diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 9cfdcce037..5bf5f5ac36 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ repos:
             pass_filenames: false
             language: python
     - repo: https://github.com/rapidsai/dependency-file-generator
-      rev: v1.8.0
+      rev: v1.13.11
       hooks:
           - id: rapids-dependency-file-generator
             args: ["--clean"]
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index a76203a6db..970949e565 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ if (! hasArg --configure-only) && (completeBuild || hasArg cuml || hasArg pydocs
     fi
 
     SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DCMAKE_MESSAGE_LOG_LEVEL=${CMAKE_LOG_LEVEL};${SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS}" \
-        python -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps ${REPODIR}/python
+        python -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps --config-settings rapidsai.disable-cuda=true ${REPODIR}/python
 
     if hasArg pydocs; then
         cd ${REPODIR}/docs
@@ -304,5 +304,5 @@ fi
 
 if hasArg cuml-cpu; then
     SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DCUML_CPU=ON;-DCMAKE_MESSAGE_LOG_LEVEL=VERBOSE" \
-        python -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps -v ${REPODIR}/python
+        python -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps --config-settings rapidsai.disable-cuda=true ${REPODIR}/python
 fi
diff --git a/ci/build_cpp.sh b/ci/build_cpp.sh
index eac581ccef..48f4f444b2 100755
--- a/ci/build_cpp.sh
+++ b/ci/build_cpp.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -13,10 +13,8 @@ export CMAKE_GENERATOR=Ninja
 
 rapids-print-env
 
-version=$(rapids-generate-version)
-
 rapids-logger "Begin cpp build"
 
-RAPIDS_PACKAGE_VERSION=${version} rapids-conda-retry mambabuild conda/recipes/libcuml
+RAPIDS_PACKAGE_VERSION=$(rapids-generate-version) rapids-conda-retry mambabuild conda/recipes/libcuml
 
 rapids-upload-conda-to-s3 cpp
diff --git a/ci/build_python.sh b/ci/build_python.sh
index fcf0f7fe26..e1397e3373 100755
--- a/ci/build_python.sh
+++ b/ci/build_python.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -13,15 +13,7 @@ export CMAKE_GENERATOR=Ninja
 
 rapids-print-env
 
-package_name="cuml"
-package_dir="python"
-
-version=$(rapids-generate-version)
-git_commit=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
-export RAPIDS_PACKAGE_VERSION=${version}
-
-echo "${version}" > VERSION
-sed -i "/^__git_commit__/ s/= .*/= \"${git_commit}\"/g" "${package_dir}/${package_name}/_version.py"
+rapids-generate-version > ./VERSION
 
 rapids-logger "Begin py build"
 
@@ -29,7 +21,7 @@ CPP_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 cpp)
 
 # TODO: Remove `--no-test` flag once importing on a CPU
 # node works correctly
-rapids-conda-retry mambabuild \
+RAPIDS_PACKAGE_VERSION=$(head -1 ./VERSION) rapids-conda-retry mambabuild \
   --no-test \
   --channel "${CPP_CHANNEL}" \
   conda/recipes/cuml
@@ -38,7 +30,7 @@ rapids-conda-retry mambabuild \
 # version
 RAPIDS_CUDA_MAJOR="${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION%%.*}"
 if [[ ${RAPIDS_CUDA_MAJOR} == "11" ]]; then
-  rapids-conda-retry mambabuild \
+  RAPIDS_PACKAGE_VERSION=$(head -1 ./VERSION) rapids-conda-retry mambabuild \
   --no-test \
   conda/recipes/cuml-cpu
 fi
diff --git a/ci/build_wheel.sh b/ci/build_wheel.sh
index d74acc744a..62b579e203 100755
--- a/ci/build_wheel.sh
+++ b/ci/build_wheel.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -9,43 +9,13 @@ package_dir="python"
 source rapids-configure-sccache
 source rapids-date-string
 
-version=$(rapids-generate-version)
-git_commit=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
-
 RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
 
 # This is the version of the suffix with a preceding hyphen. It's used
 # everywhere except in the final wheel name.
 PACKAGE_CUDA_SUFFIX="-${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}"
 
