Pre-qualification questionnaire PQQ for construction contracts
A pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ, sometimes referred to as a supplier assessment questionnaire) sets out a series of questions for potential tenderers to answer regarding their level of experience, capacity and financial standing. The answers to these questions enable the client to produce a short list of suppliers that are likely to be most appropriate for their project. Short-listed suppliers may then be invited to tender for the contract.
Using a pre-qualification questionnaire has the effect of reducing the number of potential tenders to those that are genuinely appropriate for the project, saving a great deal of wasted time for potential tenderers who would not have any realistic chance of winning the contract. It also saves time for the client processing and assessing inappropriate tenders.
Pre-qualification questionnaires should be focused and simple to complete, (perhaps with limits to the number of words that can be submitted in response to each question) otherwise they may just replicate the tender process itself. They should also make it very clear what the tender process is for, so potential tenderers can properly assess whether they have the appropriate experience, capacity and financial standing.
Where possible a scoring and weighting system should be prepared for rating submitted information and potential tenderers should be informed of the details of the system that will be used.
The information requested should be straight-forward, relevant and proportionate to the size of the contract. It might request:
- Company details (including legal status).
- Details of insurance cover.
- Financial information (such as recent accounts).
- Relevant experience.
- Information about technical and professional ability.
- Information about capability and capacity.
- Health and safety policy.
- Quality assurance policy.
- Environmental management policy.
- Equal opportunities policy.
- Relevant references.
- A BIM assessment to determine BIM capability, gaps in skills and training needs.
Systems such as Construction Line go some way to standardising and simplifying the tender process by allowing tenderers to provide pre-qualification information just once that can then be presented to multiple potential clients.
The government requires public clients to use PAS 91, a standardised wording for pre-qualification questionnaires.
NB In December 2013, Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock set out a range of measures intended to make it easier for small businesses to grow in Small Business: GREAT Ambition. Measures were announced to tackle late payment and to remove the barriers to public contracts by abolishing pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) for low-value contracts and mandating the use of core PQQs for high-value contracts.
In March 2021, a new pre-qualification system went live. Developed by Build UK with support from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, and endorsed by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), the system has been adopted by contractors and clients including Balfour Beatty, Costain, HS2, Mace, Multiplex and Skanska. It is also supported by a number of leading trade associations, such as electrotechnical sector body ECA.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Appointing consultants.
- Common assessment standard.
- Constructionline.
- Construction contract.
- ESPD and the decline of the PQQ.
- Expression of interest.
- Invitation to tender.
- Mid tender interview.
- PAS 91.
- Pre qualification questionnaires and PAS 91.
- Pre-qualification standard 2021.
- Pre tender interview.
- Procurement route.
- Selection criteria.
- Supplier assessment questionnaire.
- Tender documentation.
- Tender evaluation.
- Tender processes.
- The benefits of e-procurement in construction.
[edit] External references
- OGC Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for selecting suppliers.
- OGC PQQ.
- Construction Line.
- OGC Supplier Selection and Pre-Qualification: Guidance, tools and tips.
- OGC Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
- Pre-qualification - PAS 91: the use of this standardised wording for PQQ's has been mandated within Government.
- PACE Guidance on the Appointment of Constractors and Consultants P480 Pre Selection Procedures.
Featured articles and news
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Put digitalisation and sustainability at the core of curricula
Project management educators are urged.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.
APM Programme Management Conference 2024
Strategies for Success.
Residential takes the reins as contract awards even out
Contracts down, but remain above the last quarter of 2023.
Celebrating Eid and the largest mud-brick building.
Barry Kingscote claims prestigious CIOB CMYA Award.
The British Mosque: an architectural and social history
The story of some 1,500 mosques or more in Britain.
Heat pump refrigerants, efficiencies and impacts
R12 to R1270 what are the differences?
Global heat pump market in 2023
Challenging times with positive but modest outlook.
Beyond the infrastructure pipeline
Opportunities and chokepoints.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.