The Challenge

Half of our survey respondents said they know where to find DPS opportunities beyond Crown Commercial Service; the other half do not. This knowledge gap represents missed opportunities and highlights a fundamental fragmentation in how tender information is distributed across the UK public sector.

There is also widespread confusion about the difference between a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and a framework agreement. A DPS is an electronic procurement procedure that remains open to new suppliers throughout its duration, allowing organisations to join at any time. A framework agreement, by contrast, is a closed arrangement established with selected suppliers for a fixed period—once it is set up, new suppliers cannot join until it is re-tendered.

Analysis and Approach

Without clarity on where to look, organisations risk overlooking viable routes to market. Many valuable opportunities are awarded through frameworks and DPS arrangements that never appear on Contracts Finder or other mainstream portals.

A consolidated, centralised source of DPS and framework information would immediately improve efficiency. Organisations need training on the different procurement routes available and how to position themselves for each.

How Athena Can Help

To address this challenge directly, Athena has created a free resource listing almost all procurement frameworks relevant to UK suppliers. This is available at www.bid-able.com. We also provide training and advisory services to help organisations navigate the procurement landscape and identify the routes to market most suited to their capabilities.