Selection Questionnaire (SQ)
The standardised pre-tender supplier assessment for UK central government, replacing the legacy PQQ format.
Definition
The Selection Questionnaire (SQ) is the standardised pre-qualification questionnaire introduced for central government contracts under Crown Commercial Service guidance. The SQ replaced the legacy PQQ format and covers organisational information, financial standing, technical capability, and exclusion grounds. The standardisation lets suppliers prepare reusable answers across departments and removes the historical friction where every authority used a slightly different PQQ template.
How it works in practice
The SQ has three parts. Part 1 covers basic organisational information (name, registered address, parent group structure, key contacts) and grounds for mandatory exclusion (corruption, fraud, tax evasion, modern slavery convictions); failing any mandatory exclusion is automatic disqualification. Part 2 covers financial standing (turnover threshold, audited accounts, parent company guarantee if relevant) and grounds for discretionary exclusion (significant past breaches of obligations, professional misconduct). Part 3 covers project-specific information (relevant experience, named case studies, key personnel, certifications, insurances). Part 1 and most of Part 2 are pass-fail; Part 3 is typically scored where the buyer is shortlisting. Suppliers should maintain a master SQ document covering all standard topics and update it quarterly. The KimonBids PSQ Response Bank stores reusable SQ answers and adapts them to each opportunity's specific question set. The SQ format is updated periodically by Cabinet Office to reflect new policy areas (recent additions include carbon reduction commitments under PPN 06 and cyber essentials under PPN 09). The Procurement Act 2023 retains the SQ as the pre-tender filter mechanism under the "conditions of participation" statutory label.
Common questions
Is the SQ used outside central government?
Increasingly yes. Many local authorities, NHS trusts, and other public bodies have adopted the standardised SQ format, often with sector-specific additions. The advantage to bidders is consistency: a single well-maintained master SQ covers most public sector pre-qualification needs.
How often does the SQ template change?
The Cabinet Office reviews the template periodically and issues updates when new policy areas are mandated (PPN 06 net zero, PPN 09 cyber essentials, social value requirements). Material updates typically come every 1-2 years; minor wording clarifications more frequently. Subscribe to the Cabinet Office procurement policy update email to track changes.
Which parts of the SQ are pass-fail and which are scored?
Part 1 (basic info, mandatory exclusion grounds) and most of Part 2 (financial standing) are pass-fail: meet the threshold or be excluded. Part 3 (relevant experience, technical capability, certifications) is typically scored where the buyer is shortlisting; where there is no shortlist cap, Part 3 is also pass-fail.