Dynamic Purchasing Systems & Frameworks
What is a Dynamic Purchasing System?
A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is an electronic procurement process used by UK local authorities to public sector services.
Unlike a traditional tender, a DPS remains open to new applicants throughout its lifetime — meaning providers can join at any point, as long as they meet the requirements.
Frameworks work similarly but are typically fixed at the point of award.
What’s the difference between a DPS and a Framework?
Both are ways commissioners pre-approve suppliers before opportunities go live, but they work differently:
- A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) stays open throughout its lifetime. New suppliers can apply and join at any point, provided they meet the entry criteria — there’s no fixed closing date for new applicants.
- A Framework has a fixed supplier list, agreed at a single procurement point. Once it’s awarded, it’s normally closed to new suppliers until the framework is re-procured, which can be several years later.
In practice, this means it’s usually worth applying to a DPS as soon as you’re eligible, since there’s no set window — whereas missing a Framework application can mean waiting years for the next opportunity.
What happens once you’re on a DPS?
You are approved as a qualified supplier
Your organisation is added to an approved list of providers for that system. Approval confirms you meet the eligibility and compliance requirements set by the commissioner.
Commissioners issue individual call-offs
Commissioners send out separate, time-limited opportunities to bid for specific contracts within the DPS. Each call-off requires its own competitive response.
You respond competitively
You submit a response demonstrating your suitability for that particular opportunity. We support you through each one.
What’s the benefits?
An ongoing pipeline, not a one-off bid
Once you’re approved, you’re positioned for every call-off issued through that system for as long as it runs — rather than needing to compete from scratch each time a new opportunity appears.
A realistic route in
Entry requirements for a DPS or Framework are typically more proportionate than those for a single large tender, making this a practical way for growing providers to establish themselves with a commissioner.
Credibility with commissioners
Being an approved supplier confirms you’ve already met a commissioner’s core eligibility and compliance standards — a strong reference point when applying for other contracts or funding in future.
Reach across multiple commissioners
A single DPS or Framework can span several local authorities, or an entire regional footprint, giving access to a wider range of opportunities than approaching each commissioner individually.
Procurement for Social Care Providers
Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and Framework opportunities are available across a range of Health and Social Care services.
BidElevate supports providers across the following service types — click your service to find out more:
Children and Young People (SEND)
Fees: Our fees are scoped individually based on the nature and complexity of each submission. Pricing is provided following an initial consultation.
Already on a DPS or Framework?
Being approved is only the first step. Commissioners then issue individual call-offs — separate, time-limited opportunities to bid for specific contracts within that DPS or Framework. Find out how the call-off process works and how we support you through it.
FAQs
Typically one to two weeks, depending on the complexity of the tender and the availability of your team for the service review call. We will confirm a more specific timeline once we have reviewed the documentation.
This varies by commissioner and is outside our control. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. We will keep you updated on any communications we receive in the meantime and monitor the portal on your behalf.
It depends on the specific DPS and the service type involved. Some systems require active CQC registration or Ofsted status; others do not. We confirm regulatory requirements as part of our initial eligibility review before any work begins, so you will never apply for something you do not qualify for.
No. Being accepted onto a DPS means your organisation is on an approved supplier list. Contracts are awarded separately through individual call-offs, each of which requires its own competitive response. We support clients through call-off responses as well as the initial application.
Yes. Unlike traditional tenders, a DPS remains open to new applicants throughout its lifetime. This is one of its key advantages — you are not locked out if you were not ready at the point it launched.
A DPS is open to new suppliers at any point during its lifetime. A Framework is awarded at a fixed point in time — once it closes, you cannot join until it reopens or is retendered. Both result in an approved supplier list, but they differ significantly in terms of when and how you can enter.