Framework agreements explained: how to get on one and win work through it
6 min read · last reviewed 29 Sept 2026
A huge share of public spending never appears as an individual tender because it's bought through frameworks. If you only bid for standalone contracts, you're competing for a fraction of the market.
What a framework is
A framework agreement is a pre-approved panel of suppliers, set up through one competition, that buyers can then use to award contracts ('call-offs') without running a full tender each time. Frameworks are often split into lots by service, value or region, and many are open to hundreds of public bodies, not just the one that set it up.
How work is awarded under a framework
Getting onto a framework doesn't guarantee any work. It gives you the right to compete for it — often against a much smaller field than an open tender.
- Direct award — the buyer picks a supplier using rules set out in the framework, often ranking from the original evaluation.
- Mini-competition (further competition) — the buyer invites every supplier on the lot to bid for a specific requirement. This is where most framework work is won.
Open frameworks and dynamic markets
Under the Procurement Act 2023, open frameworks can be reopened to new suppliers at set points, and dynamic markets let suppliers join at any time if they meet the conditions. Both are easier routes in than a traditional closed framework that runs for four years.
Is it worth bidding for?
Look at who uses it and how much has been called off, not just the headline value — a framework 'worth £500 million' is a ceiling, not a promise. Check the lots you'd qualify for, the regions they cover, and when the framework expires: a framework ending soon will be re-tendered, and that's your window to get on it.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between a framework and a contract?
- A contract commits the buyer to buy. A framework sets the terms and the approved suppliers for future contracts; call-offs under it are the actual contracts.
- Can I join a framework after it starts?
- Not a closed framework — you wait for it to be re-tendered. Open frameworks reopen at set points, and dynamic markets accept new members throughout.