You can buy from this agreement using direct award or further competition.
Before using this agreement, you should read the following documents:
- customer guidance
- frequently asked questions
- how to run a further competition
- how to direct award
Check your organisation’s internal processes and controls before engaging with suppliers. This is to make sure you are following your organisation’s standard operating procedures and choosing the best route to market for your needs.
Before running a further competition or direct award, you will need to complete the following documents:
- Framework schedule 6 (order form template and call-off schedules)
- call-off schedules
- joint schedules
You can access pricing information by emailing our team. You will need to quote ‘RM6282’ in the subject line of your email and state which lot(s) you need the pricing for.
Further competition
Most of the time you will need to run a further competition to ensure you receive the best value for money.
You must undertake a further competition if you want to:
- allow suppliers to develop proposals or a solution that meets a specific need
- amend or refine the terms of the call-off contract to reflect your needs (any changes will still need to follow the procurement regulations)
To award a call-off agreement through a further competition you should:
- Define a clear specification of requirements.
- To establish which lot fits your needs, read and analyse the agreement specification.
- Invite all suppliers to quote for your services (you can do this in writing using email or through an esourcing portal).
- you can find contact details for all suppliers in the products and services section
- Allow suppliers the opportunity to ask questions about your need during a clarification period, this will enable them to provide a more accurate quote,
- Set a tender submission timescale (taking into account the complexity of the services you are asking for).
- Evaluate the supplier responses in line with your pre-defined award criteria.
- Keep all responses confidential until the end of the evaluation period.
- Award your call-off agreement notifying the successful and unsuccessful suppliers in writing by email or through an e-sourcing portal and signing Framework schedule 6 (order form template and call-off schedules).
- Publish your contract on Contracts Finder.
Direct award
Direct award should only be used when you:
- are certain that only one supplier can meet your needs
- can clearly establish which supplier can meet your needs based on quality and price
If you choose this option you must accept the maximum commercial agreement rates. You will not be able to add any additional terms or conditions to the Public Sector Contract, for example, a joint schedule.
To award a call-off agreement through direct award you should:
- Clearly define your requirements.
- To establish which lot fits your needs, read and analyse the framework specification.
- Contact the suppliers on the lot to determine if they can meet your needs (supplier contact details can be found in the products and services section).
- Establish your award criteria using Framework schedule 7 call-off award procedure.
- Award your contract by signing Framework schedule 6 (order form template and call-off schedules).
- Publish your contract on Contracts Finder.
Where some lots have a single supplier, you can still achieve value for money by running a process that is similar to a further competition.
You have the option to partially re-open the competition by sharing your specification, pricing schedule and terms and conditions with the supplier. The supplier will then review the documents and provide a quote based on your specific needs.
