diff --git a/Directory.Packages.props b/Directory.Packages.props
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4c1a83a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Directory.Packages.props
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<Project>
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageVersion Include="AWSSDK.Core" Version="4.0.3.21" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="coverlet.collector" Version="8.0.1" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient" Version="10.3.4" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="FluentAssertions" Version="8.9.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" Version="1.3.15" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="10.0.1" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" Version="10.0.1" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" Version="10.0.1" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="System.ComponentModel.Annotations" Version="5.0.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework" Version="18.4.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Build.Locator" Version="1.11.2" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core" Version="18.4.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" Version="7.0.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.Core" Version="9.0.14" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.NET.StringTools" Version="18.4.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="18.3.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="MySqlConnector" Version="2.5.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Npgsql" Version="9.0.5" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess" Version="23.26.100" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Core" Version="23.26.100" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="PatternKit.Core" Version="0.34.4" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="PolySharp" Version="1.15.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Snowflake.Data" Version="5.4.1" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="SQLitePCLRaw.bundle_e_sqlite3" Version="3.0.2" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="System.IO.Hashing" Version="10.0.5" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Testcontainers.FirebirdSql" Version="4.11.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Testcontainers.MsSql" Version="4.11.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Testcontainers.MySql" Version="4.11.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Testcontainers.Oracle" Version="4.11.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Testcontainers.PostgreSql" Version="4.11.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="TinyBDD.Xunit" Version="0.19.9" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="xunit" Version="2.9.3" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Xunit.SkippableFact" Version="1.5.61" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio" Version="3.1.5" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions.csproj b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions.csproj
index e3b38dad..9c4ef88f 100644
--- a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions.csproj
+++ b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions/JD.Efcpt.Build.Definitions.csproj
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" Version="1.3.15" />
+    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
 </Project>
diff --git a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks.csproj b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks.csproj
index d974b7d8..0b5c4b16 100644
--- a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks.csproj
+++ b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks.csproj
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@
       MSBuild packages: Use ExcludeAssets="runtime" to prevent copying to output.
       These assemblies are provided by the MSBuild host (Visual Studio/dotnet).
     -->
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework" Version="18.4.0" ExcludeAssets="runtime" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core" Version="18.4.0" ExcludeAssets="runtime" />
-    <PackageReference Include="PatternKit.Core" Version="0.34.4" />
-    <PackageReference Include="System.IO.Hashing" Version="10.0.5" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework" ExcludeAssets="runtime" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core" ExcludeAssets="runtime" />
+    <PackageReference Include="PatternKit.Core" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.IO.Hashing" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!--
@@ -44,13 +44,13 @@
     These packages work across all target frameworks.
   -->
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" Version="6.1.4" />
-    <PackageReference Include="MySqlConnector" Version="2.5.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.Core" Version="9.0.14" />
-    <PackageReference Include="FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient" Version="10.3.4" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Snowflake.Data" Version="5.4.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" VersionOverride="6.1.4" />
+    <PackageReference Include="MySqlConnector" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.Core" />
+    <PackageReference Include="FirebirdSql.Data.FirebirdClient" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Snowflake.Data" />
     <!-- Override vulnerable AWSSDK.Core transitive dependency from Snowflake.Data -->
-    <PackageReference Include="AWSSDK.Core" Version="4.0.3.18" />
+    <PackageReference Include="AWSSDK.Core" VersionOverride="4.0.3.18" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!--
@@ -59,20 +59,20 @@
     Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Core is .NET Core only; use full framework package for net472.
   -->
   <ItemGroup Condition="'$(TargetFramework)' == 'net472'">
-    <PackageReference Include="Npgsql" Version="8.0.9" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess" Version="23.26.100" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Npgsql" VersionOverride="8.0.9" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup Condition="'$(TargetFramework)' != 'net472'">
-    <PackageReference Include="Npgsql" Version="9.0.5" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Core" Version="23.26.100" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Npgsql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Core" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!--
     Polyfills for net472: provides IsExternalInit, init accessors, etc.
   -->
   <ItemGroup Condition="'$(TargetFramework)' == 'net472'">
-    <PackageReference Include="PolySharp" Version="1.15.0">
+    <PackageReference Include="PolySharp">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers</IncludeAssets>
     </PackageReference>
diff --git a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build/JD.Efcpt.Build.csproj b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build/JD.Efcpt.Build.csproj
index 701bd08c..98ddc940 100644
--- a/src/JD.Efcpt.Build/JD.Efcpt.Build.csproj
+++ b/src/JD.Efcpt.Build/JD.Efcpt.Build.csproj
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" Version="1.3.15" />
+    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" />
     
