Procurement in a Nutshell – Crown Commercial Service publishes SME action plan
28th November, 2025
Last month, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) published a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) action plan.
The purpose of the action plan is to set out why and how SMEs should work with CCS, where to find opportunities and the actions CCS are taking to reduce barriers for SMEs in bidding for work.
SMEs and Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023)
The PA 2023 affirmed the government’s commitment to SMEs in public sector procurement by writing into the rules that public sector organisations must give regard to SMEs in every procurement process that is undertaken.
By creating this SME action plan, CCS will bring together existing and new practices to ensure SMEs are properly represented in agreements and supply chains. By April 2025, around 75% of suppliers on CCS commercial agreements (such as CCS frameworks) were SMEs and just under 11% of direct spend through these agreements was with SMEs.
CCS SME action plan
How and why
Figures from June 2025 show that SMEs account for around 75% of suppliers on CCS’s commercial agreements. SMEs can bid directly for a place on one of the CCS frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems or dynamic markets.
New opportunities
The PA 2023 created a number of opportunities, namely: open frameworks, closed frameworks, and dynamic markets.
The ‘open framework’ is a type of new commercial agreement which can last up to 8 years. The idea is that it is made up of several frameworks that run consecutively under the same overall banner. The benefit of open frameworks is that new suppliers can join or rejoin at different times throughout the framework’s life, meaning supplier’s do not have to wait years until the next opportunity. The framework must reopen to new suppliers once during first 3 years and at least once during the following 5 years before the agreement ends.
A ‘closed framework’ closely mimics the frameworks under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015). They have a maximum duration of 4 years but some will last up to 8. Suppliers must apply for a place on a closed framework before it goes live. Once live, no new suppliers can be added.
A ‘Dynamic Market’ (DM) is designed to give buyers access to a selection of pre-approved suppliers. A supplier must pass CCS pre-arranged checks to become a supplier on a DM. DM’s have a broad scope because they are set up for a wider range of goods, services and works. New suppliers can be added through the lifetime of a DM. Suppliers not on the DM can see new advertised opportunities as tender notices are published for each new procurement. However, only above thresholds can be awarded under a DM.
Overall actions for 2025/26 action plan
- The need for early consultation with SMEs before market engagement for a commercial agreement, helping SMEs understand the opportunities available to them.
- The creation and sharing of resources designed to clarify some of the more complex aspects of public procurement, making it easier for SMEs to work with public sector.
- A recorded overview of CCS agreements, which are due to open for bidding within 6 months, helping SMEs understand which CCS agreements/lots best fit their offerings.
- CCS have introduced a comprehensive SME data set allowing public sector organisations to understand their current usage on CCS commercial agreements and to set appropriate SME direct spend targets whilst measuring progress.
Conclusion
The creation of this action plan is hoped to attract more SMEs to work with the CCS, creating an easier platform to find opportunities. The installation of such new opportunities like open frameworks, closed frameworks and dynamic markets paired with the CCS action plan make the process of bidding for work simpler and easier for SMEs to access.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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