The Procurement Act's early-signal effect, one year on

Under the Procurement Act 2023, the volume of early-stage procurement signals on Find a Tender has permanently shifted upward. Intent notices spiked again in May 2026, at the same point in the financial year when buyers rush to meet the Pipeline Notice deadline. Even accounting for last year's one-off catch-up effect, early-stage publishing is running at nearly four times the pre-Act baseline. For suppliers, pipeline and pre-tender notices are now one of the strongest signals available for what's coming to market, often months before a tender lands.

Last year, we flagged a surge in early-stage signals on Find a Tender, which has taken over as the primary procurement portal, as buyers adjusted to the Procurement Act. A year on, that shift hasn't reversed, it's become a rhythm.

Intent notices spiked again in May 2026, at the same point in the financial year that buyers rush to meet the Pipeline Notice deadline. The shape is now familiar: a quiet pre-Act baseline of around 705 in May 2024, a first-year surge to 4.72k in May 2025, and another clear spike to 2.63k in May 2026.

Why May 2026 sits below last year's peak, but the market isn't cooling

May 2026 sits below last year's peak, but that's not the market cooling off. 2025 was inflated by a one-off catch-up, as every authority expecting to spend £100m+ filed a Pipeline Notice for the first time. Strip that out and the underlying signal is clear: even in a "normal" year, early-stage publishing is running at nearly four times the pre-Act baseline. Procurement signals have moved earlier, and they're staying there.

What this means if you're selling into the public sector

For suppliers, pipeline and pre-tender notices are now one of the strongest early signals you have for what's coming to market, often months before a tender lands. The suppliers winning under the Act aren't the ones waiting for tenders to publish; they're the ones reading these signals early and opening the conversation with buyers before the competition even knows there's an opportunity.

Stotles tracks pipeline notices, pre-tender signals, and contract expiries across every UK procurement portal in one place. If you want to get ahead of the next wave before it hits, get in touch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Pipeline Notice under the Procurement Act 2023?

‍A Pipeline Notice (UK1) is a mandatory transparency notice for any contracting authority expecting to spend over £100 million in the coming financial year. It must be published within 56 days of the new financial year and lists contracts valued over £2 million that the authority expects to put to market. For suppliers, it's one of the earliest indicators of what's coming and who's buying.

Why do pipeline notice volumes spike in May each year?

‍The Pipeline Notice deadline falls 56 days into the financial year, which lands in late May. Buyers filing by that deadline create a predictable annual surge in early-stage signals. In May 2025, that effect was amplified by a one-off catch-up as authorities filed for the first time under the Act. May 2026 shows the same seasonal pattern, now settling into a normal rhythm at nearly four times the pre-Act baseline.

How should suppliers use pipeline and pre-tender notices?

‍Treat them as a forward-looking view of buyer intent, not a list of live opportunities. When a Pipeline Notice or Planned Procurement Notice (UK3) appears, it usually means a tender is still months away. That gap is your window to research the buyer, understand their priorities, and start a conversation before the formal process begins. Suppliers who engage at that stage are far better placed than those who wait for the tender to drop.