Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
The legacy pre-tender supplier assessment, largely replaced by the standardised Selection Questionnaire for UK central government.
Definition
A Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is the historical pre-tender stage where buyers evaluate whether suppliers meet minimum standards before inviting them to tender. The PQQ has largely been replaced by the standardised Selection Questionnaire (SQ) for central government contracts following Crown Commercial Service guidance. Both formats assess financial standing, relevant experience, compliance declarations, and exclusion grounds. Many local authorities still use the term PQQ even when the content mirrors the standardised SQ.
How it works in practice
PQQs sit at the start of two-stage procurements (typically Restricted Procedure) and as a filter for framework or DPS applications. The structure is comparable to the SQ: parts covering supplier basic information, exclusion grounds (the standard PCR 2015 exclusion list), economic and financial standing (turnover thresholds, audited accounts), technical and professional ability (case studies, key personnel CVs, certifications), and supplementary topics (insurance evidence, modern slavery declarations, equality and diversity, environmental management). PQQs are typically pass-fail at this stage: a supplier either meets the published minimum standards or is excluded. Where the buyer wants to shortlist (Restricted Procedure with capped shortlist size) the PQQ is scored to rank candidates and only the top-ranked are invited to tender. The Procurement Act 2023 retains the conditions-of-participation concept as the pre-tender filter mechanism; "conditions of participation" is the new statutory label for what PCR 2015 called selection criteria. 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 that lets bidders maintain reusable PQQ and SQ answers and adapt them to each opportunity.
Common questions
Is the PQQ still used in UK public procurement?
Yes, the underlying concept (a pre-tender stage assessing supplier eligibility) continues under different names. Central government has standardised on the Selection Questionnaire (SQ). Local government, NHS, and other public bodies often still use "PQQ" as the label. The Procurement Act 2023 calls the same concept "conditions of participation".
What is the difference between PQQ and 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.
Is PQQ pass-fail or scored?
Usually pass-fail for the basic eligibility topics (exclusion grounds, mandatory turnover thresholds) and scored for the discretionary topics (case study quality, technical capability) when the buyer is shortlisting. Where there is no shortlist cap, all suppliers passing the pass-fail topics advance to the tender stage.