Supported businesses DPS
Framework Description
The Requirements Reserved for Supported Businesses DPS is a Scottish Government dynamic purchasing system that only supported businesses can join. It gives Scottish public and third sector bodies a route to buy goods and services from businesses that help disabled and disadvantaged people into mainstream work. It continues an earlier DPS that expired in September 2025 and runs from 8 September 2025 to 9 September 2027. This framework is used by Scottish Government and APUC.
Context & Use Case
Any Scottish public or third sector body can use it to meet the sustainable procurement duty in the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, which asks them to consider how procurement can involve supported businesses. Buyers run mini-competitions among admitted suppliers for specific requirements, or reserve a contract for supported businesses under SPPN 1/2025, published in May 2025.
Scope of Services
Single lot covering goods and services from supported businesses Mini-competitions for contract-specific requirements Reserved contracts under SPPN 1/2025
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
It is for supported businesses only, including relatively new ones. It is open: supported businesses can apply at any time against minimal selection criteria, and those that do not meet them first time can reapply. Register on both Public Contracts Scotland and PCS-Tender before applying.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers can meet social value goals and the sustainable procurement duty through everyday purchases, while supporting disabled and disadvantaged people into work. Minimal selection criteria widen the pool of suppliers, and SPPN 1/2025 gives buyers clear backing to reserve contracts.
Next Steps
Register on Public Contracts Scotland and PCS-Tender, read the supplier guidance on the Scottish Government DPS page, and confirm you meet the supported business definition. Then submit your application, describing every good and service you provide so buyers can find you. Once admitted, respond to mini-competitions and talk to public bodies about reserved contracts.
How Athena Can Help
Joining this DPS is designed to be simple, but supported businesses often run with small teams and little time for paperwork. Athena's DPS joining support completes the application with you, sets out your goods and services clearly and checks everything before you submit.
Once you are admitted, our mini-competition writing help sets out your social impact alongside quality and price, and our social value bidding support helps you approach buyers about reserved contracts and decide which competitions to enter.
