Glossary

We understand that procurement can be confusing. Organisations often use different terms to describe the same thing. With that in mind, we designed this glossary to make buying with us and navigating our website easier. It is not designed to be an extensive list of all procurement terms.

Containing

• direct award

D

Direct award

Where you place an order directly with a supplier without running a further competition.

The option to direct award is not available on all commercial agreements or to all organisations.

You should check the agreements guidance notes and your organisation’s policy to see if direct award is a compliant route and, if so, how to proceed.

Find out more about direct award.

R

RFP direct award

Where there is only one supplier on the framework, or if there is an option for the direct award in the commercial agreement guidance notes, you can place an order directly with the supplier. RFP direct award allows buyers to select a single supplier in which they would like to engage with to receive their proposal before progressing to the contract award.

If there are multiple suppliers who can meet the buyer’s needs, direct award can only be awarded if cost is the only factor.