UK public sector procurement frameworks

A framework is a pre-competed agreement between one or more public sector buyers and a pool of approved suppliers, covering set goods, services or works at agreed terms. Once in place, buyers can award individual contracts (call-offs) to suppliers on the framework without running a full procurement from scratch. Frameworks are set up by bodies like the Crown Commercial Service, NHS Shared Business Services, and regional consortia.

Winning a place on a framework is a two-stage game. First, bid to get onto the framework itself. Second, compete for individual call-offs once buyers start awarding work. A place on the framework does not guarantee revenue. It gives access to a smaller pool of competitors for the work that follows.

Both are pre-approved lists of suppliers, but the entry rules differ. A framework closes to new suppliers once it is awarded, so missing the window locks bidders out until it is retendered. Open frameworks reopen at set intervals within an 8-year term. A dynamic market, introduced under the Procurement Act 2023, stays open to new suppliers for its entire lifetime, and every call-off must be competed (no direct awards).

Framework use has risen sharply. Around a quarter of public sector contract value was awarded via frameworks in 2023, up from 11% in 2018, and the share is higher again for large contracts and the government's Strategic Suppliers, where over half of awards now go through a framework or dynamic market.

Two routes. A direct award goes to a single supplier on the framework based on pre-agreed terms, with no further competition. A further competition (or mini-competition) invites suppliers within a lot to bid against each other for a specific requirement. Under the Procurement Act 2023, direct awards are only permitted where the framework sets out the core contract terms and an objective mechanism for picking the supplier.

Standard closed frameworks run for up to 4 years. Open frameworks introduced under the Procurement Act 2023 can run for up to 8 years, with scheduled reopenings for new suppliers to join. Dynamic markets have no fixed end date and stay open throughout.

Watch for the tender notice that establishes or reopens the framework, then submit a bid against its lots and criteria. Preparation matters more than speed. Buyers assess financial standing, relevant case studies, certifications, pricing, capacity and social value. For open frameworks and dynamic markets, entry points recur, so missing the first window is no longer fatal.

Three options. Subcontract to a prime supplier that holds a place on the framework, which is common on larger call-offs. Wait for the next reopening or retender and use the interim to build the case studies and accreditations the buyer will assess. Or engage the buyer directly on requirements that fall outside the framework or below its thresholds, where other routes to market still apply.

It depends on what is being bought and by whom. CCS agreements like G-Cloud and DOS dominate central government digital spend. NHS SBS, NOE CPC and HTE run large healthcare frameworks. YPO, ESPO and CCS cover cross-sector goods and services. The frameworks that matter are the ones the specific buyers on your target list actually call off from, which is visible in award data.

There is no application fee to bid onto most frameworks, but the internal cost of preparing a submission is significant. Expect to invest bid team time in case studies, policies, pricing and evidence of scale. Once on the framework, some agreements charge a management fee on awarded call-offs, typically a small percentage of contract value.