PAS 91:2010 Construction related procurement. Prequalification questionnaires
Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 91 provides a set of questions to be asked by buyers of potential suppliers to enable prequalification for construction related procurement.
BSI developed PAS 91 to specify the nature, content and format of a set of questions designed to test compliance with the core criteria essential for prequalification for construction tendering and to establish uniform requirements for their application and use.
This PAS also specifies requirements for the consistent use of those questions, irrespective of the size or nature of the contract. It is intended that the questions are also used by assessment providers in their intermediary role between buyers and suppliers.
It is widely recognized that excessive prequalification activity adds unacceptable cost, bureaucracy and confusion to the construction supply chain. Unnecessary bureaucracy associated with prequalification diverts both buyers’ and suppliers’ resources and attention away from proportionate and effective risk management.
Buyers and assessment providers should only require suppliers to provide the minimum paperwork necessary to demonstrate that the suppliers can provide a satisfactory response to the questions in the PAS 91 modules.
This PAS provides construction sector stakeholders with prequalification questions (PQQs) that are the common questions that are relevant to construction-related procurement’, and increase the scope for recognition between various types of PQQ activity, helping to significantly reduce duplication, unnecessary paperwork and cost for both buyers and suppliers.
The document sets out the nature, content and format of a set of questions on core criteria essential to prequalification for construction tendering. In addition to setting out questions (the responses to which will be used to assess supplier suitability), the specification includes requirements for the selection; presentation, and application of core criteria in a transparent and equitable manner.
To be eligible for prequalification it is necessary that suppliers demonstrate that they possess or have access to; the governance, qualifications and references, expertise, competence, health and safety/environmental/financial and other essential capabilities necessary for them to undertake work and deliver services for potential buyers. These ‘areas of capability’ are represented in the core question modules.
Core question modules
PAS 91 contains prequalification question (PQQ) modules that are universally applicable to assessing the capability of all suppliers, and additional question modules that may also be required by buyers. It is assumed that the PQQ modules will be used by those competent in construction related procurement and that they will be aware that mandatory/ discretionary exclusion requirements may apply.
‘Project-specific’ and additional questions
It is important to recognize that the information obtained from applying PAS 91 does not remove a buyer’s legal or other requirements to make further enquiries about the supplier’s capabilities, beyond the questions in these modules, to satisfy specific requirements for projects, services or other activities.
It is the intention that through the application of PAS 91 to prequalification services and processes, suppliers may prequalify at a time of their own choosing, commensurate with meeting the requirements of the tender process, and that successfully meeting the prequalification criteria will be recognized by all potential buyers that recognize PAS 91.
The use of this set of common criteria by those who provide prequalification services will help to streamline tendering processes by:
- Reducing the need for unproductive, repetitive completion of a multiplicity of prequalification processes
- Increasing consistency between various prequalification databases
- Facilitating the identification of suitably qualified and experienced suppliers
- Enabling the separation of criteria at the prequalification and contract award stages of the procurement process.
It is not suggested that inclusion on a prequalification database will necessarily guarantee an invitation to tender or an engagement of services. It is recognized that those seeking to have work done may choose to select prequalified tenderers or may decide to advertise for tenders or expressions of interest for particular projects. However, with the growth of prequalification activity, it is suggested that by applying for prequalification through a prequalification scheme that conforms to PAS 91, those seeking to tender for construction contracts can access the tendering processes in a resource efficient manner.
For those seeking to have contracts fulfilled, the use of PAS 91, either directly (through its application in self-generated prequalification processes) or through the use of an external prequalification assessment provider that adheres to the requirements of PAS 91, will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of construction tendering processes. Its use is therefore recommended wherever construction-related prequalification is undertaken.
"A simpler way of pre-qualifying for construction contracts is to be introduced which will save the industry millions", Business Minister Mark Prisk has announced. Read the BIS press release |
The questions are presented in modules that cover ‘areas of supplier capability’.
PAS 91 does not cover project-specific questions to suppliers and buyers or assessment providers
Contents of PAS 91 include:
- Introduction
- Scope
- Terms and definitions
- Rules for use of the question modules
- Prequalification questions – core modules
- Prequalification questions – supplementary modules
- Example of question module exemption provision
- PAS 91 overview
- Public sector buyers
- Health and safety: SSIP and supplier capability
- Glossary of terms used in construction related procurement
- Prequalification statistics
- List of tables
- Core question module A1: Supplier identity, key roles and contact information
- Core question module A2: Financial information
- Core question module A3: Business and professional standing
- Core question module A4: Health and safety policy and capability
- Supplementary question module B1: Health and safety policy and capability – CDM co-ordinators and designers
- Supplementary question module B2: Equal opportunity and diversity policy and capability
- Supplementary question module B3: Environmental management policy and capability
- Supplementary question module B4: Quality management policy and capability
Background to the development of PAS 91
This Publicly Available Specification was developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) with input from the Electrical Contractors Association, the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group, the National Federation of Builders, the Federation of Master Builders and the Civil Engineering.
PAS 91 is available for free download.
The Office of Government Commerce, now part of the Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office, has participated directly in the development of this PAS and supports its use.
The following organizations were involved in the development of this Publicly Available Specification:
What is a PAS?
A Publicly Available Specification (PAS) is a sponsored fast track standard driven by the needs of the client organisations and developed according to guidelines set out by BSI. Key stakeholders are brought together to collaboratively produce a BSI-endorsed PAS that has all the functionality of a British Standard for the purposes of creating management systems, product benchmarks and codes of practice.
In not more than two years from the date of publication a PAS is reviewed to determine whether amendment or revision is required or whether it should be considered for conversion to a formal British Standard.
For PAS 91 by way of preparation for that review, throughout this first two years the text of PAS 91 will be available for user comment at http://drafts.bsigroup.com/.
A wide range of PAS documents are available to buy in the BSI Shop, many as instant downloads. Some are available free.
More details about fast-track standards, how PASs are commissioned, and how they could help your business visit BSI's Standards Solutions area.