-# Patch project metadata files to include the CUDA version suffix and version override.
-pyproject_file="${package_dir}/pyproject.toml"
-
-sed -i "/^name.*cuml/ s/= \"cuml\"/= \"cuml${PACKAGE_CUDA_SUFFIX}\"/g" ${pyproject_file}
-echo "${version}" > VERSION
-sed -i "/^__git_commit__ / s/= .*/= \"${git_commit}\"/g" "${package_dir}/${package_name}/_version.py"
-
-# For nightlies we want to ensure that we're pulling in alphas as well. The
-# easiest way to do so is to augment the spec with a constraint containing a
-# min alpha version that doesn't affect the version bounds but does allow usage
-# of alpha versions for that dependency without --pre
-alpha_spec=''
-if ! rapids-is-release-build; then
-    alpha_spec=',>=0.0.0a0'
-fi
-
-for dep in cudf pylibraft raft-dask rmm; do
-    sed -r -i "s/${dep}==(.*)\"/${dep}${PACKAGE_CUDA_SUFFIX}==\1${alpha_spec}\"/g" ${pyproject_file}
-done
-
-for dep in dask-cuda rapids-dask-dependency; do
-    sed -r -i "s/${dep}==(.*)\"/${dep}==\1${alpha_spec}\"/g" ${pyproject_file}
-done
-
-if [[ $PACKAGE_CUDA_SUFFIX == "-cu12" ]]; then
-    sed -i "s/cuda-python[<=>\.,0-9]*/cuda-python>=12.0,<13.0/g" ${pyproject_file}
-    sed -i "s/cupy-cuda11x/cupy-cuda12x/g" ${pyproject_file}
-fi
+rapids-generate-version > ./VERSION
 
 cd ${package_dir}
 
diff --git a/ci/release/update-version.sh b/ci/release/update-version.sh
index 273a375ea3..d52daac1f4 100755
--- a/ci/release/update-version.sh
+++ b/ci/release/update-version.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES=(
 )
 for FILE in dependencies.yaml conda/environments/*.yaml; do
   for DEP in "${DEPENDENCIES[@]}"; do
-    sed_runner "/-.* ${DEP}\(-cu[[:digit:]]\{2\}\)\{0,1\}==/ s/==.*/==${NEXT_SHORT_TAG_PEP440}.*/g" "${FILE}"
+    sed_runner "/-.* ${DEP}\(-cu[[:digit:]]\{2\}\)\{0,1\}==/ s/==.*/==${NEXT_SHORT_TAG_PEP440}.*,>=0.0.0a0/g" "${FILE}"
   done
 done
 
