checked afterwards: any amount, year, count, certificate or organisation name that isn't in your facts is highlighted. AI can still get things wrong, which is why you check every answer and tick the box before you download.

No. Nobody here writes, reviews or submits bids. You check every answer, you decide, and you submit through the buyer's own portal.

Weekdays before 7am, only when something fits, plus a week-ahead email every Monday with awards in your field, near misses and your deadlines. You can pause or turn off any email in one tap.

Yes, any time, in Billing. Your plan runs to the end of the period you've paid for. Payments aren't refundable: the 14 days free with a card are the way to try it.

It depends on your field, the size of contract you'd take on and where you can work. Your count at Spot my contracts shows the real number for the last 90 days, and "about N a month".

Because the data says a local trade would see almost nothing: in 90 days, the median county area saw no fitting notices a month for cleaners, caterers, decorators or taxi firms. Most of that work sits under the £30,000 notice threshold or inside large multi-year contracts. For now, Bidlark is for desk-based firms.

On a below-threshold competition, the Procurement Act 2023 (section 85) stops the buyer shortlisting suppliers on suitability before tenders. It can still check suitability when it awards. We show the flag only where every condition is met, and never for buyers in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, frameworks, works, concessions, utilities contracts or schools.

The buyer has limited the competition to SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Under the Procurement Act an SME has fewer than 250 staff and a turnover of £44 million or less (or a balance sheet of £38 million or less). Most firms with under 250 staff count.

Yes. "Track this" puts it on your board, sends reminders 7, 3 and 1 days before the deadline, emails you if the notice changes, and adds it to a private calendar feed you can subscribe to in Google, Apple or Outlook.

Pro has up to 3 profiles, for example two trading arms, each with its own fields, holdings and past work. Solo has one.

We use your profile to match notices and write drafts, and nothing else. Uploads are deleted after 30 days. Our admin screens never show your drafts or saved answers. See the privacy policy.

Press "This reading looks wrong" on the notice in your account. We read the notice again with a stronger model and email you if the reading changes. The official notice always has the final word.

No. Seeing your count is free at Spot my contracts, and every plan starts with 14 days free with a card, once per account. Nothing is taken for 14 days, and we email you 7 days and again 3 days before the first payment.

One draft for one tender: all its questions, drafted from your own facts, with up to 3 rewrites per question. Pro includes 10 bid packs a month.

Yes, in Billing, any time. Switching is prorated. Moving to Solo pauses profiles beyond the first; your drafts and saved answers stay viewable and downloadable.

Businesses only: sole traders, partnerships, companies and charities buying for their work.

HIGHFOLD* BIDLARK. Bidlark is part of Highfold Group.