Procurement procedures
Call-off contract
Written by Justin Cesman, CEO of Skim. Last reviewed:
- Definition
- A call-off contract is the individual, legally binding contract a public sector buyer places with a supplier under a framework agreement or dynamic market. The framework sets the rules; the call-off is the actual order, with its own scope, value, duration, and deliverables.
Key takeaways
- A call-off contract is the binding order placed under a framework or dynamic market; the framework itself guarantees no work, only the call-offs placed under it do.
- Call-offs are awarded two ways: direct award (award without competition) using a pre-set objective mechanism, or further competition (award with competition) among appointed suppliers.
- Direct award is only allowed when the framework sets out the core terms of the call-off and an objective mechanism for selecting the supplier — for example a taxi-rank or highest-ranking system.
- A single framework can generate one call-off or dozens over its life — there is no limit on the number a buyer may place.
- Under the Procurement Act 2023 a contract award notice must be published before a call-off is entered into, but the mandatory 8 working day standstill that applies to standalone contracts does not apply to call-offs.
How it works
A call-off contract is the actual binding agreement between a buyer and a supplier for a specific requirement. The overarching framework agreement sets the rules — pricing mechanism, quality standards, delivery terms, and the legal template — while each call-off is a separate contract with its own scope, value, duration, and deliverables. There is no cap on how many call-offs a buyer may place under one framework, so a single framework position can generate anything from one large call-off to dozens of smaller ones over its life.
Call-offs are awarded in one of two ways, and the framework document specifies which applies and when. Direct award — termed award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023 — lets the buyer select a supplier without re-running a competition, but only where the framework already sets out the core terms of the call-off contract and an objective mechanism for choosing the supplier, such as a taxi-rank system that rotates work or a highest-ranking system. The alternative is a further competition — award with competition — where appointed suppliers bid for the specific requirement; any assessment must be based only on the award criteria used when the framework was awarded, though those criteria may be refined.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, a buyer must publish a contract award notice after deciding who wins but before entering into the call-off, for both award routes. Unlike a standalone public contract, a call-off does not trigger the mandatory 8 working day standstill period, though a buyer may apply a voluntary one. Work placed through a dynamic market follows a related but distinct route: rather than calling off against pre-agreed framework terms, the buyer competes each requirement among qualifying members of the market.
For suppliers, call-off contracts are the commercial reality of framework participation. Understanding a buyer's likely call-off pattern — frequency, value, and scope — is what tells you whether a framework place is worth the heavier upfront bid, or whether the headline framework value will never convert into real revenue.
Direct award vs further competition for call-offs
| Feature | Direct award (award without competition) | Further competition (award with competition) |
|---|---|---|
| How the supplier is chosen | Pre-set objective mechanism in the framework — for example taxi-rank or highest-ranking | Appointed suppliers bid for the specific requirement |
| When it is allowed | Only if the framework sets out the core terms of the call-off and an objective selection mechanism | When the framework permits a competitive selection process for the requirement |
| Award criteria | Fixed by the framework's objective mechanism | Only the criteria used to award the framework, which may be refined |
| Speed for the buyer | Fastest — no further competition run | Slower — a mini-competition is run each time |
| Best suited to | Defined, repeatable requirements | More complex or higher-value requirements |
Under the Procurement Act 2023
Reviewed
Call-off contracts survive the reform, but the rules depend on when the framework was awarded. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) govern call-offs placed under frameworks awarded before 24 February 2025; the Procurement Act 2023 governs those under frameworks awarded on or after that date. Under the Act, direct award is renamed award without competition and further competition becomes award with competition, and direct award is only lawful where the framework sets the core terms and an objective mechanism for supplier selection (section 45). A contract award notice must be published before entering a call-off under either route, but call-offs are not subject to the mandatory 8 working day standstill that applies to standalone contracts.
Sources: Procurement Act 2023, section 45 (legislation.gov.uk) · GOV.UK — Guidance: Frameworks · GOV.UK — Guidance: Contract Award Notices and Standstill
Why it matters for bidders
Call-off contracts are where framework revenue actually materialises — a framework place that never converts into call-offs is a cost, not a win. The mistake most SMEs make is assessing the headline framework value; experienced bidders model the likely call-off pattern instead. From published award notices you can see how many call-offs a framework has generated, their average value, which award route was used, and which incumbents keep winning them. That award-data discipline, drawn from teams who have won £3bn+ in UK and EU public contracts, is what separates a framework place that pays from one that sits idle.
How Skim helps
Skim's Competitor Analysis agent models historical call-off patterns from award notice data, showing how many call-offs a framework has generated, their average value, and which suppliers are winning them — so you can judge a framework's true commercial value before committing to the bid, and its Buyer Intelligence agent maps how a given buyer tends to award call-offs, by direct award or further competition.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a call-off contract?
- A call-off contract is the individual, legally binding contract a public sector buyer places with a supplier under a framework agreement or dynamic market. The framework sets the terms; the call-off is the actual order, with its own scope, value, duration, and deliverables. A buyer can place as many call-offs as needed.
- What is the difference between a framework agreement and a call-off contract?
- A framework agreement is not a contract for work — it sets the rules, pricing, and terms under which future orders are placed. A call-off contract is one of those orders: the binding agreement for a specific requirement, awarded under the framework either by direct award or by further competition.
- How are call-off contracts awarded?
- Call-offs are awarded two ways. Direct award lets the buyer select a supplier without a competition, but only where the framework sets the core terms and an objective mechanism such as ranking. Further competition invites appointed suppliers to bid, assessed only on the award criteria used when the framework was set up.
- When can a buyer make a direct award call-off?
- Under the Procurement Act 2023, a buyer can make a direct award call-off only where the framework already sets out the core terms of the call-off contract and an objective mechanism for selecting the supplier — for example a taxi-rank system that rotates work or a highest-ranking system. Otherwise a further competition must be run.
- Is there a standstill period on call-off contracts?
- No mandatory standstill applies to call-off contracts under the Procurement Act 2023, whether awarded by direct award or further competition. A buyer must publish a contract award notice before entering the call-off, but the 8 working day standstill that applies to standalone contracts is optional for call-offs.
Sources
Related terms
Framework agreement
A framework agreement is a multi-year arrangement between one or more public sector buyers and one or more suppliers that sets the terms — pricing, quality, delivery — for contracts awarded during its life. A framework is not itself a contract for work; the individual call-off contracts placed under it are.
Mini-competition
A mini-competition is a focused tender run among the suppliers already appointed to a multi-supplier framework agreement or dynamic market, inviting all eligible members of the relevant lot to bid for a specific call-off contract using the evaluation criteria and rules pre-set by the framework.
Dynamic purchasing system(DPS)
A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is an electronic procurement tool under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 that, unlike a closed framework, stays open to new suppliers throughout its life — any provider meeting the published criteria can join at any point and then bid for individual call-offs.
Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 is the law governing most UK public procurement, in force since 24 February 2025. It replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and three other regimes with one set of rules, introducing the competitive flexible procedure, a central digital platform, and a published debarment list.
Standstill period(Alcatel period)
The standstill period is a mandatory pause between a public buyer announcing a contract award and signing it, giving unsuccessful bidders time to challenge. Under the Procurement Act 2023 it is at least eight working days from publication of the contract award notice; under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 it was ten calendar days.