Procurement - grant fund manager - dynamic purchasing system (DPS): buyer guide

DPS overview

Commercial Value for Money (CVfM) has established a DPS for Grant Fund Managers. The DPS will run from 11 January 2024 for a period of three years, ending on 8 January 2027. Call-off contracts awarded via the DPS will have no constraints on their duration, meaning there will be no minimum/maximum call-off period, and call-off end dates can exceed that of the DPS.

A DPS is an electronic system of pre-qualified suppliers for commonly used purchases that are generally available on the market. Scottish Central Government can invite tenders from this system. While similar to a framework agreement, a DPS is an electronic process that allows new suppliers to join at any time during its duration.

Further information can be found at the DPS Procurement Journey.

How the DPS operates

A DPS is a two-stage process:

Stage 1: Suppliers apply to join the DPS by completing the Single Procurement Document (SPD) via the Public Contracts Scotland Tender (PCS-T) portal. Suppliers must meet the stated minimum selection criteria to be included.

Note: Stage 1 has already been undertaken by CVfM during the establishment of the DPS. However, new suppliers can still apply to join at any time during its term, and CVfM will process these applications.

Stage 2: Buyers issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) (also referred to as a call-off) for their requirements. All suppliers included in the DPS must be invited to tender and given the opportunity to bid for call-off contracts.