Low Value Purchase System

For low-cost, low-value and uncomplicated common goods and services that are below threshold. The system connects buyers to suppliers of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) suppliers.

Updates

3 November 2026: The Low Value Purchase System (LVPS) is currently under review ahead of its upcoming expiry date to ensure the system remains fully compliant for use and continues to capture the requirements of the UK public sector. This webpage will be updated when further information becomes available.

Contracts under LVPS that run beyond the list expiry date remain valid until the end date of the contract, provided the value remains below the threshold, in line with PPN 11/23.

Description

RM6237 Low Value Purchase System (LVPS) is not a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) or a framework agreement. The system provides a list of suppliers that can be approached for below threshold requirements under PPN 11/23. The contract value for goods and services must stay within the limits of PPN 11/23.

LVPS was established under Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It supports suppliers who can provide goods and or services below the threshold where Part 2 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 apply. The list of suppliers is regularly updated as suppliers can request to join at any time by visiting the registration webpage. This includes SME and VCSE suppliers. 

Using the system allows UK public sector organisations to either use direct award or run a mini competition (requesting for multiple suppliers to propose a solution) to award a contract without advertising it on Contracts Finder. If you choose to direct award, you must make sure you follow your organisation’s procurement policy.

Recruitment in the health and education sector is specifically excluded from LVPS to ensure that this is undertaken in line with government guidance. Education and healthcare sector recruitment both clinical and non-clinical is supported by a number of alternative GCA and NHS Workforce Alliance frameworks which have received Department for Education and NHS England and Improvement approval status.

The frameworks can be accessed directly from the GCA website 

The system uses filters in a similar way to a DPS. You can filter the supplier list by:

  • the type of goods or services, also known as service headings
  • postcode radius where the supplier can supply the goods or services
  • whether the supplier is an SME or VCSE

LVPS offers a wide range of goods and services, including:

  • agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products
  • agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • agricultural machinery
  • petroleum products, fuel, electricity, and other sources of energy
  • mining, basic metals, and related products
  • chemical products
  • electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
  • rail, air and sea auxiliary products
  • security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
  • sewage, refuse, cleaning, and environmental services
  • industrial machinery
  • machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment
  • musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories
  • food, beverages and related products
  • clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories
  • leather and textile fabrics, plastic and rubber materials
  • collected and purified water
  • installation services
  • hotel, restaurant and retail trade services
  • transport services with driver/operator
  • supporting and auxiliary transport services and travel agencies services
  • education and training services
  • permanent recruitment and contingent labour (excluding recruitment in the education and healthcare sector)
  • recreational, cultural and sporting services
  • research services
  • other community, social and personal services
  • translation services
  • IT services and support

Benefits

  • a simple solution for below threshold requirements in line with PPN 11/23
  • a flexible route to market where suppliers can request to join at any time
  • supports the government’s SME policy
  • contributes to the social value outcome of increasing supply chain resilience and capacity by creating a diverse supply chain to deliver contracts including new businesses and entrepreneurs, SMEs and VCSEs
  • uses dynamic filters to search by goods, services, supplier status and supplier location
  • dynamic filters make sure the right suppliers are notified about opportunities relevant to the common goods and services they are able to provide
  • fully compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015

Products and suppliers

Please read the 'How to buy' tab below for detailed instructions on how to find out which suppliers are on this agreement.

Lot 1: Low Value Purchase System

Expires:

How to buy

You can run a mini competition to choose a supplier. Direct award is also possible, but you must follow your organisation’s rules.

Before running a mini-competition, check which suppliers can meet your requirements by logging into LVPS via Supplier Registration Service.

Follow these steps to search for suppliers, create a shortlist and run a mini competition:

  1. Register on the Supplier Registration Service Dynamic Purchasing System Marketplace. Even though it says “supplier registration”, buyers also register here.
  2. Go to the LVPS and accept the terms of the Buyer Access Agreement
  3. Use filters to enter contract requirements and filter for appropriate suppliers
  4. Export the supplier list. We advise using this list within 2 working days, as new suppliers may join at any time and the list may change
  5. Create a competition on your chosen eProcurement or tendering system. Invite the suppliers you identified and include your specification, evaluation criteria and contract format
  6. Run the competition and evaluate the responses. Make sure suppliers have enough time to prepare
  7. Choose the supplier(s) you want to use
  8. Return to the LVPS and request any required evidence from the winning supplier(s)
  9. Suppliers upload their evidence through the system. Usually within 2 days for simple projects. More time may be needed for complex ones.
  10. Once you are satisfied with the evidence, proceed to award the contract.
  11. Tell us about the contract award by contacting: info@gca.gov.uk (details that we are require are included in the buyers guide under the ‘documents’ section of this webpage)
  12. Publish a contract award notice or Contracts Finder notice

The buyers guide mentioned in step 11 contains further information and guidance on how to use LVPS.

Documents

Updates

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) became Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026. Documents published before this date may still refer to CCS. All contract documents remain valid for existing and new contracts, and there are no changes to how you work with us.

Documents