Contracts Finder puts small files (known as ‘cookies’) onto your computer to collect information about how you browse the site. Find out more about the cookies we use, what they're for and when they expire.

Cookies that measure website use

We use Google Analytics software (Universal Analytics) to collect anonymised information about how you use Contracts Finder. We do this to help make sure the site is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements to the site.

We do not allow Google to use or share the data about how you use this site.

Google Analytics stores information about:

  • how you got to the site
  • the pages you visit on GOV.UK and how long you spend on them
  • what you click on while you’re visiting the site

Google Analytics sets the following cookies:

Name Purpose Expires
_ga This cookie is used with Google Universal Analytics. This cookie allows Google to track unique users via a client identifier that is randomly generated 2 years
_gat This cookie is used with Google Universal Analytics. This cookie is used to monitor and track visitors’ behavior on the site anonymously 10 minutes
_gid This cookie is used with Google Universal Analytics. This cookie is used to group the user behaviour 24 hours

Strictly necessary cookies



Keeping you signed in

When you sign in to the service, we’ll set cookies to keep you signed in as you use the site. These cookies do not store your personal data and are deleted when you close your browser.

Name Purpose Expires
CF_AUTH Provides Contracts Finder with your account details once you’ve signed in When you close your browser
CF_IDP_TIMEOUT Keeps you signed in to the Supplier Registration Service (used for single sign-on) When you close your browser
CF_PAGE_TIMEOUT Saves the date/time of the user’s last activity on the site When you close your browser
CF_PAGE_LASTPOLL Saves the date/time of the last check to see if the user should remain signed in to the site When you close your browser
CF_PAGE_ACTIVE Saves the outcome of the last check to see if the user should remain signed in to the site When you close your browser

Banner messages

You may see banners when you visit Contracts Finder inviting you to select your cookie preferences or to participate in user research. We’ll set cookies so that your computer knows you’ve seen such messages and not to show them again, and also to store your settings.

Name Purpose Expires
CF_COOKIES_PREFERENCES_SET Saves your cookie consent settings 1 year
CF_USER_RESEARCH Prevents user research banner from appearing if user has submitted form 10 years
CF_BANNER_CLOSE Prevents user research banner from appearing if close button is used 28 days

Change your settings

You can change which cookies you're happy for us to use.