UK Procurement Glossary
Call-Off Contract
An individual contract awarded under a parent framework agreement or DPS, ordered by a buyer from an approved supplier on pre-agreed terms.
Definition
A call-off contract is an individual order placed against the terms of a parent framework agreement or DPS. Because the commercial terms are pre-agreed at the framework level, call-offs can be awarded much faster than running a full procurement — sometimes in days rather than months.
Call-offs come in two forms: direct award (the buyer picks a supplier based on stated criteria, no competition) or mini-competition (the buyer runs a competition among suppliers on the framework). Direct award is faster but only allowed under specific framework rules; mini-competition is more common for substantive work.
How this affects your bid
Most framework revenue comes from call-offs, not the framework win itself. Building relationships with buyers using the framework and being responsive to mini-competitions is what turns a framework place into actual contracts.
Common questions about call-off contract
Are call-off contracts public?
Yes — call-off awards above the relevant thresholds must be published on Find a Tender Service. Below-threshold call-offs may appear on Contracts Finder or be visible only to framework members.
Can a buyer use any framework to call off?
No. A buyer can only call off from a framework they are formally entitled to use. Most major frameworks (CCS, NHS SBS) list eligible buyer types in their access rules.
Related terms
Framework Agreement
A pre-agreed contract between one or more buyers and a panel of suppliers, used as the …
Mini-Competition
A short competitive process run among suppliers on a framework or DPS to award a specif…
Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
An electronic procurement vehicle that remains open to new suppliers throughout its lif…
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