Source: https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-market Glossary # Dynamic market A list of pre-qualified suppliers, open to new members throughout its life, from which buyers run competitions for individual contracts. Updated 14 Oct 2026 A dynamic market is a list of suppliers that have met a buyer's membership conditions, which other buyers or the same buyer can then use to run competitions for individual contracts. Unlike a framework, it stays open: new suppliers can apply to join at any point while it runs. ## What it means Dynamic markets are covered by [sections 34 to 40 of the Procurement Act 2023](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/34). The main points: - **Establishing a market.** Under [section 35](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/35), a buyer may set up arrangements for awarding contracts by reference to suppliers' membership. Before doing so it must publish a dynamic market notice under [section 39](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/39). - **Membership conditions.** [Section 36](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/36) only allows conditions that are a proportionate way of checking legal and financial capacity or technical ability. - **Awarding contracts.** Under section 34, a buyer runs a [competitive flexible procedure](/glossary/competitive-flexible-procedure) limited to members of the market, or of a relevant part of it. [Section 54](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/section/54) allows a minimum tendering period of just 10 days for these awards. The government's [dynamic markets guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-define-phase/guidance-dynamic-markets-html) confirms that dynamic markets replace the old [dynamic purchasing systems](/glossary/dynamic-purchasing-system) and utilities qualification systems. ## Why it matters for SMEs Missing a framework window can lock you out for four years. A dynamic market has no such window, so a new or growing business can join as soon as it meets the conditions. Membership is not a contract, but it puts you in front of buyers who use the market for repeat purchases. ## Practical tip Find the dynamic markets that cover your services and apply as soon as you can meet the conditions. Then watch for the competitions run through them, because tendering periods can be short. The [framework finder](/tools/framework-finder) is a good starting point for spotting the commercial agreements, including dynamic markets, that buyers in your sector use. Find tenders that fit your business Search UK, EU and World Bank tenders in one place, get AI summaries and a fit score for each one, and track bids in a pipeline. Professional comes with a 14-day free trial, no card needed. [Browse live tenders](/opportunities)[Start free trial ](/register) 14-day free trial, no card required Browse by sector - [Construction work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/construction-work)374 - [Architecture, engineering & surveying](https://tendernation.io/sectors/architecture-engineering-surveying)134 - [IT services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/it-services)54 - [Business services](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)177 - [Health and social work](https://tendernation.io/sectors/health-social-work)300 - [Sewage, refuse, cleaning & environmental](https://tendernation.io/sectors/sewage-refuse-cleaning-environmental)80 [All sectors ](/sectors) ## Nearby terms [Contracts FinderThe UK government website, launched in 2015, for lower-value contract opportunities and awards in England, now mainly for older procurements.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/contracts-finder)[CPV codeA Common Procurement Vocabulary code, a standard numeric label that describes the goods, services or works a public contract is for.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/cpv-code)[Direct awardAwarding a public contract to a supplier without a competitive tender, allowed only where a justification in the Procurement Act 2023 applies.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/direct-award)[Dynamic purchasing system (DPS)An electronic, always-open list of qualified suppliers under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, replaced by dynamic markets for new procurements.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/dynamic-purchasing-system)[ESPD (European Single Procurement Document)The EU's standard self-declaration form for public tenders, which UK buyers replaced with their own selection questionnaire after leaving the EU.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/espd)[Evaluation weightingThe share of the total score given to each award criterion, showing bidders which parts of their tender matter most.](https://tendernation.io/glossary/evaluation-weighting) [Read our procurement guides ](/guides)