diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
index 39e21f3e5e..2186c8f749 100644
--- a/.gitattributes
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -36,3 +36,5 @@
 
 /modules/**/readme.txt export-ignore
 /modules/**/.wordpress-org export-ignore
+
+/plugins/**/.wordpress-org export-ignore
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-standalone-plugins.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-standalone-plugins.yml
index 846adacb04..bc5b36f840 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-standalone-plugins.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-standalone-plugins.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 name: Deploy standalone plugins to WordPress.org
 
 on:
+  # TODO The pull_request will be removed once the workflow is tested.
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - trunk
+      - 'release/**'
+      - 'feature/**'
+    paths:
+      - '.github/workflows/deploy-standalone-plugins.yml'
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - reopened
+      - synchronize
   release:
     types: [published]
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -28,6 +40,11 @@ jobs:
           cache: npm
       - name: Install npm dependencies
         run: npm ci
+      - name: Get directory
+        id: get-plugin-directory
+        if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' }}
+        run: |
+          echo "directory=$(node ./bin/plugin/cli.js get-plugin-dir --slug=${{ inputs.slug }})" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
       - name: Get plugin version
         id: get-version
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' }}
@@ -40,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
             result=$(echo "${{ steps.get-version.outputs.version }}" | awk '/^(\*|[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+){0,2}(-[a-zA-Z0-9.]+)?)$/ {print "Matched"}')
             if [[ -n "$result" ]]; then
               # Set the manual input values in JSON format for use in the matrix.
-              echo "matrix={\"include\":[{\"slug\":\"${{ inputs.slug }}\",\"version\":\"${{ steps.get-version.outputs.version }}\",\"dry-run\":\"${{ inputs.dry-run }}\"}]}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+              echo "matrix={\"include\":[{\"slug\":\"${{ inputs.slug }}\",\"version\":\"${{ steps.get-version.outputs.version }}\",\"directory\":\"${{ steps.get-plugin-directory.outputs.directory }}\",\"dry-run\":\"true\"}]}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
             else
               echo "The ${{ inputs.slug }} module slug is missing in the file plugins.json."
               exit 1
@@ -48,9 +65,11 @@ jobs:
           else
             # Load the JSON file and parse from "{name: {slug, version}, ...}" to "include: [{ name, slug, version }, ...]"
             # for use in the matrix.
+            # For plugins, the "version" parameter is not included here; it will dynamically get it in its own job.
+
             # The "dry-run" parameter is included here to set the deployment mode.
             # When running the manual (workflow_dispatch) workflow, this value will be set from manual input type.
-            echo "matrix="$(jq -c '{include:[.modules | to_entries[] | {name:.key,slug:.value.slug,version:.value.version,"dry-run":false }]}' plugins.json) >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            echo "matrix=$(jq -c '{include: ([.modules | to_entries[] | {name:.key, slug: .value.slug, version: .value.version, directory: "build", "dry-run": true}] + ([.plugins[] | {name:. , slug:. , directory: "plugins", "dry-run": true}]))}' plugins.json)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           fi
   deploy:
     name: Deploy Plugin
@@ -69,15 +88,28 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install npm dependencies
         run: npm ci
       - name: Building standalone plugins
+        if: ${{ matrix.directory != 'plugins' }}
         run: npm run build-plugins
+      - name: Set version
+        id: set_version
+        run: |
+          if [ -z "${{ matrix.version }}" ]; then
+            echo "version=$(node ./bin/plugin/cli.js get-plugin-version --slug=${{ matrix.slug }})" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "version=${{ matrix.version }})" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
       - name: Deploy Standalone Plugin - ${{ matrix.slug }}
         uses: 10up/action-wordpress-plugin-deploy@stable
         with:
           dry-run: ${{ matrix.dry-run }}
         env:
-          SVN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.SVN_PASSWORD }}
-          SVN_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.SVN_USERNAME }}
+          # TODO Once the workflow is tested, we will remove the comment and use the secret SVN access.
+          #SVN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.SVN_PASSWORD }}
+          #SVN_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.SVN_USERNAME }}
+          # TODO Once the workflow is tested, we will remove this test credential.
+          SVN_PASSWORD: SVN_PASSWORD
+          SVN_USERNAME: SVN_USERNAME
           SLUG: ${{ matrix.slug }}
-          VERSION: ${{ matrix.version }}
-          BUILD_DIR: ./build/${{ matrix.slug }}
-          ASSETS_DIR: ./build/${{ matrix.slug }}/.wordpress-org
+          VERSION: ${{ steps.set_version.outputs.version }}
+          BUILD_DIR: ./${{ matrix.directory }}/${{ matrix.slug }}
+          ASSETS_DIR: ./${{ matrix.directory }}/${{ matrix.slug }}/.wordpress-org
diff --git a/bin/plugin/cli.js b/bin/plugin/cli.js
index 463f16ce2d..04dabfd2c2 100755
--- a/bin/plugin/cli.js
+++ b/bin/plugin/cli.js
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ const {
 	handler: getPluginVersionHandler,
 	options: getPluginVersionOptions,
 } = require( './commands/get-plugin-version' );
+const {
+	handler: getPluginDirHandler,
+	options: getPluginDirOptions,
+} = require( './commands/get-plugin-dir' );
 const {
 	handler: enabledModulesHandler,
 	options: enabledModulesOptions,
@@ -102,6 +106,11 @@ withOptions(
 	.description( 'Get standalone plugin version' )
 	.action( catchException( getPluginVersionHandler ) );
 
