Best practice guide to frameworks, DPS and Dynamic Markets for the public sector

What this guide covers

This guide cuts through the jargon around frameworks, Dynamic Purchasing Systems and Dynamic Markets so you can use them with confidence, not just compliance.

• The procurement trilemma, and how to solve it. Compliance, efficiency, and value. Every procurement team is trying to balance all three at once. We look at why that’s hard, and why frameworks, DPS and Dynamic Markets are the tools designed to help you get there without having to choose between them.
• Your role as a contracting authority. Before you pick a route to market, it helps to understand why you need one. We cover what it means to be a contracting authority under the Procurement Act 2023, and what your obligations actually require of you in practice.
• Frameworks: what they are and when to use them. From direct awards to mini-competitions, we explain how framework agreements work, where they add the most value, and the common mistakes that create compliance risk.
• Dynamic Purchasing Systems: what’s changing and what you need to know. DPS agreements must expire by 23 February 2029 under the Procurement Act 2023 transitional arrangements. We explain what that means for your organisation and why you shouldn’t leave migration planning to the last minute.
• Dynamic Markets: the new route to market under PA23. The Dynamic Market replaces the DPS for new procurements and brings greater flexibility, faster timescales, and better access for SMEs. We explain how it works and why it’s well suited to the pressures public sector teams are working under.
• How to run an effective mini-competition. A clear six-step approach covering everything from writing your specification to providing meaningful feedback, so your process is fair, auditable and gets you the best result.
• A project manager’s procurement checklist. A practical, phased checklist covering scoping and strategy through to award and mobilisation, so your teams have a consistent process to follow every time.

The challenge most public sector procurement teams recognise

The pressure on procurement in housing, local government, and education has only increased. Budgets are tighter, scrutiny is higher, and the legislation has changed significantly with the Procurement Act 2023 coming into force in February 2025. That’s a lot to stay on top of when you’re also managing day-to-day demand. What tends to happen is that teams default to familiar routes, even when a different tool would save time, reduce risk, or get better value. Or they know the legislation has changed but aren’t quite sure what that means for how they work in practice. That’s what this guide is for. It won’t just tell you what frameworks, DPS and Dynamic Markets are. It’ll help you understand which one to use, when to use it, and how to get the most out of it.

Who’s it for?

• Procurement managers and officers in housing associations, local authorities, or education who want a clearer, more confident approach to choosing and using the right procurement route.
• Project managers who are responsible for initiating procurement activity and need a practical framework to follow from scoping through to contract award.
• Finance and operational leads who want to understand how the Procurement Act 2023 changes affect their organisation and what good practice looks like under the new legislation

Why download it now

The Procurement Act 2023 has changed the landscape. If your team is still relying on DPS agreements without a transition plan, or isn’t clear on when a Dynamic Market is the right call, now is a good time to get up to speed. This guide gives you the knowledge and the tools to do that without having to wade through the legislation itself. Download your copy and let’s get started.

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