3. Framework agreement
Agreement between:
- one or more contracting entities; and
- one or more economic operators,
with the purpose to establish the terms
governing contracts to be awarded during a
given period, in particular the terms as to
price and, where appropriate, the quantity
envisaged 3
4. Regulatory framework
• EU Directives
Directive 2014/24/EU, recitals 57, 60-62,
71
Directive 2014/24/EU, Article 33
• Case law of the Court of Justice of the
European Union
• National legislation
• Other regulations
4
5. One contracting authority, one
or more economic operators
Contracting
Authority
Vendor
Contracting
Authority
Vendor
Vendor
Vendor
7. Several contracting authorities
several economic operators
Vendor
Vendor
Vendor
Contracting
Authority
Contracting
Authority
Contracting
Authority
Vendor
Vendor
Contracting
Authority
8. Fields of application
Repeated requirements for standard items
– Standard equipment, office supplies,
consumables
– Standardised services (maintenance, cleaning)
– IT or other technical support services
Uncertainty about total quantities
– Foreseeable needs for urgent action (snow
clearing, . .)
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9. Advantages I
• Flexibility to purchase goods or services
covered by that framework agreement
• The conclusion of the subsequent
contracts is greatly simplified and can
be performed more quickly than by
using a “normal” tender procedure
• Increased competition through call-
offs/mini-competitions
10. Advantages II
• Useful tool for avoiding the abusive way
in which certain situations are wrongly
set in the urgent needs category, thus
forcing the use of direct purchasing
• Greater opportunities for SME
participation – potential for better
value for money
• Contracts adaptable to rapidly changing
market conditions (IT products; fuel or
energy; foodstuffs)
11. Operations
• Award of the framework agreements
themselves
• Award of contracts under framework
agreements (through a call-off mechanism)
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12. Overview of main steps I
• Determine needs and approach; aggregate
• Advertise / invite tenders
• Standard procedures for selection & award
• Open, restricted, negotiated; competitive dialogue
• Conclude agreement with one/several contractors
• Agreement governs the way contracts are
awarded under the framework, conditions of
contract, duration (max. 4 years)
13. Overview of main steps II
• Call off deliveries as needed
If there are several contractors, a secondary
competition (“mini-competition”) may be used
each time a contract is awarded under the
framework
No subsequent changes to the terms and
conditions of the framework agreement
• Check deliveries; pay invoices
• Monitor use, especially if several contracting
authorities
• Evaluate outcomes; adjust approach; prepare
follow-up framework agreement
14. Lessons learned: typical issues
Suitability of a framework agreement vs. a
traditional public contract
Planning and preparations are vital
Carefully analyse type of framework agreement
and call-off procedure to use
Choice of procedure, criteria and tender
evaluation methodology is important
Market concentration and SMEs
Duration of the framework agreement
15. Important reminders
• Strong structuring effects on the market
• Beware of tendency to use framework
agreements in areas where they are not at
all suitable
• Before moving ahead with preparing a
framework agreement, consider seriously
whether it would indeed be most suitable
for the procurement in question
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16. Forthcoming SIGMA Paper
• Complement to SIGMA Paper 47
Centralised Purchasing Systems in the EU
• Good examples, lessons learned from EU
practice of using framework agreements
• Comparative data, gaps to be filled
• Help introduce the use of framework
agreements, guide their improvement
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17. SIGMA Paper main parts
• Basic definitions and concepts
• Legal framework
• Framework agreements step by step
• Specific, related topics
• Framework agreements in the EU
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Award and use in selected EU member
countries
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18. Award, use in selected countries
• Selection of representative countries
• Field visits, meetings with all concerned
• Austria
• Croatia
• Ireland
• Portugal
• Sweden
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19. Austria: results, lessons learned
• Advantages: better value for money; no
obligation to purchase; standardisation
• Risks: monopolisation, lock-in effects; high
share of large firms, single-supplier FAs
• Issues: incorrect use; need to improve
planning, build staff capacity
• Decent participation rate: 4-5 per tender
• Interest in cross-border FAs but no success
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20. Croatia: results, lessons learned
• Advantages, disadvantages: like Austria
• Single-supplier FAs frequent, similar to
traditional contracts: FA flexibility ignored
• Multi-supplier FAs with all conditions set,
mini-tendering rarely used
• Mandatory public consultation on draft
tender documentation for FAs
• SME participation not an issue, but weak
competition: participation rate: 3.2 per
tender 20
21. Ireland: results, lessons learned
• Focus: efficiency, savings, value for money
• E-procurement established, developing
• Pre-commercial consultations frequent
• SMEs a focus, but medium firms dominate
• Competition strong but few firms in infra-
structure and IT
• Horizontal issues: business development,
innovation, new approaches
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22. Portugal: results, lessons learned
• Advantages, disadvantages: like Austria
• E-procurement mandatory, also for call-offs
• All FAs multi-supplier with mini-tendering
• System of reference prices: itemised ceiling
prices, must not be exceeded in call-offs
• Obligation to participate in mini-tendering
• High participation levels; SME participation
policy issue only, not in practice
• Concerns about lack of dynamism
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23. Sweden: results, lessons learned
• Advantages: economy, efficiency, relations
• Concerns: lock-in, loss of CA competence,
need to compromise on requirements
• Late with e-procurement; no e-auctions
• Horizontal policies: environment, social,
SMEs; concerns about market structuring
• High participation, high success rates - does
this mean strong competition?
• DPS seen to replace FAs
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