Overview
The guidance documents are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
The guidance documents should be read in conjunction with the Procurement Act 2023 and its associated regulations and are aimed at procurement practitioners and commercial policy leads in contracting authorities. They are intended to provide technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
The Procurement Act 2023 (Act) defines a framework as:
- a ‘contract between a contracting authority and one or more suppliers that provides for the future award of contracts by a contracting authority to the supplier or suppliers.’
This means that a framework sets out the provisions under which future contracts for the supply of goods, services and/or works are to be awarded.
The Act defines an open framework as:
- a ‘scheme of frameworks that provides for the award of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms’
A framework that is above-threshold and not exempt is a public contract and is generally awarded following a competitive tendering procedure. Contracts awarded under a framework are referred to as ‘call-off contracts’.
In most cases a framework will not commit a contracting authority to enter into a call-off contract, but it is possible that some do.
Legal framework
- Sections 45-49
- Regulation 20
Other guidance relevant to this area
- Conditions of participation
- Competitive tendering procedures
- Assessing competitive tenders
- Direct award
- Below-threshold contracts
- Contract award notices and standstill