PQQ
Acronym for Pre-Qualification Questionnaire; the legacy pre-tender supplier assessment.
Definition
PQQ is the acronym for Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, the legacy pre-tender supplier assessment widely used in UK public sector procurement. The PQQ has been largely replaced by the standardised Selection Questionnaire (SQ) for central government contracts. Many local authorities and NHS trusts continue to use the "PQQ" label even when the content mirrors the standardised SQ format.
How it works in practice
See the detailed Pre-Qualification Questionnaire glossary entry for the substantive coverage of how PQQs operate. The short version: PQQs sit at the start of two-stage procurements (Restricted Procedure typically) and as a filter for framework or DPS applications. They cover supplier basic information, exclusion grounds, financial standing, technical capability, and supplementary topics (insurance, modern slavery, equality and diversity, environmental management). PQQs are typically pass-fail at this stage. Where the buyer wants to shortlist (Restricted Procedure with capped shortlist size) the PQQ is scored to rank candidates. The Procurement Act 2023 retains the conditions-of-participation concept as the pre-tender filter mechanism under refreshed statutory labelling. Suppliers should maintain a current PQQ master document covering all the standard topics; bid teams adapt it to each specific PQQ request rather than re-drafting from scratch. KimonBids holds a PSQ Response Bank for reusable PQQ and SQ answers and surfaces relevant template content tailored to each specific opportunity. The PQQ acronym persists in widespread use across UK public sector even as the underlying instrument has standardised under CCS guidance, so suppliers should be ready to recognise both PQQ and SQ labels in equivalent procurement contexts.
Common questions
Is PQQ still the right acronym to use?
For central government bidding the more current term is SQ (Selection Questionnaire). For local government, NHS, and the wider public sector, PQQ remains widely used. Use the term used in the specific tender; the underlying instrument is similar regardless of the label.
How is PQQ different from SQ?
The SQ is a standardised PQQ template introduced by Crown Commercial Service for central government use. It uses a consistent format and question set so suppliers can prepare reusable answers across departments. The substantive coverage is the same: financial standing, relevant experience, exclusion grounds, certifications.
Can I reuse PQQ content across procurements?
Yes, that is the point of maintaining a PQQ master document. Most PQQ topics (financial standing, exclusion grounds, organisation information, policy statements) are stable across procurements with minor refresh. Tender-specific content (case studies, named team, project plan) needs adapting per procurement.