# Framework agreement and call-off

- Title: What is a framework agreement in procurement? — Sinal
- URL: https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/glossary/framework-agreement-call-off
- Language: en
- Updated: 2026-10-26
- Alternate (pt-PT): https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/pt/glossario/acordo-quadro (markdown: https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/pt/glossario/acordo-quadro.md)
- Alternate (es-ES): https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/es/glosario/acuerdo-marco (markdown: https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/es/glosario/acuerdo-marco.md)

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A framework agreement sets terms for later contracts; a call-off is a contract awarded under that framework.

Reviewed 26 October 2026 · Sinal team

## What it does not mean

The framework itself is not a promise of a minimum purchase or an awarded call-off contract.

## In practice in Portugal

A framework agreement lasts at most four years, extensions included. A longer term is possible only exceptionally, with reasons (CCP, Article 256(1) to (3)).

Contracts under it follow Article 258 when the agreement settles every aspect put to competition, and Article 259 when it does not.

## In practice in Spain

A framework agreement lasts at most four years unless exceptionally justified (LCSP, Article 219(2)). Contracts based on it have their own duration, but can only be awarded while the agreement is in force (Article 219(3)).

Only the parties to the agreement can receive them (Article 221(1)). When the agreement does not settle every term, the parties are invited to a new tender (Article 221(4)).

## What you see on the notice

- BASE: a contract record shows “Tipo de procedimento: Ao abrigo de acordo-quadro (art.º 259.º)”, “Nº do acordo quadro” and “Descrição do acordo quadro”.
- TED: a “Framework agreement” block per lot, and on result notices fields such as “Maximum value of the framework agreement”.

## How Sinal shows it

Award details may identify a call-off when the source explicitly supports that label.

- A call-off carries the chip “Call-off” (“Acordo-quadro” in Portuguese, “Derivado de acuerdo marco” in Spanish) with the note that only suppliers already on the framework can bid.

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## Example in a real notice

[TED result notice for a framework agreement, with an initial call-off planned ↗](https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:602068-2025:PDF:EN:HTML)

## Related terms

- [Lot](https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/glossary/lot)
- [Award criteria and MEAT](https://sinal-pme.babete.pt/glossary/award-criteria-meat)

## Primary sources

- European Union — [Directive 2014/24/EU, Article 33 ↗](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014L0024)
- Portugal — [CCP, Articles 251–259 ↗](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/2008-34455475)
- Spain — [LCSP, Articles 219–221 ↗](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2017-12902)

Sources checked 26 October 2026

General information, not legal advice. The notice and the applicable national law decide.