LCRIG Innovation Procurement System

The Construction Professional Services DPS (RM6242) is a fully electronic, flexible procurement marketplace managed by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). It is designed to provide central government, local authorities, and wider public sector organisations with a streamlined, compliant route to acquire a broad range of expert professional and technical services for construction projects.

The category covers professional services across the entire asset lifecycle, including:

• Core Technical Services: Architectural and design services, civil and structural engineering, cost management, project management, and building services.
• Specialist Consultancies: Environmental and sustainability advice (including carbon-neutral efficiencies), geological/geophysical surveys, fire and hazard advisory services, and urban planning.
• Flexible Project Scope: Services are applicable to new builds, building refurbishments, alterations and extensions, urban regeneration (such as smart cities and transport link upgrades), historical conservation, demolitions, and the design of security or counter-terrorism defences.

The DPS model is built to align with public sector policy while delivering commercial flexibility and efficiency:

• SME and Local Economy Support: The platform supports suppliers of all sizes, with a strong focus on encouraging SME participation. Buyers can filter by NUTS region codes to identify and ‘buy local’ from regional suppliers, keeping public spend within the community and driving social value.
• Fast and Dynamic Market Access: Unlike a traditional framework with a fixed supplier list, new suppliers can join this DPS at any point during its duration (which runs until 23 February 2029). This continuously refreshes and expands the available supply base, regional coverage, and technical capability.
• Pre-Vetted Assurance: All suppliers undergo a robust selection process evaluating their financial and qualitative standing before joining, ensuring they meet core standards like Cyber Essentials, ISO 9001 Quality Management, and ISO 14001 Environmental Management.
• Industry Standard Contracts: The DPS supports flexible, industry-standard call-off contracts, including the New Engineering Contract (NEC3 and NEC4), Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) consultancy terms, and the Public Sector Contract. GCA “boilerplate” clauses are pre-integrated to standardise terms and protect buyer value.
• Policy-Led Procurement: The platform is fully aligned with the Construction Playbook and Carbon Net Zero strategic priorities, helping local authorities meet statutory social value and sustainability targets.

Understanding the Procurement Route (Further Competition)

To maintain legal compliance and transparency under Public Contracts Regulations, the sole buying option available under the RM6242 DPS is Further Competition. Direct awards are not permitted under this agreement.

When planning your procurement route, keep these critical procedural points in mind:

• Shortlist Validity (2 Working Days): When you apply your chosen filters (e.g., specific services, NUTS location, value thresholds, and security clearance levels) on the marketplace, the exported Excel shortlist of capable suppliers is only valid for two working days. This is because new suppliers may be approved and added to the DPS at any time. If your ITT is not issued within this window, you must run a fresh search to pull an updated list.
• Capability Assessment (Optional): Prior to issuing your main tender, you can run an optional capability assessment—using “yes/no” questions based on your key requirements to allow suppliers to self-deselect. A 5 working day turnaround is recommended for this stage.
• The Invitation to Tender (ITT): You must invite all shortlisted suppliers (except those who self-deselected during a capability assessment) to bid.
• Response Timelines: Your tender response window should be proportionate to the value and complexity of your project. Ten working days is the minimum recommended timeframe for suppliers to prepare and submit their ITT response.
• Contract Award Transparency: Once your evaluation is complete and the contract is signed, you must complete the DPS Award Notification Form and send it to GCA, alongside publishing your decision on Contracts Finder in accordance with national transparency requirements.

Step-by-Step Process for Suppliers

Suppliers looking to provide construction professional services to the public sector can join the DPS through a straightforward, electronic application process:

1. Access the Bid Pack: Suppliers must download and review the official RM6242 supplier bid pack from the GCA website to understand the framework’s terms.

2. Register on the Marketplace: Complete your organisational profile on the Dynamic Purchasing System Marketplace.

3. Submit Selection Questionnaire: Provide evidence of basic compliance, financial stability, and technical competency. As a mandatory requirement for entry, you must hold an up-to-date Basic Cyber Essentials certificate (or equivalent), alongside demonstrating quality and environmental management standards.

4. Define Your Filters: During your application, select the specific services (Filter 1), industry sectors (Filter 2), geographical regions (Filter 3 by NUTS codes), and additional capabilities (Filter 4, including contract value thresholds, data security levels like ISO27001, and staff security clearances) that your business can support.

5. Await Assessment: GCA will evaluate your submission. Once approved, you are officially appointed to the DPS and will automatically appear on buyer shortlists matching your filter profile.

6. Participate in Tenders: Monitor your sourcing portal for incoming ITTs from public sector buyers and submit your bids.

Registered Suppliers List for the Construction Professional Services Category

Because the RM6242 agreement is a dynamic, electronic system, there is no static, pre-printed supplier list. The supplier base grows continuously as new businesses are validated and approved.

To access the live, up-to-date register of appointed professional service providers, buyers can:

• View the live register of appointed suppliers directly on the DPS Appointed Supplier List.
• Register as a buyer on the Dynamic Purchasing System Marketplace to configure your bespoke filter combinations, compile a project-specific shortlist, and export supplier contact details directly into an Excel spreadsheet.