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Adding your Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender) API Key
Adding your Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender) API Key
Under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect on 24 February 2025, contracting authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must publish certain procurement notices throughout the procurement lifecycle on the Central Digital Platform.
This requirement is intended to improve transparency and make it easier for suppliers to find and engage with public sector opportunities.
The UK government’s central digital platform is delivered through the Find a Tender Service.
If your organisation is a contracting authority operating under the Procurement Act 2023, you are required to publish relevant notices to Find a Tender at different stages of a procurement. To do this through Cimple, your organisation must provide its own Find a Tender API key.
Not all organisations are required to publish notices. If your organisation is not mandated to publish, you can continue using Cimple without adding an API key.
What is a Find a Tender API key?
What is a Find a Tender API key?
A Find a Tender API key is a unique key issued to your organisation by the Find a Tender Service. It allows Cimple, acting as an eSender, to securely send notices to Find a Tender when you publish an opportunity.
This applies to buying organisations that use Cimple to create and publish their procurement opportunities.
You only need to add an API key if:
Your organisation publishes procurement notices to Find a Tender (CDP)
You want Cimple to automatically publish those notices for you
You do not need to add a key if:
Your organisation is not required to publish notices to Find a Tender
How to generate an API key on Find a Tender
How to generate an API key on Find a Tender
To create an API key for use with Cimple:
Log in to the Find a Tender Service
Choose View organisation details
Go to Manage API keys
Select Create a new API key
Name the key Cimple eSender
Copy the API key
You’ll need this key to add it to Cimple.
How to add your API key in Cimple
How to add your API key in Cimple
In Cimple, go to Organisation settings
Scroll to the bottom of your screen, you’ll find the Find a Tender API key field
Paste your API key
Save your changes
Note: Only organisation admins can add or update an API key.
What happens if no API key is added
What happens if no API key is added
If you try to publish an opportunity that needs to be sent to Find a Tender and no API key is saved:
You’ll see a message explaining the opportunity can’t be published yet
You’ll be prompted to save your progress
You’ll be guided to add the API key in your organisation settings
Once the key is added, you can return and publish the opportunity and your notice will be automatically pushed to Find a Tender, the central digital platform.
Need help?
Need help?
If you’re having trouble generating or adding your API key, reach out to the Cimple support team for guidance.
Next Step: Head to your Cimple dashboard and create your first opportunity
Need help? Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Who needs to add an API key?
Who needs to add an API key?
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