Call-off (Mini-competition)
An order placed under an existing framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or similar arrangement. Only suppliers already admitted to that arrangement can be awarded it, either directly or after a mini-competition among them.
In Detail
A call-off is the individual contract a buyer awards under an arrangement that has already been procured. Under Article 33 of Directive 2014/24/EU, call-offs from a framework agreement are awarded either on the terms already set in the framework, without reopening competition, or after a mini-competition in which the framework suppliers capable of performing the contract are invited to tender on the specific requirement. Only the contracting authorities identified in the framework can place call-offs under it, and only the suppliers that are party to it can receive them.
Under a dynamic purchasing system (Article 34), every specific contract is competed: the buyer invites all admitted participants, or all those admitted to the relevant category, to submit a tender, with a minimum time limit of 10 days. The difference from a framework is that the DPS stays open, so a supplier that is not yet admitted can apply to join and take part in later call-offs once its request is accepted. Qualification systems used by utilities and national supplier lists work in a similar way: the arrangement is advertised once, and individual contracts are then competed among its members.
Some portals publish call-off and mini-competition notices alongside ordinary tenders. A supplier outside the arrangement cannot bid for them, but they show which buyers spend through which frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, how often and on what. That is useful evidence when deciding whether to compete when a framework is next re-procured, or whether to apply to join a DPS.
Practical Context
How it works in practice
Suppliers on a multi-supplier framework treat each mini-competition as a short, focused bid: the selection stage is already behind them, so the response concentrates on the specific requirement, price and delivery, often against a shorter deadline than an open tender. Suppliers outside the framework should check whether the vehicle is a DPS they can still join, or note when the framework expires. On Tender Radar, call-offs are labelled 'Members only' because only members of the named framework, DPS or list can bid; they are hidden from the feed by default, and the Access filter ('Include framework-only, direct awards and closed invite lists') shows them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bid on a call-off if I am not on the framework?
No. Only suppliers that are party to the framework agreement can be awarded a call-off under it, and a framework cannot take on new suppliers during its term. If the call-off is under a dynamic purchasing system, you can apply to join the DPS and take part in later call-offs once you are admitted, but each call-off is competed among the participants admitted when the invitation is sent.
What is the difference between a direct call-off and a mini-competition?
A direct call-off uses the terms already fixed in the framework, so the buyer places the order with the supplier identified by the framework's own rules, such as a ranking or rotation. A mini-competition reopens competition among the framework suppliers capable of performing the contract: they submit tenders on the specific requirement, which are evaluated against the award criteria set out in the framework documents.
Why does Tender Radar hide call-offs by default?
Because most users cannot bid for them. Call-offs are labelled 'Members only' and kept out of the feed unless you turn on 'Include framework-only, direct awards and closed invite lists' in the Access filter, which is useful when you are on the framework yourself or want to see how buyers use it. When the classification is uncertain, the label starts with 'Likely', tells you to check the notice, and the notice stays in the feed.
Related Terms