What is a PQQ?

PQQ Pre Qualification Questionnaire

A ​PQQ is the acronym for the now defunct Pre Qualification Questionnaire used in the OJEU tender process to vet suppliers suitability to supply to government.

​The Standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ) replaced the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) in 2016 so why do so many buyers and suppliers still refer to the method of qualifying suppliers (during a tender process) as a PQQ? 

What is the Standard Selection Questionnaire?

In my March 2018 blog 'Tender Process Acronyms Explained' I touched on the Standard  Selection Questionnaire and how it had replaced the PQQ. Twelve months on and the PQQ is still alive and kicking in the tendering world but why is this?

The Selection Questionnaire provides the deal breakers, the pass / fail questions the buyer uses to determine if the bid will progress to the next stage of the tender process.

In the case of the 'Open' procedure (both the Selection Questionnaire and the Invitation to Tender/ Request For Proposal are sent to bidders at the same time), if the bid is rejected (based on the information contained within the Selection Questionnaire), the subsequent tender response and pricing will not be scored and the bidder will have no further involvement in the tender process.​

So what has changed? ​

Very little. The Selection Questionnaire has simplified the qualification stage for suppliers. Part 1 and Part 2 of the Selection Questionnaire can not be amended by the buyer. The only exception is when questions are deemed irrelevant to the procurement exercise.

Part 3 of the Selection Questionnaire allows the buyer to ask their own questions, so long as they directly relate to the subject matter of the tender. Which was the case of the PQQ. 

The Selection Questionnaire still requires suppliers to answer Mandatory and Discretionary Exclusion questions, confirm their financial standing and provide references to evidence their previous experience. 

So why the resistance to change?

Usually it is fear of the unknown, a lack of competence to learn new ways of working or a lack of training, understanding or a failure to keep up to date with changes affecting the procurement profession. 

A buyer who has a tendency to copy and paste previous tenders can often create a situation where PQQ and SQ is used in the same procurement document, leading to total confusion.  

What ever the reason, the continued use of the PQQ acronym is causing unnecessary confusion for bidders. ​

About The Author

Naomi Clews is an SME specialist bid writer with over 17 years of UK Government and public tendering knowledge, experience and skill visit our website for further details. ​