What is a dynamic purchasing system in care
A dynamic purchasing system, or DPS, is an approved supplier list that stays open for the whole of its life, so new care providers can apply and join at any time. Like a framework, you pass set criteria to get on, then receive work through call-offs or referrals. The key difference is timing: a framework usually opens once and closes, while a DPS lets you join later, which suits newer or growing providers.
How a DPS works
You submit an application against published criteria covering the same kinds of pass-fail gates as any tender: CQC rating, turnover, insurance and capability. If you pass, you are admitted to the DPS and become eligible for the contracts run through it. Buyers then award packages or run mini-competitions among admitted providers, often filtered by area, care type or level of need. Because the list is electronic and open, the buyer can keep adding providers and packages without starting a fresh procurement each time.
DPS versus framework
A framework is a fixed list set at the start of the term; a DPS is a living list that admits new providers throughout, so there is no single closing date for entry. That open entry is the defining difference. If you were not ready when a framework opened, a DPS is often the route back in, because you can apply the moment you meet the criteria rather than waiting years for the next framework round. Both still gate on the same pass-fail items and both award work through call-offs.
How work is called off from a DPS
Most DPS arrangements award individual packages by mini-competition or by referral among admitted providers for a given area or need. The DPS rules set out exactly how, so read them. A DPS does not promise volume any more than a framework does; it makes you eligible to be approached. Your responsiveness, capacity and the quality of any mini-competition response then decide how much work actually reaches you once you are admitted.
Why a DPS suits growing providers
Because you can apply at any time, a DPS lets you join once you meet the CQC rating, turnover and insurance bars, rather than waiting for a closed framework window that may be years away. That makes it well suited to newer or growing providers who are becoming eligible now. It also lets you start small in one area or lot and apply for more as you grow. Our free eligibility check confirms whether you clear those bars before you apply.
The Procurement Act 2023 and dynamic markets
Under the Procurement Act 2023, in force from 24 February 2025, the dynamic purchasing system model continues alongside a broader dynamic markets approach for utilities and other sectors. For social care, councils still run open, electronic supplier lists that admit providers throughout their life. The practical point for you is unchanged: a dynamic list lets you join when ready, and you should read each one's specific rules on admission, lots and call-off rather than assuming they are identical.
Staying competitive once admitted
Getting onto a DPS is the start, not the finish. Where work is awarded by mini-competition, your individual responses still need to answer the grid and evidence delivery, exactly as in a full tender. Keep your policies, training records, accounts and case studies current so you can respond quickly when a package is advertised. Providers who treat admission as the end point often see little work, while those who respond promptly and well to call-offs build steady volume.
DPS versus framework at a glance
| Feature | Framework | Dynamic purchasing system (DPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry timing | Opens once, then closed for the term | Open throughout its life, join any time |
| Suits | Providers ready at the opening window | Newer or growing providers |
| Pass-fail gates | CQC, turnover, insurance, capability | CQC, turnover, insurance, capability |
| How work is awarded | Referral, ranking, rotation or mini-competition | Mini-competition or referral among admitted providers |
| Volume guarantee | None | None |
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Common questions
What does DPS stand for?
Dynamic purchasing system. It is an electronic, open-ended list of approved suppliers that a public body uses to buy goods or services, including care, over a set period. Providers can apply to join throughout its life.
Can I apply to a DPS at any time?
Yes, that is the defining feature. A DPS stays open for applications throughout its life, so you can join when you are ready rather than waiting for a single window, provided you meet the published pass-fail criteria.
Is a DPS better than a framework for a new provider?
Often, because of the open entry. A DPS lets you join once you meet the criteria, while a framework may have closed for years. Both still require you to pass the same kinds of pass-fail gates and neither guarantees volume.
Does being on a DPS mean I get work automatically?
No. Admission makes you eligible to be approached or to bid in mini-competitions. How much work reaches you depends on demand, your area and lots, your capacity and the quality of your call-off responses.
How long does a DPS last?
DPS arrangements run for a set period defined by the buyer, and can be extended. Because they stay open for new entrants throughout, the term matters less for joining than it does for a framework, but the call-off rules and any review points are worth reading.
Do I bid again for each package on a DPS?
Often yes, where work is awarded by mini-competition. Each package can require a short further response answering that buyer's grid. Keeping your evidence current lets you respond quickly and competitively each time.
Keep reading
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
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