+withOptions( program.command( 'get-plugin-dir' ), getPluginDirOptions )
+	.alias( 'get-plugin-directory' )
+	.description( 'Get plugin directory' )
+	.action( catchException( getPluginDirHandler ) );
+
 withOptions(
 	program.command( 'default-enabled-modules' ),
 	enabledModulesOptions
diff --git a/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-dir.js b/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-dir.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03ca263ac2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-dir.js
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+/**
+ * External dependencies
+ */
+const path = require( 'path' );
+
+/**
+ * Internal dependencies
+ */
+const { log } = require( '../lib/logger' );
+
+exports.options = [
+	{
+		argname: '-s, --slug <slug>',
+		description: 'Slug to search out whether it is a plugin or module.',
+	},
+];
+
+/**
+ * Command to get directory for plugin/module based on the slug.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} opt      Command options.
+ * @param {string} opt.slug Plugin/module slug.
+ */
+exports.handler = async ( opt ) => {
+	doRunGetPluginDir( {
+		pluginsJsonFile: 'plugins.json', // Path to plugins.json file.
+		slug: opt.slug,
+	} );
+};
+
+/**
+ * Prints directory root for plugin or module based on the slug.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} settings                 Plugin settings.
+ * @param {string} settings.pluginsJsonFile Path to plugins JSON file.
+ * @param {string} settings.slug            Slug for the plugin or module.
+ */
+function doRunGetPluginDir( settings ) {
+	if ( settings.slug === undefined ) {
+		throw Error( 'A slug must be provided via the --slug (-s) argument.' );
+	}
+
+	// Resolve the absolute path to the plugins.json file.
+	const pluginsFile = path.join(
+		__dirname,
+		'../../../' + settings.pluginsJsonFile
+	);
+
+	try {
+		// Read the plugins.json file synchronously.
+		const { modules, plugins } = require( pluginsFile );
+
+		for ( const module of Object.values( modules ) ) {
+			if ( settings.slug === module.slug ) {
+				log( 'build' );
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+
+		for ( const plugin of Object.values( plugins ) ) {
+			if ( settings.slug === plugin.slug ) {
+				log( 'plugins' );
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+	} catch ( error ) {
+		throw Error( `Error reading file at "${ pluginsFile }": ${ error }` );
+	}
+
+	throw Error(
+		`The "${ settings.slug }" module/plugin slug is missing in the file "${ pluginsFile }".`
+	);
+}
diff --git a/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-version.js b/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-version.js
index cc3fb8c6d2..e9a5649284 100644
--- a/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-version.js
+++ b/bin/plugin/commands/get-plugin-version.js
@@ -19,71 +19,78 @@ exports.options = [
 /**
  * Command to get the plugin version based on the slug.
  *
- * @param {Object} opt Command options.
+ * @param {Object} opt      Command options.
+ * @param {string} opt.slug Plugin/module slug.
  */
 exports.handler = async ( opt ) => {
 	doRunGetPluginVersion( {
 		pluginsJsonFile: 'plugins.json', // Path to plugins.json file.
-		slug: opt.slug, // Plugin slug.
+		slug: opt.slug,
 	} );
 };
 
 /**
  * Returns the match plugin version from plugins.json file.
  *
- * @param {Object} settings Plugin settings.
+ * @param {Object} settings                 Plugin settings.
+ * @param {string} settings.pluginsJsonFile Path to plugins JSON file.
+ * @param {string} settings.slug            Slug for the plugin or module.
  */
 function doRunGetPluginVersion( settings ) {
 	if ( settings.slug === undefined ) {
 		throw Error( 'A slug must be provided via the --slug (-s) argument.' );
 	}
 
