Dynamic purchasing system, and the dynamic market
A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is an open list of qualified suppliers that a buyer invites to compete for contracts, which new suppliers can join at any time. Under the Procurement Act 2023 its successor is the dynamic market: suppliers meeting the conditions for membership are admitted at any time, and contracts go to members through the competitive flexible procedure. A DPS set up under the old rules runs on under them. 6,668 UK public notices carry it in their title, from 931 buyers.
UK notices counted · 28 Sept 2026
Definition
Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)
An open list of qualified suppliers eligible to compete for contracts, which new suppliers can join during its life; under the Procurement Act 2023, a dynamic market.
- UK notice titles using it
- 6,668
- Buyers using it
- 931
01/ Side by side
Dynamic market against frameworks
The dynamic market is the Procurement Act's open list; frameworks are closed until they reopen. Tap a name to spotlight its column.
| Attribute | Framework | Open framework | Dynamic marketReplaces the DPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A contract that sets the terms for contracts awarded later — the call-offs | A scheme of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms | A list of qualified suppliers eligible for future procurements |
| A public contract? | Yes | Yes | No — joining is not the award of a contract |
| Longest life | 4 years; 8 for defence and security or utilities; longer only if justified in the tender notice | 8 years in all — reopened at least once in the first 3 years, then at least every 5 | No maximum |
| New suppliers mid-life | No | Yes, at each reopening | Yes, at any time |
| Number of suppliers | No minimum or maximum | At least two for the full 8-year term; no maximum | Cannot be limited |
| How work is awarded | Call-offs, with or without competition, as the framework sets out | As for a framework | Competitive flexible procedure among members, advertised by a tender notice |
Sources: Procurement Act 2023, ss.45–49 and 34–36; Cabinet Office guidance on frameworks and on dynamic markets; Procurement Act e-learning, module 5. Read 28 Sep 2026.
02/ The UK record
How often UK buyers say DPS
UK public notices with “dynamic purchasing system”, “DPS” or “dynamic market” in the title, each full year.
Notice titles, Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Rates are per 10,000 notices classified that year, the Requirements Observatory’s denominator. Titles only: a description mentions the term far more often.
Per 10,000 notices: 2019 61.1 · 2020 94.6 · 2021 116.4 · 2022 88.9 · 2023 102.4 · 2024 106.7 · 2025 97.0
| Period | Titles using DPS | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 313 | 313 |
| 2020 | 384 | 384 |
| 2021 | 717 | 717 |
| 2022 | 813 | 813 |
| 2023 | 989 | 989 |
| 2024 | 1073 | 1073 |
| 2025 | 839 | 839 |
03/ Who says it
The buyers who say DPS
931 buyers have used it in 6,668 notice titles. These eight use it most.
Notice title contains “dynamic purchasing system”, “DPS” or “dynamic market”, grouped by buyer as published.
04/ Recent
DPSs published lately
The most recent UK public notices with DPS in the title. Each opens the full notice.
05/ In practice
How to join a dynamic market
- 01
Find the market
A dynamic market is announced with a UK13 intention notice and a UK14 establishment notice on Find a Tender.
- 02
Meet the conditions
Conditions for membership test legal and financial capacity or technical ability, proportionately — and cannot change during the market's life.
- 03
Apply at any time
The buyer must accept applications at any time and decide within a reasonable period; the number of members cannot be limited.
- 04
Compete for contracts
Each contract is advertised with a tender notice and awarded among members by the competitive flexible procedure.
06/ Questions
DPS, answered
07/ Method
How this page is made
Live figures
Counts are UK public notices — Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, all years — whose title contains “dynamic purchasing system”, “DPS” or “dynamic market”. Titles are where a buyer names the document, and they can be counted exactly and quickly; descriptions mention the term far more often.
Rates are per 10,000 notices classified that year, the same denominator the Requirements Observatory uses. Figures are cached for up to 24 hours.
Outside sources
- Cabinet Office, Guidance: dynamic markets — membership, applications, conditions and award by the competitive flexible procedure, read 28 Sep 2026.
- Procurement Act e-learning, module 5 — dynamic markets as the successor to dynamic purchasing systems, read 28 Sep 2026.
- Find a Tender, Notice types and sequences — UK13–UK16 dynamic market notices, and older DPSs continuing under earlier rules, read 28 Sep 2026.
- Find a Tender and Contracts Finder — every notice counted on this page, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Glossary
Framework agreement
Terms for future contracts — and how long a framework can last.
Glossary
Call-off contract
Work awarded under a framework, with or without competition.
Platform
Find a Tender
Where UK public tenders are published — every notice counted.
Live
Every open UK tender
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