Call-off contract under a framework
A call-off contract is awarded under a framework, usually after a mini-competition between the appointed suppliers. Rules, timescales and tips for smaller firms.
Updated on September 5, 2026
A call-off contract is a contract awarded under an existing framework, for a specific requirement that arises during its term. Where the framework has several appointed suppliers and does not fix every term, the call-off is awarded after a mini-competition between those suppliers, limited to the matters the framework left open.
How it works
Sections 45 to 49 of the Procurement Act 2023 (verified 2026-09-05) govern frameworks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A framework sets the shape of future purchases: scope, standard terms, maximum rates, the selection criteria for call-offs and the response times. Each requirement then produces a call-off contract that settles the detail — quantities, programme, final price, technical solution.
The mini-competition, which the Act calls a competitive selection process, is closed: only suppliers appointed to the relevant lot are invited, all in writing, with the same deadline. No new tender notice is published, and a framework call-off is outside the mandatory eight working day standstill period, although a buyer may offer a voluntary one. Tenders are scored against the award criteria set out in the framework, refined for the particular requirement. Negotiation is possible only if the framework allows it. Where a single supplier holds the framework, or where the framework fixes all the terms, the buyer simply places the order.
Call-offs can be signed up to the end of the framework term and may run beyond it. In Ireland the position is the same in substance under the 2016 procurement regulations, with mini-competitions run through eTenders or an Office of Government Procurement framework.
What it means for a bidder
For an appointed supplier, every call-off is a fresh competition, but in a small field and under known rules. Speed matters: response times are often a few days to a few weeks, and repeatedly declining to bid is noticed.
Set up an internal watch on the invitations arriving through the eTendering portal or by email, keep reusable response templates, and track your win rate to calibrate your pricing. For a firm that is not on the framework, call-offs are out of reach: the real opportunity is to get onto the framework when it is tendered, even for a single lot, or to watch for an open framework that reopens to new entrants.
Example
A fictional English county council holds a four-year framework for highways design with four consultancies and a ceiling of £1,000,000. For a junction improvement it runs a call-off estimated at £60,000: all four firms receive the brief, have fifteen days to respond, and a six-person consultancy wins on methodology and programme.
Frequently asked questions
Is a call-off advertised?
No. The mini-competition is restricted to the appointed suppliers. Only the resulting contract appears publicly, through the contract details notice.
Must a framework supplier bid for every call-off?
The Act does not require it, but the framework itself may impose obligations or a minimum participation rate. Check its terms before you sign up.
How does this differ from a direct order under a framework?
A direct order applies terms that are already fixed, with no further competition. A call-off after mini-competition settles the terms left open, once the appointed suppliers have tendered.