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Stop Press: On 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Public procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) come into force. We are reviewing and updating our content accordingly. Note, however, that procurements begun on or after 24 February must be carried out under PA 2023, whereas those begun under the previous legislation (the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Regulations 2016, and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) must continue to be procured and managed under that legislation. For background reading, see Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023.

Framework agreements are used in the procurement of construction projects in both the public and private sectors. They are, however, more extensively found in the public sector where they are subject to the public procurement rules. This Practice Note examines the procurement and tendering of frameworks in both sectors. It considers the regulation of framework agreements in the public sector and also looks at the duration of framework agreements and pricing under them and at how the terms for the individual