Call-off orders under a framework
Where a framework fixes all the terms, the buyer simply issues orders as it needs them. How call-offs work, how the rates are compared and what to check.
Updated on September 5, 2026
A call-off order is the purchase order a buyer issues under a framework agreement whose terms are already fixed, to buy what it needs when it needs it. It suits repeat purchases whose exact volume is unknown at the outset: supplies, small maintenance works, on-demand services. In UK practice the arrangement is described as a call-off under a framework or, for works, a term maintenance or measured term contract.
How it works
Where a framework sets out all the terms, including the prices, the buyer awards a call-off contract directly, without a further competition, and the supplier performs on the terms already agreed. Prices come from the schedule of rates or the catalogue annexed to the framework. Where some terms are left open, the buyer must run a mini-competition among the appointed suppliers instead.
The framework states its maximum term, and the Procurement Act 2023 caps how long most frameworks can run, with a longer limit for utilities and defence. It normally states an estimated or maximum value; guaranteed minimum volumes are rare in the UK, so read the wording carefully rather than assuming any work is committed.
The framework is procured according to its total value across the whole term, which means a large ceiling can pull an otherwise modest arrangement above the threshold. A framework can appoint several suppliers, with call-offs allocated by rules set out in the documents: by geography, by lot, by direct ranking or by rotation. Central purchasing bodies such as Crown Commercial Service, NHS Supply Chain, YPO, ESPO, Scottish Procurement and Ireland's OGP run many of the frameworks that public bodies buy through.
What it means for a bidder
This is a flow contract: once appointed you receive orders without going back through a competition. You need to be able to respond quickly, sometimes within days, and to invoice order by order against a purchase order reference.
At bid stage the pricing is done line by line on the rate card, and bids are compared using a model with notional quantities. Real orders can depart sharply from that model, so avoid loss-leader rates on lines you think will rarely be ordered. Check whether any minimum is guaranteed, how the indexation clause works over the term, the response times attached to each order, and the payment terms.
Example
Clairfontaine Council sets up a four-year framework for building maintenance, plumbing lot, with an estimated value of £300,000 and no guaranteed minimum. The plumbing firm appointed, six staff, receives orders every month ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, invoiced at the rates in the schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Can the buyer order less than expected?
Yes. Unless the framework guarantees a minimum, and most do not, the buyer is committed to nothing.
Can I refuse an order?
No, not where the order complies with the contract. Refusing exposes you to remedies and to termination.
How does a call-off differ from a mini-competition?
A call-off applies terms already fixed. A mini-competition reopens the terms that were left open and asks the appointed suppliers to bid again.