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).
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. But what is a pre-qualification questionnaire, and how does it work with construction?
A pre-qualification questionnaire (or PQQ) is a pre-tender document, and broadly a PQQ is a list of questions for a potential supplier. It does what it says on the tin: it qualifies you to go through to the tender stage. It is important to note that the PQQ has a job to do: eliminating applicants for a tender process. If you don’t fulfil the criteria in a PQQ, you will not go through to the next round. Within construction, there is also the 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. Whilst we see this less frequently since the introduction of the SQ (selection questionnaire) we do still see them, and it is important that you keep high-quality, up-to-date policies to submit as evidence.
Important features of a PQQ for construction
All PQQs share common features. These are some of the most vital ones for a construction company:
Health and safety policies and procedures
Building sites can be dangerous to builders and passers-by/residents, so you need to prove you have the necessary controls in place
Financial information
Prove you won’t go bust before completing the project
Environmental/sustainability issues
Are you using the most environmentally friendly materials and disposing of waste in an appropriate manner?