-	const pluginsFile = path.join( '.', settings.pluginsJsonFile );
-
-	// Buffer contents of plugins JSON file.
-	let pluginsFileContent = '';
+	// Resolve the absolute path to the plugins.json file.
+	const pluginsFile = path.join(
+		__dirname,
+		'../../../' + settings.pluginsJsonFile
+	);
 
 	try {
-		pluginsFileContent = fs.readFileSync( pluginsFile, 'utf-8' );
-	} catch ( e ) {
-		throw Error( `Error reading file at "${ pluginsFile }": ${ e }` );
-	}
+		// Read the plugins.json file synchronously.
+		const { modules, plugins } = require( pluginsFile );
 
-	// Validate that the plugins JSON file contains content before proceeding.
-	if ( ! pluginsFileContent ) {
-		throw Error(
-			`Contents of file at "${ pluginsFile }" could not be read, or are empty.`
-		);
-	}
+		for ( const module of Object.values( modules ) ) {
+			if ( settings.slug === module.slug ) {
+				log( module.version );
+				return;
+			}
+		}
 
-	const pluginsConfig = JSON.parse( pluginsFileContent );
+		for ( const plugin of Object.values( plugins ) ) {
+			if ( settings.slug === plugin ) {
+				const readmeFile = path.join(
+					__dirname,
+					'../../../plugins/' + plugin + '/readme.txt'
+				);
 
-	// Check for valid and not empty object resulting from plugins JSON file parse.
-	if (
-		'object' !== typeof pluginsConfig ||
-		0 === Object.keys( pluginsConfig ).length
-	) {
-		throw Error(
-			`File at "${ pluginsFile }" parsed, but detected empty/non valid JSON object.`
-		);
-	}
+				let fileContent = '';
+				try {
+					fileContent = fs.readFileSync( readmeFile, 'utf-8' );
+				} catch ( err ) {
+					throw Error(
+						`Error reading the file "${ readmeFile }": "${ err }"`
+					);
+				}
 
-	const plugins = pluginsConfig.modules;
-	if ( ! plugins ) {
-		throw Error(
-			`File at "${ pluginsFile }" parsed, but the modules are missing, or they are misspelled.`
-		);
-	}
+				if ( fileContent === '' ) {
+					throw Error( `Error reading the file "${ readmeFile }"` );
+				}
 
-	for ( const moduleDir in plugins ) {
-		const pluginVersion = plugins[ moduleDir ]?.version;
-		const pluginSlug = plugins[ moduleDir ]?.slug;
-		if ( pluginVersion && pluginSlug && settings.slug === pluginSlug ) {
-			return log( pluginVersion );
+				const versionRegex = /(?:Stable tag|v)\s*:\s*(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/i;
+				const match = versionRegex.exec( fileContent );
+				if ( match ) {
+					log( match[ 1 ] );
+					return;
+				}
+			}
 		}
+	} catch ( error ) {
+		throw Error( `Error reading file at "${ pluginsFile }": ${ error }` );
 	}
 
 	throw Error(
-		`The "${ settings.slug }" module slug is missing in the file "${ pluginsFile }".`
+		`The "${ settings.slug }" module/plugin slug is missing in the file "${ pluginsFile }".`
 	);
 }
diff --git a/bin/plugin/commands/test-plugins.js b/bin/plugin/commands/test-plugins.js
index c3d62e3669..6c7a2f42c7 100644
--- a/bin/plugin/commands/test-plugins.js
+++ b/bin/plugin/commands/test-plugins.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * External dependencies
  */
 const fs = require( 'fs-extra' );
+const path = require( 'path' );
 const { execSync, spawnSync } = require( 'child_process' );
 
 /**
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ const { log, formats } = require( '../lib/logger' );
  * @property {string} siteType              Site type. 'single' or 'multi'.
  * @property {string} pluginTestAssets      Path to 'plugin-tests' folder.
  * @property {string} builtPluginsDir       Path to 'build' directory.
+ * @property {string} pluginsDir            Path to 'plugins' directory.
  * @property {string} wpEnvFile             Path to the plugin tests specific .wp-env.json file.
  * @property {string} wpEnvDestinationFile  Path to the final base .wp-env.json file.
  * @property {string} performancePluginSlug Slug of the main WPP plugin.
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ exports.handler = async ( opt ) => {
 		siteType: opt.sitetype || 'single', // Site type.
 		pluginTestAssets: './plugin-tests', // plugin test assets.
 		builtPluginsDir: './build/', // Built plugins directory.
+		pluginsDir: './plugins/', // Plugins directory.
 		wpEnvFile: './plugin-tests/.wp-env.json', // Base .wp-env.json file for testing plugins.
 		wpEnvDestinationFile: './.wp-env.override.json', // Destination .wp-env.override.json file at root level.
 		wpEnvPluginsRegexPattern: '"plugins": \\[(.*)\\],', // Regex to match plugins string in .wp-env.json.
@@ -403,79 +406,69 @@ function doRunStandalonePluginTests( settings ) {
 	// Buffer built plugins array.
 	let builtPlugins = [];
 
