PAS 91

The BSI withdrew PAS 91 in 2023, meaning it will no longer be updated (see below)

PAS 91: 2013 Construction pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) replaced PAS 91: 2011. Developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI), it was a standardised pre-qualification questionnaire utilised in the UK construction industry to evaluate the suitability of contractors and suppliers for construction projects.

In March 2024, the Government issued its Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 03/24, clarifying its recommendations regarding PAS 91 accreditation and pre-qualification questionnaires for the Construction industry. These were that The Common Assessment Standard (CAS) is now the preferred method for pre-qualification in public projects exceeding £5.337 million and that PAS 91 is no longer actively supported and the Government recommends using the Common Assessment Standard instead for builds over certain thresholds. Over 80% of all UK suppliers get their Common Assessment Standard accreditation from Constructionline.

PAS1 covered essential areas such as health and safety, financial standing, environmental management, and quality management. By completing PAS 91, contractors and suppliers showcased their compliance with regulations and industry standards, aiding clients in their assessment of suitability. This specification streamlined procurement by standardising pre-qualification requirements, reducing duplication of effort, and promoting consistency and transparency in supplier selection. PAS 91 sets out the questions and responses used for supplier assessment, ensuring governance, qualifications, expertise, competence, health and safety, environmental, financial, and other essential capabilities are adequately addressed.

The Common Assessment Standard similarly to PAS91 covers sets out questions, responses an assessments under 10 different areas, which were updated in 2024 to include building safety following the Building Safety Act, 2022. Below is a lists of the contents of Version 4 of the Common Assessment Standard issued in July of 2024 covering 10 key areas;

• Section 1: Identity
• Section 2: Financial
• Section 3: Corporate and Professional Standing
• Section 4: Health and Safety
• Section 5: Environmental
• Section 6: Quality
• Section 7: Building Safety
• Section 8: Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR)
• Section 9: Information Security
• Section 10: Information Management (IM)

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Best value.
• Constructionline.
• Common assessment standard.
• Common Minimum Standards.
• Expression of interest.
• Government Construction Strategy.
• Invitation to tender.
• Pre qualification questionnaire.
• Pre qualification questionnaires and PAS 91.
• Procurement route.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Tender documentation.
• The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard to demonstrate organisational capability.

[edit] External references

• Bsi Shop: PAS 91: 2013.

Comments

Does anybody have any information about the PAS91 update? I knew the 2013 version was being reviewed with the intention of update .e.g. to include CDM 2015 changes but haven't heard anything for along time.

A draft version of PAS 91:2016 was due to be published at the end of 2016, but it does not seem to have emerged yet.

Any news on progress of PAS 91:2016?

The most recent advertised publication date was May 2017 - but this seems not to have happened.