Published 27 February 2026 by eSourcingData
Framework agreements are advertised as establishment notices on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, and through buying organisations such as CCS, YPO and ESPO. To get on them you must respond to the framework tender when it is let, because once awarded, future work is competed only among the suppliers already on the framework.
A framework agreement is an arrangement that pre-qualifies a pool of suppliers to deliver certain goods or services over a set period, usually two to four years. It does not guarantee work; instead, buyers call off contracts from the framework, either by direct award against ranked suppliers or by running a mini-competition.
Frameworks exist because they save buyers from running a full tender every time. For suppliers, the trade-off is that you must win a place on the framework first, and then compete again for individual call-offs, but the barrier to those call-offs is much lower than an open tender.
The establishment tender for a framework is published like any other contract, on Find a Tender for higher value and Contracts Finder for lower value English frameworks. Buying organisations such as Crown Commercial Service, YPO and ESPO also announce their frameworks directly and list them on their websites.
The critical thing is to catch the establishment notice, not the later call-offs. Once the framework is awarded, the call-offs are competed among appointed suppliers and often never appear as open opportunities, so watching only for open tenders means you miss the entry point.
A Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) works like a framework but stays open for new suppliers to join throughout its life, rather than closing after a single tender. If you missed a framework, a relevant DPS may be a route in because you can apply to join at any point while it is running.
The Procurement Act 2023 also introduces open frameworks that reopen at set points to admit new suppliers. Checking whether a vehicle is a closed framework, a DPS or an open framework tells you whether and when you can still get on.
Once on a framework, you compete for work through call-offs. Some are direct awards to the highest ranked or cheapest compliant supplier; others are mini-competitions where the buyer invites framework suppliers to bid on a specific requirement. Understanding which model a framework uses shapes how you should position your pricing.
Mini-competitions are usually faster and less resource-intensive than open tenders because eligibility is already settled. Being responsive and well prepared for these smaller competitions is where a lot of framework revenue is actually won.
Because frameworks run for years, the best suppliers track which ones are due to be re-let and prepare well before the tender opens. Pipeline and planning notices under the Procurement Act 2023 give advance sight of upcoming procurements, including framework renewals.
Maintain a list of the frameworks relevant to your sector, note their expiry dates, and set alerts for their re-procurement. Missing a re-let can lock you out of a category for the full term, so treat framework timing as a core part of your business development.
Spot framework tenders as they open
WinAContract is a free UK tender search tool that aggregates Find a Tender, Contracts Finder and other portals, so you can filter for framework and DPS establishment notices by CPV code and keyword and get alerted the moment a relevant framework opens.
Find framework tenders freeWhat is the difference between a framework and a DPS?
A framework closes to new suppliers after its initial tender, whereas a Dynamic Purchasing System stays open for suppliers to join throughout its life, giving you a route in even after the vehicle has started.
How do I get onto a framework agreement?
You must respond to the framework establishment tender when it is advertised. Once the framework is awarded, future work is competed only among appointed suppliers, so catching that initial notice is essential.
What is a mini-competition?
A mini-competition is a call-off run among suppliers already on a framework for a specific requirement. It is usually faster than an open tender because eligibility has already been established.
Where are frameworks advertised?
Establishment notices appear on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, and buying organisations such as CCS, YPO and ESPO also announce frameworks directly on their own websites.
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