YORhub is implementing a client‑selected direct award option across our full suite of frameworks. This is already available on YORconsult3 and YORcivil3, with YORbuild3 to follow shortly. The move comes as a result of client feedback, extending the options for direct award while remaining aligned with procurement best practice.

Full details of the direct award routes are available from your framework manager. Suitability will depend on your authority and project‑specific requirements, but in general two key criteria are considered. These are outlined below, although the examples provided are not exhaustive.

Criterion 1 – Where the proposed call off has substantial similarities to a previous project/scheme in which the framework supplier was involved (whether such project was the subject of a call off contract awarded under this framework agreement or not).

For example, where the authority wishes to buy additional or to partly replace existing services which are the same or compatible with existing provisions (both those already supplied or that are contracted to be supplied). In this case, a direct award may be made where a change of supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services, and that difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.

Another example that may fit this circumstance would be where a supplier is already working on a site and there are genuine health & safety concerns over having multiple Principal Contractors working on the same site.

Criterion 2 – Where the framework supplier has already performed services relating to the call off and the client requires continuity of service in respect of such a subsequent phase or stage of work.

An example of this could be where the supplier has been appointed undertaken feasibility or outline design of a project, making decisions as a principal designer or designer under the Building Safety Act, and the contracting authority wishes to continue with the same supplier who has already been making and recording design decisions in line with BSA.

If you would like to explore whether client‑selected direct award could support your upcoming project, please get in touch.