Definition
Call-Off Contract
The individual contract awarded under a framework agreement.
A call-off contract is the individual, legally binding contract awarded to a supplier for specific goods, works or services, made under the umbrella terms of an existing framework agreement or Dynamic Purchasing System, rather than through a brand-new standalone procurement.
How a call-off is made
Where a framework already fixes price, specification and terms in enough detail, the buyer can place a direct-award call-off with the chosen supplier without further competition. Where the framework leaves some terms open — commonly price or a refined technical approach — the buyer runs a mini-competition among relevant framework suppliers before awarding the call-off.
Either way, the call-off contract itself must sit within the scope and terms originally set by the framework; a buyer cannot use a call-off to purchase something materially outside what the framework was procured to cover.
What suppliers should check before signing
Because the framework's core terms are already fixed, the call-off contract often has limited room for negotiation, but suppliers should still check call-off-specific details carefully — delivery dates, volumes, any local variations the framework permits, and how the call-off's payment terms interact with the framework's headline terms.
Suppliers should also confirm the call-off falls genuinely within the framework's agreed scope; call-offs that stray outside scope can be challenged by other suppliers or found unlawful.
- Check the call-off scope matches what the framework was procured to cover
- Confirm which framework terms are fixed and which remain open for the mini-competition
- Review call-off-specific variables: volumes, delivery dates, local schedules
- Keep records of what was agreed in any negotiation permitted at call-off stage
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to bid again for every call-off under a framework I have joined?
- It depends on the framework. If it is a direct-award framework with fixed prices and terms, the buyer can call off from you directly without further bidding. If it allows mini-competitions, you will need to submit a fresh bid refined for each specific requirement as it arises.
- Is a call-off contract legally binding in the same way as a standalone contract?
- Yes. Once awarded, a call-off contract is a fully binding legal agreement for the specific goods, works or services covered, governed by the terms set out in the framework plus any call-off-specific details such as price, volumes and delivery dates agreed for that order.
- Can a call-off contract go beyond the scope of the framework?
- No, it should not. A call-off must remain within the scope, categories and terms originally competed for and set out in the framework agreement. Buyers using call-offs to purchase materially different goods or services risk legal challenge and potential findings that the contract was unlawfully awarded.
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