diff --git a/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
index f5191d8b06..492689f8c1 100644
--- a/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ dependencies:
 - cuda-python>=11.7.1,<12.0a0
 - cuda-version=11.8
 - cudatoolkit
-- cudf==24.8.*
+- cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - cupy>=12.0.0
 - cxx-compiler
 - cython>=3.0.0
-- dask-cuda==24.8.*
-- dask-cudf==24.8.*
+- dask-cuda==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- dask-cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - dask-ml
 - doxygen=1.9.1
 - gcc_linux-64=11.*
@@ -31,16 +31,16 @@ dependencies:
 - libcublas=11.11.3.6
 - libcufft-dev=10.9.0.58
 - libcufft=10.9.0.58
-- libcumlprims==24.8.*
+- libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - libcurand-dev=10.3.0.86
 - libcurand=10.3.0.86
 - libcusolver-dev=11.4.1.48
 - libcusolver=11.4.1.48
 - libcusparse-dev=11.7.5.86
 - libcusparse=11.7.5.86
-- libraft-headers==24.8.*
-- libraft==24.8.*
-- librmm==24.8.*
+- libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - nbsphinx
 - ninja
 - nltk
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ dependencies:
 - packaging
 - pip
 - pydata-sphinx-theme!=0.14.2
-- pylibraft==24.8.*
+- pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - pynndescent==0.5.8
 - pytest-benchmark
 - pytest-cases
@@ -58,10 +58,11 @@ dependencies:
 - pytest-xdist
 - pytest==7.*
 - python>=3.9,<3.12
-- raft-dask==24.8.*
-- rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*
+- raft-dask==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0
+- rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - recommonmark
-- rmm==24.8.*
+- rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - scikit-build-core>=0.7.0
 - scikit-learn==1.5
 - scipy>=1.8.0
diff --git a/conda/environments/all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
index 342477ff98..9de4c6f2e1 100644
--- a/conda/environments/all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ dependencies:
 - cuda-profiler-api
 - cuda-python>=12.0,<13.0a0
 - cuda-version=12.2
-- cudf==24.8.*
+- cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - cupy>=12.0.0
 - cxx-compiler
 - cython>=3.0.0
-- dask-cuda==24.8.*
-- dask-cudf==24.8.*
+- dask-cuda==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- dask-cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - dask-ml
 - doxygen=1.9.1
 - gcc_linux-64=11.*
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ dependencies:
 - joblib>=0.11
 - libcublas-dev
 - libcufft-dev
-- libcumlprims==24.8.*
+- libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - libcurand-dev
 - libcusolver-dev
 - libcusparse-dev
-- libraft-headers==24.8.*
-- libraft==24.8.*
-- librmm==24.8.*
+- libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - nbsphinx
 - ninja
 - nltk
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ dependencies:
 - packaging
 - pip
 - pydata-sphinx-theme!=0.14.2
-- pylibraft==24.8.*
+- pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - pynndescent==0.5.8
 - pytest-benchmark
 - pytest-cases
@@ -54,10 +54,11 @@ dependencies:
 - pytest-xdist
 - pytest==7.*
 - python>=3.9,<3.12
-- raft-dask==24.8.*
-- rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*
+- raft-dask==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0
+- rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - recommonmark
-- rmm==24.8.*
+- rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - scikit-build-core>=0.7.0
 - scikit-learn==1.5
 - scipy>=1.8.0
diff --git a/conda/environments/clang_tidy_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/clang_tidy_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
index 3bb3f6b0b4..02fdf84732 100644
--- a/conda/environments/clang_tidy_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/clang_tidy_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -19,16 +19,16 @@ dependencies:
 - libcublas=11.11.3.6
 - libcufft-dev=10.9.0.58
 - libcufft=10.9.0.58
-- libcumlprims==24.8.*
+- libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - libcurand-dev=10.3.0.86
 - libcurand=10.3.0.86
 - libcusolver-dev=11.4.1.48
 - libcusolver=11.4.1.48
 - libcusparse-dev=11.7.5.86
 - libcusparse=11.7.5.86
-- libraft-headers==24.8.*
-- libraft==24.8.*
-- librmm==24.8.*
+- libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - ninja
 - nvcc_linux-64=11.8
 - sysroot_linux-64==2.17
diff --git a/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
index 1c63471e4b..910744cf13 100644
--- a/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -17,16 +17,16 @@ dependencies:
 - libcublas=11.11.3.6
 - libcufft-dev=10.9.0.58
 - libcufft=10.9.0.58
-- libcumlprims==24.8.*
+- libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - libcurand-dev=10.3.0.86
 - libcurand=10.3.0.86
 - libcusolver-dev=11.4.1.48
 - libcusolver=11.4.1.48
 - libcusparse-dev=11.7.5.86
 - libcusparse=11.7.5.86
-- libraft-headers==24.8.*
-- libraft==24.8.*
-- librmm==24.8.*
+- libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - ninja
 - nvcc_linux-64=11.8
 - sysroot_linux-64==2.17
diff --git a/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
index 8c47b6348b..694380f42e 100644
--- a/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/cpp_all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ dependencies:
 - gcc_linux-64=11.*
 - libcublas-dev
 - libcufft-dev
-- libcumlprims==24.8.*
+- libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - libcurand-dev
 - libcusolver-dev
 - libcusparse-dev
-- libraft-headers==24.8.*
-- libraft==24.8.*
-- librmm==24.8.*
+- libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - ninja
 - sysroot_linux-64==2.17
 name: cpp_all_cuda-122_arch-x86_64
diff --git a/conda/recipes/cuml-cpu/meta.yaml b/conda/recipes/cuml-cpu/meta.yaml
index 2e3ade6996..ec5fa195e2 100644
--- a/conda/recipes/cuml-cpu/meta.yaml
+++ b/conda/recipes/cuml-cpu/meta.yaml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ requirements:
     - python x.x
     - scikit-build-core >=0.7.0
     - cython>=3.0.0
+    - rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0
   run:
     - python x.x
     - numpy>=1.23,<2.0a0
diff --git a/conda/recipes/cuml/meta.yaml b/conda/recipes/cuml/meta.yaml
index 6e4e0bada2..5fd0e58b40 100644
--- a/conda/recipes/cuml/meta.yaml
+++ b/conda/recipes/cuml/meta.yaml
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ requirements:
     - raft-dask ={{ minor_version }}
     - scikit-build-core >=0.7.0
     - treelite {{ treelite_version }}
+    - rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0
   run:
     - {{ pin_compatible('cuda-version', max_pin='x', min_pin='x') }}
     {% if cuda_major == "11" %}
diff --git a/dependencies.yaml b/dependencies.yaml
index 4b383bedac..d0cc7a0285 100644
--- a/dependencies.yaml
+++ b/dependencies.yaml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ files:
       - py_build
       - py_run
       - py_version
+      - rapids_build_backend
       - test_python
   cpp_all:
     output: conda
@@ -69,6 +70,13 @@ files:
     output: pyproject
     extras:
       table: build-system
+    includes:
+      - rapids_build_backend
+  py_rapids_build:
+    output: pyproject
+    extras:
+      table: tool.rapids-build-backend
+      key: requires
     includes:
       - common_build
       - py_build
@@ -92,6 +100,17 @@ channels:
   - conda-forge
   - nvidia
 dependencies:
+  rapids_build_backend:
+    common:
+      - output_types: [conda, requirements, pyproject]
+        packages:
+          - rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0
+      - output_types: [conda]
+        packages:
+          - scikit-build-core>=0.7.0
+      - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
+        packages:
+          - scikit-build-core[pyproject]>=0.7.0
   checks:
     common:
       - output_types: [conda, requirements]
@@ -116,10 +135,10 @@ dependencies:
         packages:
           - c-compiler
           - cxx-compiler
-          - libcumlprims==24.8.*
-          - libraft==24.8.*
-          - libraft-headers==24.8.*
-          - librmm==24.8.*
+          - libcumlprims==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - libraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - libraft-headers==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - librmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
     specific:
       - output_types: conda
         matrices:
@@ -157,18 +176,14 @@ dependencies:
           - &treelite treelite==4.1.2
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - &pylibraft_conda pylibraft==24.8.*
-          - &rmm_conda rmm==24.8.*
-          - scikit-build-core>=0.7.0
+          - &pylibraft_conda pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - &rmm_conda rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
       - output_types: requirements
         packages:
           # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
           # This index is needed for cudf and rmm.
           - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.nvidia.com
           - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.anaconda.org/rapidsai-wheels-nightly/simple
-      - output_types: [pyproject, requirements]
-        packages:
-          - scikit-build-core[pyproject]>=0.7.0
     specific:
       - output_types: [conda, requirements, pyproject]
         matrices:
@@ -176,26 +191,33 @@ dependencies:
               cuda: "12.*"
             packages:
               - cuda-python>=12.0,<13.0a0
-          - matrix: # All CUDA 11 versions
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "11.*"
             packages:
               - cuda-python>=11.7.1,<12.0a0
+          - matrix:
+            packages:
+              - cuda-python
       - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
         matrices:
           - matrix: {cuda: "12.*"}
             packages:
-              - pylibraft-cu12==24.8.*
-              - rmm-cu12==24.8.*
+              - pylibraft-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - rmm-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
           - matrix: {cuda: "11.*"}
             packages:
-              - &pylibraft_cu11 pylibraft-cu11==24.8.*
-              - &rmm_cu11 rmm-cu11==24.8.*
-          - {matrix: null, packages: [*pylibraft_conda, *rmm_conda] }
+              - &pylibraft_cu11 pylibraft-cu11==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - &rmm_cu11 rmm-cu11==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - matrix:
+            packages:
+              - pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
 
