Before the Procurement Act 2023
Traditional public sector frameworks operated on a fixed model. A contracting authority ran a single competition, evaluated applications, and awarded places on the framework to a set list of suppliers. Once the window closed, it stayed closed. No new suppliers could join mid-term, and existing suppliers couldn’t update their listings or services. You were on or you weren’t. If you missed the window, you waited for the next iteration of the framework, which could be years away.
For suppliers, this created a binary outcome where timing mattered as much as capability. For buyers, it meant the supplier pool could become stale – unchanged even as the market evolved around it.
What the Procurement Act 2023 changed
The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025, introduced the open framework under Section 49. An open framework is a procurement arrangement structured to reopen at defined intervals, allowing new suppliers to join and existing suppliers to refresh their positions throughout the framework’s lifetime.
This isn’t just a tweak to existing rules. It fundamentally changes the relationship between a framework’s lifecycle and a supplier’s opportunity to participate in it.
Open frameworks can run for up to 8 years, compared to the 4-year maximum for traditional frameworks. The number and timing of reopenings are set out in the original procurement notice, so suppliers know in advance when application windows will arise. Crucially, the terms of the framework stay the same at each reopening — a supplier who joins at Opening 2 operates under exactly the same conditions as one who joined at Opening 1.
How open frameworks differ from traditional frameworks
The practical differences go beyond just having more than one application window.
Duration: Traditional frameworks max out at 4 years. Open frameworks can run for up to 8, giving contracting authorities a more stable, longer-term route to market.
Supplier pool: On a traditional framework, the supplier list is fixed at award and doesn’t change until the next iteration. On an open framework, the pool grows and refreshes at each reopening, meaning buyers have access to an evolving market rather than a static snapshot of it.
Competitive pressure: Open frameworks create ongoing competitive dynamics. At each reopening, new suppliers enter the market, meaning incumbent suppliers can’t treat their listing as a permanent fixture. This keeps standards higher across the board and gives buyers continued access to new and innovative suppliers.
Missed windows: On a traditional framework, missing the application window means waiting for a new framework entirely — often years away and with no guarantee of similar scope or structure. On an open framework, missing one window means waiting for the next defined reopening, which is published from the outset.
Call-off procedures: How buyers award contracts under a framework. Contracts under a framework are awarded either through a Competitive Selection Process (previously called a mini-competition, where listed suppliers are invited to bid for a specific requirement) or Award Without Competition (previously called direct award, where the framework terms include an objective mechanism for selecting a supplier without reopening competition). The open framework model doesn’t change these call-off procedures.
Open frameworks in practice
Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7
DOS7 (RM1043.9) is one of the first major DDaT frameworks to operate under the Procurement Act 2023’s open framework model. It runs for 6 years, reopening every 18 months. Framework 1 opened in May 2025 and was awarded in January 2026. GCA has now published the RM1043.9.2 page confirming Opening 2 is coming, with pre-market engagement planned for autumn/winter 2026 and the application window expected in summer 2027.
Technology Services 4
Technology Services 4 (TS4) runs for 8 years, with planned reopenings before the end of year 3 and year 5. It must reopen at least twice to meet the open framework criteria under the Act.
Both illustrate the same principle: suppliers who miss an opening aren’t locked out. They’re waiting for a timetable that’s published before the framework even starts.
What this means for suppliers
The shift in mindset required is significant. Historically, frameworks rewarded suppliers who were ready at exactly the right moment, and penalised those who weren’t. Open frameworks change that calculus, but they don’t remove the need for preparation.
If you’re already listed, your listing won’t automatically carry over to the next opening. You’ll need to reapply, and you’ll be competing alongside new entrants. Keeping your case studies, certifications and service descriptions current matters more under this model, not less.
If you missed an opening, the path forward is clearer than it used to be. Monitor Find a Tender for Planned Procurement Notices, which signal that a reopening is approaching. These give you the lead time to prepare a strong application rather than scrambling once the window opens.
And if you’re new to frameworks entirely, the open framework model means there’s less pressure to join the first wave. You can take time to understand the framework properly, prepare a thorough application, and come in at the second or third opening with a better-positioned submission than you’d have managed under the gun of a once-only window.
How to get started on an open framework
If you’re interested in joining an open framework, here are a few steps to get you started:
- Research and identify relevant frameworks: Understand which frameworks are relevant to your business and sector. Keep an eye on platforms like Contracts Finder or the Digital Marketplace for updates.
- Prepare your application: Ensure you meet all the requirements, such as compliance standards, financial stability, and past performance criteria.
- Watch out for Prior Information Notices (PINs): Public sector organisations often issue PINs to alert suppliers to upcoming opportunities on frameworks. These notices can give you early insight and allow time to prepare for new entry points.
- Stay up to date: Open frameworks are dynamic, so keep an eye out for updates or new entry points. Make sure you’re prepared to act when opportunities arise.
- Seek support to work on your strategy: From compliance to knowing the best frameworks to target, having an expert partner can make all the difference.
Advice Cloud has supported clients through framework openings across DOS7, NS4, G-Cloud and others. If you want to talk through your approach to an upcoming opening, get in touch now.
