- Method
- withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition
- Type
- open
- Buyer Categories
- This Framework may be used by contracting authorities and other eligible customers located in the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies existing on 06/10/2026. Eligible customers include central government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, assembly-sponsored public bodies, local authorities, emergency services (including police, fire, ambulance, maritime and coastguard services), NHS and healthcare organisations, educational establishments (including schools, academies, colleges and universities), housing associations and registered social landlords, national parks, hospices, charities, voluntary and community sector organisations, citizens advice bodies, and any other public sector body permitted to access the Framework in accordance with applicable procurement legislation.
- Description
- Call-Off Contracts may be awarded using any one of the following methods outlined below.
1.Direct Award (Award Without Competitive Selection)
2.Rapid Request for Quote (Rapid RFQ)
3.Further Competition
The ultimate responsibility for selecting the most appropriate and compliant route for a specific requirement rests with the Customer. The onus will be on the Customer to carry out their own due diligence before selecting which method to use. The Customer will determine the requirement, specification and award, based on the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT)
Direct Award (award without a competitive selection):
This Framework permits Direct Award, defined under the Procurement Act 2023 as awarding a Call-Off Contract without conducting a new competitive selection procedure. A Direct Award may only be used where the Customer can identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) using only the information and scores submitted at Framework award, without requesting any new pricing, clarification, or qualitative information from Suppliers.
Permitted Direct Award Methods
Customers may use any of the following objective, pre-published Direct Award methods. The Customer must choose one method before reviewing Supplier capability for their requirement.
1. Overall Framework Ranking (Quality + Price Combined Score)
2. Highest Total Quality Score
3. Lowest Overall Price/Highest Commercial Advantage
4. Highest Score in a Specific Evaluation Question
5. Partial-Service Selection (Specific Services from the Pricing Schedule)
Rapid RFQ
A Rapid RFQ is a streamlined competitive process appropriate for low-complexity or tightly defined requirements where essential criteria can be specified as Pass/Fail, and price acts as the ultimate determinant among compliant Suppliers.
Further Competition
A Further Competition process is used where Customers carry out a competition for the award of a Call-Off Contract.