   py_run:
     common:
       - output_types: [conda, requirements, pyproject]
         packages:
-          - dask-cuda==24.8.*
+          - dask-cuda==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
           - joblib>=0.11
           - numba>=0.57
             # TODO: Is scipy really a hard dependency, or should
@@ -203,14 +225,14 @@ dependencies:
             # installation/run_constrained for conda)?
           - scipy>=1.8.0
           - packaging
-          - rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*
+          - rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
           - *treelite
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - &cudf_conda cudf==24.8.*
+          - &cudf_conda cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
           - &cupy_conda cupy>=12.0.0
-          - &dask_cudf_conda dask-cudf==24.8.*
-          - &raft_dask_conda raft-dask==24.8.*
+          - &dask_cudf_conda dask-cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - &raft_dask_conda raft-dask==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
       - output_types: requirements
         packages:
           # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
@@ -222,21 +244,21 @@ dependencies:
         matrices:
           - matrix: {cuda: "12.*"}
             packages:
-              - cudf-cu12==24.8.*
+              - cudf-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
               - cupy-cuda12x>=12.0.0
-              - dask-cudf-cu12==24.8.*
-              - pylibraft-cu12==24.8.*
-              - raft-dask-cu12==24.8.*
-              - rmm-cu12==24.8.*
+              - dask-cudf-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - pylibraft-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - raft-dask-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+              - rmm-cu12==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
           - matrix: {cuda: "11.*"}
             packages: &py_run_packages_cu11
-              - cudf-cu11==24.8.*
+              - cudf-cu11==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
               - &cupy_pyproject_cu11 cupy-cuda11x>=12.0.0
-              - dask-cudf-cu11==24.8.*
+              - dask-cudf-cu11==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
               - *pylibraft_cu11
-              - raft-dask-cu11==24.8.*
+              - raft-dask-cu11==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
               - *rmm_cu11
-          - matrix: null
+          - matrix:
             packages:
               - *cudf_conda
               - *cupy_pyproject_cu11
@@ -386,14 +408,14 @@ dependencies:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - libcuml==24.8.*
-          - libcuml-tests==24.8.*
+          - libcuml==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - libcuml-tests==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
   test_cuml:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - libcuml==24.8.*
-          - cuml==24.8.*
+          - libcuml==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - cuml==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0
   test_cpp:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
diff --git a/python/cuml/_version.py b/python/cuml/_version.py
index 87cb6a74d5..4863c89c5e 100644
--- a/python/cuml/_version.py
+++ b/python/cuml/_version.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 import importlib.resources
 
