A Practical Guide To Frameworks

The Dukefield Group’s mission is to become a valuable partner in your procurement journey. 

We have designed ‘A Practical Guide To Frameworks’ which can be used as a starting point for anyone looking to;

  1. Build an understanding what frameworks are.

  2. Use a framework for the first time.

  3. Promote the benefits of using frameworks within your organisation.

What is a framework? 

It is ultimately a list of one of more suppliers who have been awarded a place on a formal purchasing agreement following a compliant procurement exercise. Each framework sets out the rules that define how you can make purchases.  An establishment can then select their requirement without the need to carry out a lengthy procurement exercise.

Framework agreements provide public sector bodies with access to competitively tendered goods and services, tendered in compliance with the UK Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015.  Each time Dukefield Group set up a new framework several elements are assessed such as pricing, product/service quality, KPI’s and social value.  This means that you benefit from an overall best value for money solution.

When to use a framework?  

  1. When spend on a specific category is above the PCR financial thresholds.

    The Public Contracts Regulations set out financial thresholds on goods and services. Currently the threshold is £214,904 (inc VAT) for educational establishments in the UK.  Under the PCRs you can either run your own procurement exercise that must be advertised on the Government’s ‘Find A Tender Service’ and be in compliance with the PCRs, or you can use a framework, in turn saving you valuable time and resources.

  2. When you need to be assured that suppliers have been pre-qualified and checked in advance of any procurement exercise that requires a quotation or a tender.  This helps you prove that due diligence has been carried out.

  3. When you have a lack of knowledge in a particular category of spend and want to ensure that T&C’s are appropriate, suppliers are compliant or product specifications satisfactory.

  4. When you are looking to create extra capacity.  Utilising frameworks delivers efficiencies, saving you time by avoiding a lengthy tender exercise.

How do you use a framework? 

Typically, you can use a framework in two ways.

  • Further Competition

  • Direct Award

Framework user guides will detail how to run a further competition or how the direct award can be undertaken.

What are the steps involved in using a framework?

Step 1 - Understand your requirement and check if using a framework is an option under your organisation’s procurement rules / standing orders / financial regulations.

Step 2 - Check if there is an appropriate framework available and if you can access it.  Resources are available for you to search for public sector frameworks.  All frameworks managed by Dukefield Group are free to access.  For further information click here.

Step 3 - Next you decide if you will run a further competition, or direct award. Direct Award is used where business is awarded to a supplier without running a further competition (this is only permitted for a limited number of goods and services).

Step 4 - Guidance on how to contact suppliers will be contained in the framework user guide.  Often there would be a contact template provided for you to use.

Step 5 - Where a further competition was used, quotations would then be received.

Step 6 - Contract is awarded based on the evaluation criteria contained within the framework user guide, or via direct award.

What are the benefits of using a framework?

  • Best Value - Frameworks assist schools and MATs looking to deliver best value for money on their spend.

  • Compliance - Frameworks offer a compliant route to market providing access to goods and services, tendered in compliance with the UK Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015.

  • Agreed Pricing structures.

  • Experienced and vetted suppliers.

  • Pre-agreed T&Cs and supporting documentation which has been simplified for ease-of-use.

  • Customer support and guidance from the framework managers.

  • Timescale reductions.

  • Resource efficiency.

  • Due diligence completed by MCIPS Qualified personnel.

Dukefield Procurement are available to provide help with all aspects of framework use including direct award and further competition.

For more information, contact Claire Makin - Claire.makin@dukefield.co.uk

Sarah Dungar