Catalogue
A document or online portal that provides information on products and services offered by a supplier.
Could also refer to our online buying platforms which are designed to make it easy for you to make smaller or one-off purchases online.
Take a look at our online catalogues
Call-off award procedure
The procedures stated within the commercial agreement that buyers can use to award a call-off contract.
Call-off contract
A contract between a buyer and a supplier for the provision of goods or services.
Subject to the call-off award procedure, buyers can award a call-off contract to a supplier directly (without re-opening competition) or after completing a:
Read our article about call-off contracts.
Call-off schedule
A schedule that forms part of the Call-off contract. To see which Call-off schedules you need to complete, check the document section of the commercial agreement you are buying through.
See our list of commercial agreements.
Other documents forming the procurement contract include:
Capability assessment
This is when a supplier self certifies their ability to provide certain requirements in a procurement. For example, they may certify if they can provide goods and services within 3 weeks. This allows buyers to shortlist bidders who are capable of performing the contract.
Carbon Net Zero
Carbon net zero (CNZ) means we are not adding more carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Any carbon emissions we do create are balanced out by taking the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere.
See how we can help you reach your carbon net zero goals.
Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP)
A Carbon Reduction Plan helps customers understand the impact of a supplier’s operations on the environment. A CRP details an organisation’s emissions across a single year against a range of emission sources and greenhouse gases. The CRP is also required to show what actions will be taken to achieve net zero and annual progress against these.
If a supplier is required to publish a CRP, you can find it on their
individual supplier details page
For reference,
PPN 006: Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts.
Closed framework
A type of framework introduced under the
Procurement Act 2023
where suppliers can only join at the start. After the initial competition:
no new suppliers can join
the agreement lasts for a maximum of 4 years
for defence and utilities, they can last up to 8 years
(longer periods may be allowed in certain markets if properly justified)
Learn how to buy through a closed framework.
Learn how to supply through a closed framework.
Clarification period
The formal exchange of required information throughout the procurement process between:
The exchange of information is used to create a comprehensive audit trail. Required information can include:
• bid pack documents
• capability questions
• bid evaluations
Commercial Agreement Manager
A Commercial Agreement Manager (CAM) is the person who manages the commercial agreement.
Commercial agreement
Competitive dialogue
A procurement procedure which allows departments to hold dialogue with suppliers on various aspects of the procurement.
This procurement procedure does not exist under the
Procurement Act 2023
Competitive flexible procedure
A multi-stage competitive tendering procedure introduced under the
Procurement Act 2023
The option to run a competitive flexible procedure is not available under all our agreements, however you can use a competitive flexible procedure to buy from a
dynamic market
Some frameworks allow buyers to structure the award with competition process in multiple stages.
You should check the
agreement’s buyer guide
for more information about how to structure your competition.
Learn more about the competitive flexible procedure in our article.
Competitive procedure with negotiation
A procurement procedure which allows departments to hold dialogue with suppliers on various aspects of the procurement.
This procurement procedure does not exist under the
Procurement Act 2023
Competition
A competitive bidding process where the buyer receives and evaluates bids from suppliers before identifying them to be a supplier.
For procurements under the Procurement Act 2023: see also
award with competition
For procurements under the PCR 2015: see
further competition
Conflicts assessment
An assessment of the conflicts and perceived, potential or actual conflicts of interest in relation to a public procurement.
Convertible contract
A contract that was not a public contract initially because it fell below the financial thresholds for public contracts. But, because of a modification that raised the contract’s value, it has become a public contract.
Concession
A type of negotiated contract that gives the supplier the right to do business in a specific way. For instance a concession might allow a company outside of the UK to do business with the UK public sector.
Contract
A legally enforceable agreement between 2 or more competent parties (usually supplier and buyer). The contract will define the goods and services that the supplier will provide and for how long.
Contract award
The point where the successful potential supplier is officially awarded the contract to supply goods and/or services to the buyer.
Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder
lets you search for information about contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies.
Public bodies are required to publish details relating to the contacts they award in line with transparency requirements.
For more information,
read Guidance on the Transparency Requirements for Publishing on Contracts Finder
Contracting process
Refers to the full process (from start to finish) of completing a tender, a direct contract award or awarding a concession. Includes all stages such as the:
• planning
• tendering information
• awards
• contracts and contract management
• contract implementation information
Contract notice
A notification to let the market know about a new procurement opportunity. See also
Contracts Finder
Under the
Procurement Act 2023
, a contract notice is referred to as a
tender notice
Contract termination notice
The announcement of the termination of a public procurement contract.
Under the
Procurement Act 2023
, all buyers must publish a contract termination notice following the termination of any public contract.
For further guidance, refer to
Guidance: Contract termination notice
Contract details notice
Under
Public Contract Regulations 2015
this is the transparency notice which states the outcome of the procurement. It includes a copy of the contract.
Under the
Procurement Act 2023
, all buyers must publish a contract details notice setting out that they have entered into a public contract within 30 days of having entered a contract.
When a contract is above £5 million, buyers are also required to publish a copy of the contract, including 3 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
For further guidance, refer to
Guidance: Contract Details Notice
Contract change notice
The announcement of a modification to a public procurement contract.
Under the
Procurement Act 2023
all buyers must publish a contract change notice before modifying a contract, unless an exemption applies. For contracts valued at over £5 million, including the value of the modification, a copy of the modified contract must also be published within 90 days of the modification.
Contract award notice
The announcement of a public procurement outcome.
Under the
Procurement Act 2023
, all buyers must publish a contract award notice to say they intend to award a contract to a specific supplier or suppliers before the optional standstill period. This applies to all above-threshold competitive procurements and
awards without competition
For further guidance, refer to
Guidance: Contract Award Notice
Contract award notice has replaced the award notice used under PCR 2015.