Open Frameworks Under the Procurement Act 2023: What Suppliers Need to Know (2026)
The Procurement Act 2023 introduced a new type of framework arrangement that did not exist under the previous Public Contracts Regulations 2015: the open framework. Unlike a traditional closed framework — where the window for appointment is fixed at the outset and closes once the initial competition concludes — an open framework allows suppliers to apply for appointment at any point during the framework’s operational life.
This is a significant change for suppliers who missed the appointment window on a traditional framework, or who have grown their capability and evidence base since a framework was first established. This guide covers how open frameworks work, how they differ from other framework types, and what suppliers need to do to secure appointment.
How Traditional Frameworks Work — and Why Open Frameworks Are Different
Under the previous regime, a framework agreement was established through a single competition at the outset. Suppliers who were not appointed at that stage had no route onto the framework until it expired and a new one was established — typically after four years. For suppliers who had been too small, too new, or simply unaware when the original competition ran, this meant waiting years for the next opportunity.
Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) existed as a partial workaround — allowing new suppliers to join at any time — but DPS arrangements were designed primarily for more commoditised purchases and did not suit all procurement categories. The open framework fills the gap between the rigidity of traditional closed frameworks and the DPS model, providing a more flexible route for broader categories of public sector purchasing.
Under the Procurement Act 2023, an open framework must be reopened for new applications at defined intervals — at least once every five years for frameworks with a maximum duration of eight years, and at least once every three years for frameworks of shorter duration. This requirement for periodic reopening is mandatory — buyers cannot establish an open framework and then never admit new suppliers.
Open Frameworks vs Closed Frameworks vs DPS
Understanding which type of framework arrangement you are dealing with matters for how you approach appointment and call-off.
A closed framework is established through a single competition. The appointed suppliers are fixed for the framework’s duration — typically up to four years. No new suppliers can join after the initial appointment window closes. Call-offs are made to appointed suppliers only, through further competition or direct award depending on the framework’s terms.
An open framework operates similarly to a closed framework in terms of how call-offs work — appointed suppliers compete for individual call-offs — but differs in that new suppliers can apply for appointment at defined reopening intervals throughout the framework’s life. Open frameworks can run for up to eight years under the Procurement Act 2023, compared to the standard four-year maximum for most closed frameworks.
A Dynamic Purchasing System allows new suppliers to join at any time without restriction on reopening intervals. DPS arrangements are typically used for more straightforward, high-volume purchasing categories. They are generally more open to new entrants at any point than even an open framework, but the call-off process tends to be simpler and less suited to complex, high-value requirements. Our guide to Dynamic Purchasing Systems covers DPS in detail.
What the Reopening Process Looks Like
When an open framework is reopened for new applications, the buyer publishes a new tender notice — accessible through Find a Tender in the same way as any other procurement notice. Suppliers who were not appointed at the original establishment stage, or who were appointed but have since been removed, can apply through this reopening competition.
The evaluation criteria for a reopening round may be the same as the original establishment competition or may be updated to reflect changes in the buyer’s requirements. Suppliers applying at a reopening are assessed on the same basis as original appointees — they are not treated as late entrants or given preferential access simply because the framework already exists.
Existing appointed suppliers are not typically required to recompete at each reopening — their appointment continues subject to ongoing compliance with the framework’s terms. However, buyers may include provisions for periodic revalidation of appointed suppliers’ continuing eligibility and capability as part of the framework’s governance arrangements.
How to Monitor Open Framework Opportunities
Because open frameworks can be reopened at any point within their operational life — subject only to the minimum reopening frequency requirements — suppliers need to actively monitor Find a Tender for reopening notices rather than waiting for a new framework to be established. A framework that was established before you were aware of it, or before your organisation had the capability to compete for it, may reopen within its current operational life — giving you an appointment opportunity without waiting for a full re-procurement.
Set up keyword monitoring on Find a Tender for your target procurement categories. When you identify a framework that is relevant to your services, check whether it is established as an open framework — this information should appear in the framework notice and associated contract documents. If it is open, note the framework’s duration and calculate when the next mandatory reopening is likely to occur.
Prior information notices published under the Procurement Act 2023 can also give advance warning of planned reopening competitions — buyers who publish a PIN for a framework reopening give suppliers time to prepare their application before the formal notice is published. Our guide to prior information notices covers how to use these effectively.
Preparing a Strong Application for an Open Framework
The disciplines that produce strong framework applications under the open framework route are the same as those for any framework appointment competition — but with one additional consideration: if you are applying at a reopening rather than the original establishment round, you are competing against suppliers who may already have years of delivery experience on this specific framework.
Your application needs to demonstrate that your capability is genuinely comparable to that of existing appointed suppliers — not just that you meet the minimum eligibility threshold. Where existing suppliers have built up directly comparable case studies through call-off work on this framework, your evidence base needs to be equivalently compelling from other comparable contracts.
Ensure your financial standing meets the framework’s stated requirements — calculated against the typical call-off values, not the total framework value. Check every mandatory accreditation requirement and confirm all are current before submitting. And tailor your quality responses to the specific buyer’s framework priorities — open framework applications are evaluated against the same criteria as original appointees, and generic applications score as poorly at reopening as they would have at the original stage. Our guide to applying for public sector frameworks covers the complete framework application process.
Call-Off Competition on Open Frameworks
Being appointed to an open framework does not guarantee any volume of work — it gives you the right to compete for call-offs issued by buyers who use the framework. For most open frameworks, individual call-offs are awarded through a further competition among appointed suppliers — a mini-competition where appointed suppliers submit proposals or prices for a specific requirement.
The disciplines that win call-off competitions are the same as those for any quality tender response — specification alignment, specific evidence, buyer-specific tailoring, and compliance with every formatting and submission requirement. The difference from a full procurement is that you are competing against a known, defined field of appointed suppliers rather than an open market — which makes competitive intelligence about the other appointed suppliers’ typical approaches and strengths genuinely useful preparation. Our guide to what competitors’ case studies tell you about your gaps covers this competitive analysis discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open Frameworks
How do I know if a framework is open or closed?
The framework notice and associated procurement documents published on Find a Tender should state whether the framework is established as an open framework under the Procurement Act 2023. If this information is not clear from the published documents, use the clarification process to ask the contracting authority directly — this is a reasonable question to ask before committing time to monitoring a framework that may never reopen to new applicants.
Can I apply to an open framework at any time, or only at the formal reopening?
Only at the formal reopening competitions — open frameworks do not allow rolling, continuous applications at any point. The “open” designation means the framework must be reopened at defined intervals, not that it accepts applications continuously. The difference from a DPS is that a DPS does accept applications continuously, while an open framework reopens periodically.
What happens to my appointment if the framework is extended beyond its original term?
Open frameworks can run for up to eight years under the Procurement Act 2023. If a framework is extended within this maximum, existing appointed suppliers’ appointments continue subject to their ongoing compliance with the framework’s terms. The mandatory reopening requirement continues to apply — a framework extension does not reset or waive the obligation to reopen at the required frequency.
Are open frameworks being used widely yet?
The Procurement Act 2023 only came into force in February 2025, so open frameworks are relatively new in practice. Adoption is growing — particularly among buyers who have previously run frameworks where they subsequently wished they could admit additional suppliers partway through the framework’s life. Monitoring Find a Tender for open framework notices is currently an area where early-adopter suppliers can identify opportunities that less informed competitors may miss entirely.
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About the author: Written by Joshua Smith, a seasoned bid-writing expert with experience across the UK, Middle East and US, helping organisations secure the contracts they deserve through high-quality, competitive tender responses.