Procurement procedures
Call-off contract
Definition
An individual contract awarded under a framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system for a specific requirement, drawing on the pre-agreed terms of the overarching arrangement.
A call-off contract is the actual binding agreement between a buyer and a supplier for a specific piece of work. While the framework agreement sets the rules, each call-off is a separate contract with its own scope, value, duration, and deliverables.
Call-offs can be awarded in two ways. Direct award means the buyer selects a supplier from the framework based on pre-defined criteria (usually ranking or pricing) without further competition. Alternatively, the buyer runs a mini-competition among framework members. The framework agreement specifies which method applies and under what circumstances.
For suppliers, call-off contracts are the commercial reality of framework participation. A single framework can generate anything from one large call-off to dozens of smaller ones over its lifetime. Understanding the buyer's likely call-off patterns — frequency, value, and scope — helps you assess whether a framework is worth pursuing.
Why it matters for bidders
Call-off contracts are where revenue materialises. When assessing a framework opportunity, experienced bidders model the likely call-off pattern — not just the headline framework value — to understand the real commercial opportunity.
How Skim helps
Skim analyses historical call-off patterns from award notice data, showing you how many call-offs a framework has generated, their average value, and which suppliers are winning them — so you can assess the true commercial value of a framework position.
Related terms
Framework agreement
A long-term agreement between one or more buyers and one or more suppliers that establishes the terms for contracts awarded during its lifetime, typically lasting two to four years.
Mini-competition
A competition run among suppliers already appointed to a framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system to award a specific contract or call-off, using the terms established in the overarching agreement.
Award notice
A public notice confirming that a contract has been awarded, naming the winning supplier, the contract value, and the number of tenders received.