What is a Pre-qualification Questionnaire in Construction?
A pre-qualification document for construction companies (like most other industries) sets out a set of standardised questions for applicants to assess their ability to undertake the proposed tender (against a minimum criteria) and for the buyer to verify the authenticity of information provided.
PQQs in construction
If you are a construction company keen to expand your contract portfolio or are working as a supplier in the construction industry, it is likely you will need to complete pre-qualification questionnaire(s). We offer PQQ writing services to help support you.
Pre-qualification questionnaires are common in the construction industry. There are many local and national framework agreements where several construction companies are listed as preferred suppliers for a large organisation or local authority. With so many companies applying for so many contracts, the pre-qualification questionnaire has become a must for standardising the process, and selecting construction contractors.
If you’re in the construction industry, you are probably aware of tenders and completing those long, often complicated documents.
What does a PQQ in construction ask for?
A pre-qualification questionnaire (or PQQ) is a pre-tender document, and broadly a PQQ is a list of questions for a potential supplier whose core aim is to assess compliance, suitability and ability to deliver the works tendered for. In a construction tender this can include:
- Mandatory company information e.g. name of bidding organisation, financial compliance, exclusionary grounds etc.
- Contract examples and technical references – to assess that the construction organisation can deliver the works.
- Health and safety, quality, and environmental questionnaires. Within construction, this may be in the form of the Publicly Available Specification (PAS 91), which was introduced as a standardised questionnaire, aiming to reduce the need for suppliers to complete a multitude of questionnaires for different projects.
- Memberships and accreditations. For example, buyers typically require that construction companies are Safe Systems in Procurement (e.g. CHAS) accredited. ISO certification may also be required.
- Environmental/sustainability issues questions such as are you using the most environmentally friendly materials and disposing of waste in an appropriate manner?
If you don’t fulfil the criteria in a PQQ, you will not go through to the next round.
What happens after a PQQ?
Once submitted, the PQQ will be assessed by the buyer to confirm that you meet the minimum criteria, can deliver the services, and have the correct memberships and accreditations. Bidders who pass this stage are then invited to the invitation to tender (ITT) stage, which will assess how you will deliver these services.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Construction PQQ
Writing long documents and preparing and providing all the necessary documentation and certification can be a time-consuming, meticulous process. If you have administrative support staff who are competent to handle such tasks on top of their everyday routine, then set them the project of completing your first pre-qualification questionnaire. If your talents lie elsewhere, consider outsourcing your PQQ and tender writing to reduce the pressure on your resource, whilst ensuring expert bid writers who understand the process are involved.
The pre-qualification questionnaire is important in the construction industry. Don’t allow yourself to be rejected due to non-compliance (e.g. documents not being filled in correctly, or attachments not being provided).