A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is a fully electronic procurement arrangement that a contracting authority establishes to buy commonly used goods, works or services. It stays open to new suppliers throughout its entire life, meaning any business that meets the criteria can apply to join at any time, not just at the start. Once admitted, you are invited to compete for individual call-off contracts as the buyer's needs arise.
A DPS operates in two distinct stages.
Stage one: establishment. The contracting authority publishes a notice on Find a Tender (for contracts above the relevant threshold) or Contracts Finder (for lower-value opportunities). Any supplier that passes the selection questionnaire (SQ) is admitted to a category or lot within the system. There is no fixed roster; the authority must accept new entrants on an ongoing basis.
Stage two: call-off competitions. When the buyer needs to procure something, it invites all suppliers in the relevant category to submit a bid. This is sometimes called a mini-competition. You do not win work simply by being on the DPS; you must compete for each contract separately. However, because every admitted supplier gets the invitation, the process is transparent and the playing field is level.
This two-stage model matters for your planning. Being admitted to a DPS is not revenue in itself, but it puts you in the room every time that buyer goes to market in your category.
These two arrangements are frequently confused, and the distinction is commercially significant.
The critical practical difference is access. A framework agreement closes to new suppliers once it has been awarded, so if you miss the window to apply you are locked out for its entire duration, which could be four years. A DPS has no such barrier: it stays open throughout its life, and any supplier that meets the criteria can join at any time. Buyers also benefit because competition remains live rather than being frozen at the point of establishment.
Both arrangements typically run for up to four years, and both award individual contracts through a mini-competition. The difference is who gets invited: a framework invites a fixed panel selected at the outset, whereas a DPS invites every admitted supplier in the category.
For SMEs that did not exist, were not trading at scale, or simply were unaware of a framework when it was set up, a DPS offers a genuine route in.
DPS notices are published on Find a Tender for above-threshold contracts and on Contracts Finder for lower values. Search using CPV codes that match your services. Common search terms include "dynamic purchasing system" or "DPS" in the notice title or description. Buyers also include "dynamic market" for newer arrangements (see below).
Under PPN 03/23, the standard Selection Questionnaire sets out the exclusion grounds and minimum suitability criteria a supplier must satisfy. You will typically need to demonstrate:
Prepare these documents in advance. Many buyers use the same core SQ, so a well-maintained supplier pack saves time across multiple applications.
Most DPS arrangements are divided into lots by service type, geography or contract value. Apply to every lot where you genuinely meet the criteria. Admission decisions are usually made within ten working days. Once admitted, you will receive invitation to tender (ITT) emails or portal notifications each time a call-off competition opens in your lot.
Review admission conditions periodically. Some DPS arrangements ask suppliers to reconfirm their standing annually or following significant business changes.
This is an important development that many guides have not yet caught up with.
The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025, replaces the DPS with a new mechanism called a dynamic market. A dynamic market works on broadly similar principles: it remains open throughout its life, buyers run competitions among admitted suppliers, and SME access is a stated policy objective. However, the rules have been modernised, the administrative burden on buyers has been reduced, and the mechanism better accommodates complex and innovative categories.
In practical terms:
The Crown Commercial Service and central government buyers are progressively moving new category vehicles to dynamic markets. When searching for opportunities, use both terms. TenderSignal surfaces both DPS and dynamic market notices so you do not need to maintain separate searches across multiple portals.
DPS and dynamic market arrangements appear across a wide range of public sector categories. The most frequently used include:
If your business operates in any of these areas, there is likely an active DPS or dynamic market relevant to you right now.
The difficulty with DPS and dynamic market opportunities is timing. The window to apply is open, but the notice is easy to miss if you are not monitoring the right portals consistently. TenderSignal aggregates notices from Find a Tender, Contracts Finder and over 140 other UK procurement portals into a single personalised feed. You can set filters by CPV code, region, buyer type and contract value, and receive a daily or weekly digest of matching opportunities, including new DPS and dynamic market establishments. That way, you see the notice when it opens rather than months later.
A dynamic purchasing system is an electronic procurement arrangement set up by a public sector buyer to purchase commonly used goods, works or services. Unlike a framework agreement, it stays open to new suppliers throughout its life. Any supplier that meets the selection criteria can apply to join at any time and will then be invited to compete for individual call-off contracts.
The main difference is access. A framework agreement closes to new suppliers once it has been awarded, so if you miss the original application window you are excluded for up to four years. A DPS remains open throughout its life, meaning you can apply at any point. Both arrangements require a mini-competition for individual contracts, but a DPS ensures all admitted suppliers receive every invitation rather than a fixed panel of framework holders.
Search Find a Tender (for above-threshold contracts) and Contracts Finder (for lower-value opportunities) using your relevant CPV codes alongside the terms "dynamic purchasing system" or "DPS". Since February 2025, new arrangements under the Procurement Act 2023 will also appear under the term "dynamic market", so include that in your search. Tools such as TenderSignal aggregate these notices automatically and filter them to your category and region.
Most DPS applications use the standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ) under PPN 03/23. You will typically need recent financial accounts or a turnover declaration, evidence of appropriate insurance (public liability, employers liability, and professional indemnity at specified levels), relevant case studies or references, and policies covering health and safety, equality and data protection. Preparing a standard supplier pack in advance saves considerable time when multiple DPS opportunities are open simultaneously.
A dynamic market is the successor mechanism introduced by the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025. It operates on the same core principle as a DPS: the arrangement stays open to new suppliers throughout its life and buyers run competitions among admitted suppliers for individual contracts. The main differences are updated procedural rules, a lighter administrative burden for buyers, and better accommodation of innovative or complex categories. Existing DPS arrangements set up under the old Public Contracts Regulations 2015 continue under the old rules for their remaining life; new arrangements will be dynamic markets.
No. Admission to a DPS or dynamic market means you are pre-qualified and will receive invitations to tender for relevant call-off contracts. You must still submit a competitive bid for each contract. The advantage is that you are guaranteed to receive the invitation and your bid is evaluated on equal terms with all other admitted suppliers, rather than being excluded at the outset.