4 minute read
Streamlining Prequalification Questionnaires for Buyers and Suppliers
Eleanor Eaton, SSIP Chair, discusses how gaining, and maintaining, SSIP certification can save time and money when completing your PQQ’s
If you’re involved in the facilities management or construction industry, you will be very familiar with the term Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) serves as a pivotal tool in assessing the suitability of contractors and suppliers during the tendering period. Companies rely on the PQQ to evaluate potential partners based on various criteria, ranging from health and safety standards to financial stability and technical expertise. While the intent behind the PQQ is to efficiently identify qualified candidates, the reality often involves repeat processes and wasted resources.
Suppliers often find themselves repeatedly navigating similar sets of questions and assessments, leading to inefficiencies and frustrations on both ends.
A major part of a PPQ is the Health and Safety questionnaire. To reduce the burden on suppliers to repeatedly provide the same information, SSIP certification brings this a solution.
The foremost benefit for buyers and suppliers
The Deem to Satisfy (DtS) Agreement, a pioneering initiative among all SSIP member schemes, facilitates mutual (and non-mutual) recognition across all SSIP assessment providers.
In 2023, buyers and suppliers achieved a remarkable £10 million in savings directly attributed to the use of the Deem to Satisfy agreement.
Under DtS, suppliers assessed through any SSIP member scheme need not undergo a full reassessment with a buyer’s preferred scheme. Depending on the preferred scheme, suppliers may need to provide additional requirements like proof of insurance or trade association membership. A complete list of additional requirements is available at: https://ssip.org.uk/ssip-deem-to-satisfy-chart/.
Through the DtS Agreement, all assessments adhere to the same rigorous SSIP Core Criteria, ensuring equality among assessments without establishing a hierarchy based on business needs.
In January 2024, SSIP issued over 3,700 DtS certificates, each representing an instance where suppliers or buyers avoided duplicating health and safety assessments.
For buyers, SSIP certification brings several advantages:
Streamlined Evaluation: SSIP certification eliminates the need for exhaustive health and safety assessments within the PQQ. Buyers can trust that SSIP-certified suppliers have already met rigorous standards, allowing for a more streamlined evaluation process.
Time Savings: With SSIP certification, buyers save valuable time that would otherwise be spent reviewing redundant health and safety documentation. This time can be reinvested in evaluating other critical aspects of supplier capabilities and project requirements.
Cost Efficiency: Reducing duplication of health and safety assessments translates to cost savings for buyers. By leveraging SSIP certification, buyers can optimise their procurement budgets and allocate resources more effectively.
Enhanced Confidence: SSIP certification instils confidence in buyers by signalling a supplier’s commitment to best practices in health and safety management, adhering to the SSIP Core Criteria, aligned with PAS 91 and the Common Assessment Standard. This assurance minimises risks associated with noncompliance and enhances overall project reliability.
On the supplier side, SSIP certification offers an array of further benefits:
Competitive Edge: SSIP-certified suppliers stand out in a crowded marketplace by demonstrating their proactive approach to health and safety compliance. This competitive edge can lead to increased opportunities for business partnerships and contracts.
Reduced Administrative Burden: With SSIP certification, suppliers can bid for projects with confidence, knowing that their certification streamlines the pre-qualification process. This reduces the administrative burden associated with completing repetitive PQQs and allows suppliers to focus on delivering value to clients.
Expanded Market Access: SSIP certification opens doors to a broader range of clients and projects. Suppliers can leverage their certification to showcase their credentials to prospective buyers across various industries, expanding their market reach and diversifying their portfolio.
SSIP certification serves as a catalyst for efficiency, standardisation, and confidence in procurement processes for both buyers and suppliers. By eliminating redundant assessments, reducing administrative burdens, and enhancing market competitiveness, SSIP certification paves the way for streamlined and mutually beneficial business partnerships. As the industry continues to evolve, gaining SSIP certification offers a reliable way for all parties to reduce the burden that pre-qualification questionnaires can place upon an organisation.
If you are interested in learning more about SSIP certification or undertaking an assessment through a member scheme, please visit