-	// Buffer contents of plugins JSON file.
-	let pluginsJsonFileContent = '';
+	// Resolve the absolute path to the plugins.json file.
+	const pluginsFile = path.join(
+		__dirname,
+		'../../../' + settings.pluginsJsonFile
+	);
 
 	try {
-		pluginsJsonFileContent = fs.readFileSync(
-			settings.pluginsJsonFile,
-			'utf-8'
-		);
-	} catch ( e ) {
-		log(
-			formats.error(
-				`Error reading file at "${ settings.pluginsJsonFile }". ${ e }`
-			)
-		);
-	}
-
-	// Validate that the plugins JSON file contains content before proceeding.
-	if ( '' === pluginsJsonFileContent || ! pluginsJsonFileContent ) {
-		log(
-			formats.error(
-				`Contents of file at "${ settings.pluginsJsonFile }" could not be read, or are empty.`
-			)
-		);
-	}
-
-	const pluginsConfig = JSON.parse( pluginsJsonFileContent );
-
-	// Check for valid and not empty object resulting from plugins JSON file parse.
-	if (
-		'object' !== typeof pluginsConfig ||
-		0 === Object.keys( pluginsConfig ).length
-	) {
-		log(
-			formats.error(
-				`File at "settings.pluginsJsonFile" parsed, but detected empty/non valid JSON object.`
-			)
-		);
-
-		// Return with exit code 1 to trigger a failure in the test pipeline.
-		process.exit( 1 );
-	}
-
-	const plugins = pluginsConfig.modules;
-	if ( ! plugins ) {
-		log(
-			formats.error(
-				'The given module configuration is invalid, the modules are missing, or they are misspelled.'
-			)
+		// Read the plugins.json file synchronously.
+		const { modules, plugins } = require( pluginsFile );
+
+		// Create an array of plugins from entries in plugins JSON file.
+		builtPlugins = Object.keys( modules )
+			.filter( ( item ) => {
+				if (
+					! fs.pathExistsSync(
+						`${ settings.builtPluginsDir }${ modules[ item ].slug }`
+					)
+				) {
+					log(
+						formats.error(
+							`Built plugin path "${ settings.builtPluginsDir }${ modules[ item ].slug }" not found, skipping and removing from plugin list`
+						)
+					);
+					return false;
+				}
+				return true;
+			} )
+			.map( ( item ) => modules[ item ].slug );
+
+		// Create an array of plugins from entries in plugins JSON file.
+		builtPlugins = builtPlugins.concat(
+			Object.values( plugins )
+				.filter( ( plugin ) => {
+					try {
+						fs.copySync(
+							`${ settings.pluginsDir }${ plugin.slug }/`,
+							`${ settings.builtPluginsDir }${ plugin.slug }/`,
+							{
+								overwrite: true,
+							}
+						);
+						log(
+							formats.success(
+								`Copied plugin "${ plugin.slug }".\n`
+							)
+						);
+						return true;
+					} catch ( e ) {
+						// Handle the error appropriately
+						log(
+							formats.error(
+								`Error copying plugin "${ plugin.slug }": ${ e.message }`
+							)
+						);
+						return false;
+					}
+				} )
+				.map( ( plugin ) => plugin.slug )
 		);
-
-		// Return with exit code 1 to trigger a failure in the test pipeline.
-		process.exit( 1 );
+	} catch ( error ) {
+		throw Error( `Error reading file at "${ pluginsFile }": ${ error }` );
 	}
 
-	// Create an array of plugins from entries in plugins JSON file.
-	builtPlugins = Object.keys( plugins )
-		.filter( ( item ) => {
-			if (
-				! fs.pathExistsSync(
-					`${ settings.builtPluginsDir }${ plugins[ item ].slug }`
-				)
-			) {
-				log(
-					formats.error(
-						`Built plugin path "${ settings.builtPluginsDir }${ plugins[ item ].slug }" not found, skipping and removing from plugin list`
-					)
-				);
-				return false;
-			}
-			return true;
-		} )
-		.map( ( item ) => plugins[ item ].slug );
-
 	// For each built plugin, copy the test assets.
 	builtPlugins.forEach( ( plugin ) => {
 		log(