 __version__ = (
-    importlib.resources.files("cuml").joinpath("VERSION").read_text().strip()
+    importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("VERSION").read_text().strip()
 )
-__git_commit__ = ""
+try:
+    __git_commit__ = importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("GIT_COMMIT").read_text().strip()
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    __git_commit__ = ""
+
+__all__ = ["__git_commit__", "__version__"]
diff --git a/python/cuml/tests/test_version.py b/python/cuml/tests/test_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e924de588
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/cuml/tests/test_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+
+import cuml
+
+
+def test_version_constants_are_populated():
+    # __git_commit__ will only be non-empty in a built distribution
+    assert isinstance(cuml.__git_commit__, str)
+
+    # __version__ should always be non-empty
+    assert isinstance(cuml.__version__, str)
+    assert len(cuml.__version__) > 0
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index 3a970e6d3f..44e4e6e8c5 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -14,16 +14,10 @@
 
 [build-system]
 requires = [
-    "cmake>=3.26.4",
-    "cuda-python>=11.7.1,<12.0a0",
-    "cython>=3.0.0",
-    "ninja",
-    "pylibraft==24.8.*",
-    "rmm==24.8.*",
+    "rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0",
     "scikit-build-core[pyproject]>=0.7.0",
-    "treelite==4.1.2",
 ] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.
-build-backend = "scikit_build_core.build"
+build-backend = "rapids_build_backend.build"
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 markers = [
@@ -86,17 +80,17 @@ authors = [
 license = { text = "Apache 2.0" }
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
 dependencies = [
-    "cudf==24.8.*",
+    "cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "cupy-cuda11x>=12.0.0",
-    "dask-cuda==24.8.*",
-    "dask-cudf==24.8.*",
+    "dask-cuda==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "dask-cudf==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "joblib>=0.11",
     "numba>=0.57",
     "packaging",
-    "pylibraft==24.8.*",
-    "raft-dask==24.8.*",
-    "rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*",
-    "rmm==24.8.*",
+    "pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "raft-dask==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "rapids-dask-dependency==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "scipy>=1.8.0",
     "treelite==4.1.2",
 ] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.
@@ -156,6 +150,19 @@ versioneer\.py |
 )/
 '''
 
+[tool.rapids-build-backend]
+build-backend = "scikit_build_core.build"
+requires = [
+    "cmake>=3.26.4",
+    "cuda-python",
+    "cython>=3.0.0",
+    "ninja",
+    "pylibraft==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "rmm==24.8.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "treelite==4.1.2",
+] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.
+dependencies-file = "../dependencies.yaml"
+
 [tool.scikit-build]
 build-dir = "build/{wheel_tag}"
 cmake.build-type = "Release"