     <!-- Reference Tasks project to use nameof() for type safety -->
     <ProjectReference Include="../JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks.csproj"
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
   </Target>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" Version="7.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" />
     <None Include="defaults/**/*.*" Pack="true" PackagePath="build/Defaults" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
diff --git a/src/JD.Efcpt.Sdk/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.csproj b/src/JD.Efcpt.Sdk/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.csproj
index 1244f55b..4bb6dc68 100644
--- a/src/JD.Efcpt.Sdk/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.csproj
+++ b/src/JD.Efcpt.Sdk/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.csproj
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
   
   <!-- Add JD.MSBuild.Fluent package reference -->
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" Version="1.3.15" />
+    <PackageReference Include="JD.MSBuild.Fluent" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!-- Reference JD.Efcpt.Build.Tasks to ensure it's built before packing -->
diff --git a/tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests.csproj b/tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests.csproj
index 0064e1f8..c09720d7 100644
--- a/tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests.csproj
+++ b/tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests/JD.Efcpt.Build.Tests.csproj
@@ -16,37 +16,37 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="coverlet.collector" Version="8.0.1" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Locator" Version="1.11.2">
+    <PackageReference Include="coverlet.collector" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Locator">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="18.3.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework" Version="18.4.0">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Framework">
       <ExcludeAssets>runtime</ExcludeAssets>
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core" Version="18.4.0">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Build.Utilities.Core">
       <ExcludeAssets>runtime</ExcludeAssets>
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.StringTools" Version="18.4.0">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.StringTools">
       <ExcludeAssets>runtime</ExcludeAssets>
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MsSql" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.PostgreSql" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MySql" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.FirebirdSql" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.Oracle" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="SQLitePCLRaw.bundle_e_sqlite3" Version="3.0.2" />
-    <PackageReference Include="TinyBDD.Xunit" Version="0.19.9" />
-    <PackageReference Include="xunit" Version="2.9.3" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Xunit.SkippableFact" Version="1.5.61" />
-    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio" Version="3.1.5">
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MsSql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.PostgreSql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MySql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.FirebirdSql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.Oracle" />
+    <PackageReference Include="SQLitePCLRaw.bundle_e_sqlite3" />
+    <PackageReference Include="TinyBDD.Xunit" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Xunit.SkippableFact" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers; buildtransitive</IncludeAssets>
     </PackageReference>
     <!-- Override vulnerable AWSSDK.Core transitive dependency -->
-    <PackageReference Include="AWSSDK.Core" Version="4.0.3.21" />
+    <PackageReference Include="AWSSDK.Core" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/tests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests.csproj b/tests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests.csproj
index d701e48a..9c07039c 100644
--- a/tests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests.csproj
+++ b/tests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests/JD.Efcpt.Sdk.IntegrationTests.csproj
@@ -10,17 +10,17 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="coverlet.collector" Version="8.0.1" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="18.3.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="xunit" Version="2.9.3" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Xunit.SkippableFact" Version="1.5.61" />
-    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio" Version="3.1.5">
+    <PackageReference Include="coverlet.collector" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Xunit.SkippableFact" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers; buildtransitive</IncludeAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="FluentAssertions" Version="8.9.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MsSql" Version="4.11.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" Version="7.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="FluentAssertions" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Testcontainers.MsSql" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.SqlClient" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!-- Include test fixtures as content -->
diff --git a/tests/TestAssets/SampleApp/Sample.App.csproj b/tests/TestAssets/SampleApp/Sample.App.csproj
index fa833886..a96122e6 100644
--- a/tests/TestAssets/SampleApp/Sample.App.csproj
+++ b/tests/TestAssets/SampleApp/Sample.App.csproj
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="10.0.1" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" Version="10.0.1">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" Version="10.0.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(EfcptBuildRoot)JD.Efcpt.Build.targets" />
diff --git a/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Data/Sample.Data.csproj b/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Data/Sample.Data.csproj
index 23e7b884..c317491c 100644
--- a/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Data/Sample.Data.csproj
+++ b/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Data/Sample.Data.csproj
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@
 
   <!-- EF Core dependencies for DbContext -->
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="8.0.0" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" Version="8.0.0">
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" VersionOverride="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" VersionOverride="8.0.0">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" Version="8.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" VersionOverride="8.0.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(EfcptBuildRoot)JD.Efcpt.Build.targets" />
diff --git a/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Models/Sample.Models.csproj b/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Models/Sample.Models.csproj
index a06286cf..421a690b 100644
--- a/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Models/Sample.Models.csproj
+++ b/tests/TestAssets/SplitOutputs/Sample.Models/Sample.Models.csproj
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
   <!-- No EF Core dependencies - just plain POCOs with DataAnnotations -->
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="System.ComponentModel.Annotations" Version="5.0.0" />
+    <PackageReference Include="System.ComponentModel.Annotations" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(EfcptBuildRoot)JD.Efcpt.Build.targets" />