Understanding what a framework agreement is

Generally all the stages of procurement from the standard bidding document (SBD) for the provision of services or goods up to the award of a Framework Agreement in Zimbabwe are governed by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23] (the PPDPA Act).

Section 2 of the PPDPA Act defines a Framework Agreement as an agreement between a procuring entity and a bidder (or bidders of two or more competing suppliers of the procurement requirement) to establish the terms and conditions governing procurement contracts to be awarded for a certain period, in particular with regard to the price and, where appropriate, the quantities involved.

There are different types of framework agreements some of which include:

• Close Framework Agreement;
• Open Framework Agreement;
• Multi – Purchase Framework Agreement;
• Multi User Framework Agreement;
• Single Supplier Framework Agreement; and
• Single User Framework Agreement.

In general a framework agreement will be formed through competitive or restrictive bidding in terms of section 30(3)(a) of the PPDPA Act. Thus, all contracts based on framework agreements in Zimbabwe are awarded in accordance with the procedures set forth in the framework agreement, in accordance with section 30(3)(b) of the PPDPA Act.