Framework Agreements and Dynamic Purchasing Systems

Frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems (DPS) are two of the main routes public bodies use to buy goods, services, and works without running a fresh competitive procurement every time. Both pre-qualify a pool of suppliers so that individual contracts (called "call-offs" or "further competitions") can be awarded much faster than running a full open procedure each time.

A framework agreement is a pre-agreed contract with one or more suppliers, usually lasting up to 4 years (sometimes longer under the Procurement Act 2023's new open frameworks). The framework sets out the terms, conditions, and ceiling prices that any buyer using it can rely on. When a buyer needs to make a purchase, they either award directly to a single supplier on the framework (where permitted) or run a "mini-competition" between the relevant suppliers.

A dynamic purchasing system (now reformed as a dynamic market under the Procurement Act 2023) is an open list of pre-qualified suppliers that any qualifying supplier can join at any time. Each individual purchase is run as a competition among the suppliers on the dynamic market. The key difference from a framework is that dynamic markets stay open to new entrants throughout their life, whereas traditional frameworks are closed once awarded.

Both routes save buyers significant time and reduce procurement risk. For suppliers, getting onto a framework or dynamic market is often the difference between regular access to public sector opportunities and constantly bidding from a cold start. Our Procurement Route Explainer helps confirm which route applies to a given purchase.

Several major framework providers dominate the UK public sector landscape. Each operates differently, but the pattern is similar: pre-qualified suppliers, defined lots covering different categories of goods or services, and a published process for buyers to award call-offs.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is the largest, operating dozens of frameworks across IT, professional services, energy, fleet, and more. CCS frameworks are open to all UK public sector buyers and are often the default first place to look. The well-known G-Cloud framework (for cloud-hosted technology and services) and Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) (for digital project work) are both CCS frameworks.

Beyond CCS, sectoral framework providers serve specific parts of the public sector. NHS Shared Business Services and NHS Supply Chain serve the NHS. YPO, ESPO, NEPO, and other regional consortia operate for local government. JISC operates frameworks for further and higher education. Sector-specific frameworks often have terms more tailored to their users' needs but smaller audiences than CCS.

The Find a Tender service publishes all framework opportunities under the Procurement Act 2023. If you are a supplier, monitoring upcoming framework competitions on Find a Tender — and signing up for sector alerts — is the most reliable way to identify when frameworks relevant to your business are about to refresh.

Getting onto a framework requires winning a full procurement competition at the time the framework is set up. The competition itself runs like any other public sector tender: an Invitation to Tender (ITT) is published, suppliers submit responses, the buyer evaluates against published criteria, and successful suppliers are awarded a place on the framework.

Key things to understand before bidding for framework places:

• Frameworks have lots. Most frameworks are divided into "lots" covering different categories or service types. You usually bid for the specific lots that match your business, not for the framework as a whole.
• Being on the framework doesn't guarantee work. A place on the framework means you are eligible to bid for or be awarded call-offs — not that you will win them. Once on, you still need to compete for the actual contracts.
• Framework competitions are infrequent. Major frameworks typically refresh every 2–4 years. Miss a window and you may wait a long time for the next opportunity.
• Open frameworks (Procurement Act 2023) change this picture: they include scheduled re-opening points so new suppliers can join during the framework's life. Watch for this option on newer frameworks.

The Supplier Tender Readiness Checklist covers the documents and accreditations you typically need to bid for framework places — and the common tender mistakes guide flags the errors that most often disqualify framework bids.

Once you are on a framework, winning actual contracts requires understanding the call-off process. The two main routes are direct award (the buyer picks a supplier from the framework without further competition, where permitted by the framework rules) and further competition (the buyer runs a mini-competition between some or all relevant suppliers on the framework).

Direct awards are typically used for lower-value, lower-complexity purchases where the framework's pre-agreed terms already specify pricing and the buyer has limited need to differentiate suppliers. Buyers usually publish a justification for direct awards above certain thresholds.

Mini-competitions are the more common route for higher-value or more complex purchases. They follow a similar process to a full procurement — the buyer publishes a specification, suppliers respond with quality and price information, and the buyer evaluates against published criteria — but with two key differences: only framework suppliers (typically only those in the relevant lot) are invited, and the process is usually much shorter (often 2–4 weeks rather than 8–16).

For suppliers, winning call-offs is often about responsiveness and quality of response. The competitions are short, and suppliers who consistently produce high-quality responses to mini-competition specifications win disproportionately. Building a strong bid library with adaptable case studies, methodologies, and CVs (covered in our Prepare Your Business to Bid for Public Contracts guide) pays compound dividends when you are bidding for many call-offs.

Use the Bid Compliance Checklist on every call-off response: even small frameworks can have surprisingly strict response requirements, and a missed mandatory item disqualifies you regardless of quality.

• Procurement Act 2023 — legislation.gov.uk (frameworks + dynamic markets are in Part 4)
• Crown Commercial Service agreements — CCS live framework catalogue
• Transforming Public Procurement — gov.uk (Cabinet Office guidance)
• Find a Tender — gov.uk service (framework opportunities from Feb 2025)

Accessed 2026-07-30.