What Is a Prior Information Notice (PIN)? A Guide for Suppliers (2026)
A Prior Information Notice — commonly called a PIN — is an advance publication from a public sector buyer. It signals that a contract opportunity is coming. It is published before the formal procurement process begins.
PINs give suppliers valuable preparation time. They allow organisations to research the buyer, assess their eligibility, and develop their competitive positioning — before the ITT is even published. For the complete overview of how public sector tendering works, see our guide to tendering for contracts.
What Is the Purpose of a PIN?
Buyers publish PINs for two main reasons. First, to give the market early visibility of upcoming procurement activity. Second, to reduce the formal response period in the subsequent ITT — which is permitted under UK procurement rules when a PIN has been published in advance.
For suppliers, the PIN is an intelligence tool. It tells you what is coming before the competition formally begins. Organisations that monitor PINs consistently gain a preparation advantage over those that wait for the ITT.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, buyers are now encouraged to publish more pipeline information. This includes PINs and planned procurement notices. The result is greater advance visibility for suppliers than ever before.
What Information Does a PIN Contain?
A PIN typically includes the name and contact details of the contracting authority. It describes the nature of the goods, services, or works being procured. It gives an estimated contract value and an anticipated procurement timeline.
Not all PINs contain the same level of detail. Some are highly specific. Others are deliberately broad to avoid prejudging the market. However, even a brief PIN gives you enough information to begin your preparation.
At minimum, a PIN tells you who is buying, roughly what they need, and approximately when the formal process will begin. That is enough to start your capture management activity.
Where Are PINs Published?
PINs for above-threshold contracts are published on Find a Tender Service (FTS). This is the UK’s official above-threshold procurement publication portal since Brexit replaced the EU’s OJEU/TED system.
Some buyers also publish advance pipeline information on Contracts Finder and on their own procurement portals. Central government departments publish their procurement pipelines regularly — often covering 12 to 18 months of planned activity.
Monitoring FTS for PINs in your sector should be a standard part of your opportunity tracking process. Our guide to how to find tender opportunities covers how to set up effective alerts across all procurement platforms. Our Contracts Finder guide explains how to use award notice data alongside PINs for a complete pipeline picture.
How to Use a PIN Competitively
Most suppliers ignore PINs. They wait for the ITT and then scramble to respond within the deadline. This is one of the most consistent sources of competitive disadvantage in UK tendering.
Suppliers who act on PINs use the preparation window to do several things. They research the buyer’s published corporate strategy and social value priorities, and identify who currently holds the contract and when it expires. They assess whether their case studies are sufficiently comparable, and identify any accreditation gaps that need addressing before the ITT arrives.
By the time the ITT is published, these suppliers already understand the buyer, know their competitive position, and have their evidence in order. Suppliers who waited until the ITT have two to four weeks to do everything from scratch.
This preparation advantage is the foundation of effective capture management. Apply a structured bid no-bid assessment as soon as a relevant PIN appears. Start building your response strategy immediately. By the time the ITT arrives, your tender timeline is already planned.
PINs Under the Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 introduced new transparency requirements for public sector buyers. Contracting authorities are now encouraged to publish pipeline notices — similar to PINs — giving suppliers extended advance visibility of planned procurement activity.
The Act also introduced a specific type of PIN called a PIN used as a call for competition. In some circumstances, a buyer can use a PIN as the formal start of a restricted procedure — inviting expressions of interest directly from the PIN rather than publishing a separate contract notice. This means monitoring PINs is no longer just useful intelligence. In some cases it is the only route into the competition.
Understanding how PINs fit within the broader Procurement Act 2023 framework is increasingly important for any organisation tendering regularly in the UK public sector.
PINs vs Contract Notices — What Is the Difference?
A PIN is published before the procurement begins. It signals intent and invites market awareness. It does not invite bids or expressions of interest in most cases.
A contract notice — also called an ITT or tender notice — formally opens the competition. It invites suppliers to submit responses within a defined deadline. This is the document most suppliers track as the starting point of their bid process.
The competitive advantage of monitoring PINs is that you are already prepared when the contract notice arrives. Suppliers who only track contract notices start from zero on day one of the response period.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prior Information Notices
Do all public sector contracts have a PIN?
No. PINs are not mandatory for every procurement. However, they are increasingly common — particularly for higher-value contracts and framework agreements where buyers want to gauge market interest before designing the procurement. Under the Procurement Act 2023, the use of pipeline notices is actively encouraged. Monitoring FTS and buyer portals for PINs gives you the broadest possible advance visibility of upcoming opportunities.
Can I contact the buyer after seeing a PIN?
In some cases, yes. Some PINs specifically invite market engagement — pre-market consultations, supplier days, or requests for information. Where this is offered, engaging directly with the buyer is one of the most valuable things you can do. It builds awareness of your organisation before the competition begins. However, check the PIN carefully for any restrictions on contact. Unsolicited contact outside what the PIN permits can create complications.
How much notice does a PIN give before the ITT?
It varies considerably. Some PINs are published months before the formal procurement. Others appear only a few weeks in advance. As a general guide, framework agreement PINs tend to give longer lead times than individual contract PINs. Even a short lead time is more valuable than none — use whatever preparation window is available.
Does responding to a PIN commit me to bidding?
No. Responding to a market engagement exercise or registering interest after a PIN does not commit you to submitting a bid when the ITT is published. It simply puts you on the buyer’s radar and ensures you receive the ITT when it is issued. You can still apply your bid no-bid assessment when the full documents arrive and decide not to proceed.
Where can I find PINs for my sector?
Search Find a Tender Service using keywords relevant to your service category. Set up email alerts for your CPV codes and key search terms. Also monitor the procurement pages of your target buyers directly — central government departments, NHS trusts, and local authorities all publish pipeline information on their own websites. Our guide to how to find tender opportunities covers every monitoring channel in detail.
Can PINs be used for framework agreements?
Yes. Framework agreement PINs are among the most commercially valuable to monitor. A framework appointment can generate multiple call-off contracts over several years. Knowing a framework is coming months before the competition opens gives you time to strengthen your evidence base, check your accreditations, and develop your competitive positioning. Our guide to framework agreements covers how to prepare for framework appointment competitions.
Make the Most of Every PIN With Expert Support
Monitoring PINs is just the first step. Converting that advance intelligence into a winning submission requires preparation, evidence, and procurement expertise. Our tender writing consultants support organisations from PIN stage through to submission — giving you the maximum preparation advantage on every opportunity.
Our team holds an 87% win rate across all sectors. We work with 3,500+ organisations across 52 countries.
About the author: Written by Joshua Smith, a seasoned bid-writing expert with experience across the UK, Middle East and US, helping organisations secure the contracts they deserve through high-quality, competitive tender responses.