In what instances can we legitimately set up a framework up for more than 4 years?
This could be done in exceptional cases duly justified, in particular by the subject-matter of the agreement (see Regulation 33(3)). You would need to explain in the Contract Notice the reasons why this is longer than four years. Recital 62 to the EU Directive on public procurement gives an example of where this could be justified: “where economic operators need to dispose of equipment the amortisation period of which is longer than four years”.