TOP TENDERS
DPS and frameworks, explained for North East trades
Most of the guides online make it sound like you need a bid team and a law degree. You don’t. What you do need is a clean set of paperwork and a realistic plan for how you take on public sector work without it swallowing your week.
First, the reality check
A lot of North East public sector work is repeatable, local and steady: schools, council buildings, sheltered housing, voids, responsive repairs, planned maintenance, fire safety, EICRs, damp and mould works, kitchens, bathrooms, roofing patches, fencing, civils, grounds and drainage.DPS and frameworks are just the buyer’s way of organising who they can use for that work.
What a DPS feels like in real life
A DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) is basically: “Get on our approved list for this type of work, then we will invite you to quote when jobs come up.”The key bit for smaller firms is this: a DPS is usually open. That means you can often apply to join later, not just on one big deadline like a framework.
If you are trying to break into public sector properly, DPS routes can be a more realistic first step for North East SMEs.
What a framework feels like in real life
A framework is more like: “We are setting up a fixed panel of suppliers for the next few years.”If you get onto it, you can be in line for steady opportunities but the entry point can be more competitive and time-sensitive.
Frameworks are usually split into lots, which matters because you do not have to be an everything-firm. You can go for the lot that fits what you actually do, like:
- Domestic EICRs and remedials
- Commercial testing and compliance
- Fire alarms and emergency lighting
- Voids and responsive repairs
- Planned maintenance (kitchens, bathrooms, roofing)
- Groundworks, surfacing, fencing and drainage
Mini-competitions: the part people panic about
A mini-competition is simply a smaller tender sent to suppliers already on the DPS/framework.Instead of competing with the whole UK, you are competing against the approved suppliers in that category.
For a North East trade business, that can mean fewer bidders and more relevant competition, as long as you are priced right and your paperwork is solid.
Why buyers use DPS/frameworks
Because they want suppliers who can turn up, do it safely, document it properly and not disappear when the paperwork lands.They are not only buying the job. They are buying confidence that the job is compliant and auditable.
What stops good North East firms from winning these
It is usually not skill. It is admin and presentation.Common trip-ups we see all the time:
- Insurance not meeting the stated levels
- No clear case studies (even 2 or 3 solid ones helps)
- Policies missing or out of date (H&S, environmental, equality)
- Vague method statements or risk assessments
- Pricing that does not match the spec (or is too thin to deliver)
- No plan for response times, resource and cover
The North East angle: how to treat these opportunities smartly
If you are a small or mid-sized firm, the goal is not to bid for everything. The goal is to pick the work that suits how you actually operate locally.A practical approach that works for many North East trades is:
- Start with local, repeatable categories (repairs, compliance testing, small works)
- Only go for lots where you can genuinely cover the area (and the call-out expectations)
- Get a simple “bid pack” sorted once, then reuse it (policies, accreditations, case studies, CVs)
- Build a track record, then go for bigger frameworks later
How Top Tenders makes this easier
Most sites explain what a DPS is. We focus on what you actually need to do next.When we list an opportunity that mentions DPS or framework, we aim to tell you clearly:
- Whether it is “join the system” or “bid for a specific job now”
- Which trade it fits and what the buyer is really buying
- The likely admin you will be asked for, so you can decide fast
- Whether it looks realistic for a North East SME, or a time sink
Quick glossary, in plain talk
- Lots: the category you are applying for (pick the one that matches your work)
- Call-off: work awarded under a framework once you are on it
- Mini-competition: a quote/tender sent to approved suppliers only
- SQ / PQQ: the suitability questions used to check you are compliant
If you want a quick rule of thumb
If it is a DPS, it can be a good way in if you are organised and want steady local work.If it is a framework, it can be brilliant, but you need to treat the application like a proper project and get your documents tight.
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