Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The legacy arrangement

A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) was a flexible electronic system under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for commonly used purchases generally available on the market. It had to remain open throughout its period to suppliers that met the selection criteria. An authority could divide it into categories and run a separate competition for each purchase among suppliers admitted to the relevant category.

The Procurement Act 2023 uses the broader concept of a dynamic market. A DPS established under the PCR is a legacy arrangement, so its original notices, selection criteria and call-off rules continue under the transitional provisions. That is why a current notice may still refer to a DPS while a newly established arrangement uses the Act's dynamic-market language.

Supplier checks

Find the system's admission requirements and electronic application route. The standard selection questions and exclusion declarations form part of entry, and the authority can ask suppliers to update responses during the system's life. Admission does not promise a purchase. For each competition, check the category, specification, pricing, delivery timetable and award criteria.

For example, a supplier admitted to a cleaning DPS may still need to submit a tender for each school package and can lose a package to another admitted supplier. If the authority invites a new supplier to join, it cannot assume that supplier is eligible for an earlier competition. Check whether the system is labelled as PCR legacy DPS or as a Procurement Act dynamic market before relying on guidance about route or notices.