What does buying off-contract refer to in procurement?

Buying off-contract refers to the acquisition of goods or services without a formal contract in place for that specific purchase. This often happens when organizations need to procure items quickly and do not have a pre-existing agreement or contract that covers those specific goods or services. In this context, the term emphasizes the absence of a contract specifically addressing the transaction, which can lead to potential risks such as compliance issues, lack of negotiated terms, and possibly higher costs.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of off-contract purchasing. For example, the notion of purchasing without any prior agreements could misleadingly suggest a complete lack of any contractual framework, which may not reflect the reality that other types of agreements may be in place. Meanwhile, signing a contract before purchasing does not align with the concept of off-contract buying, as it implies that a contract is established prior to the transaction. Lastly, while purchasing items with an expired contract may seem related, it focuses on the status of an existing agreement rather than the absence of an active contract for the specific purchase, thus it does not define off-contract procurement accurately.