The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) introduced under the Procurement Act, replaces the Standard Selection Questionnaire (SQ). It provides contracting authorities with a streamlined and structured means to assess suppliers while ensuring compliance, transparency, and fairness.
A lot of key supplier information will sit within the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender). Public sector buyers can still request further information to allow them to shortlist suppliers.
What is the PSQ?
The PSQ standardises the way contracting authorities collect and assess supplier information, focusing on three key areas:
- Supplier Information: Legal, financial, and operational data.
- Exclusions and Debarment: Verification against mandatory and discretionary exclusion grounds.
- Conditions of Participation: Assessment of financial standing, technical capability, and compliance.
Key Features and Structure of the PSQ
Supplier Information
This section captures essential details about the supplier:
- Legal name, VAT number, Companies House registration, SME status.
- Organisational details, contact information, and financial performance.
Suppliers need to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and double-check documentation such as audited accounts and turnover thresholds.
Contracting Authorities/ public sector buyers should use the CDP to verify data and ensure suppliers meet basic eligibility criteria.
Exclusions and Debarment
This section of the procurement specific questionnaire ensures suppliers and their subcontractors are eligible and not subject to exclusion grounds - e.g. Fraud, corruption, serious misconduct, insolvency, past contract failures, or regulatory breaches.
It's important that procurement teams verify suppliers for compliance and they are not on the Debarment List. This includes subcontractors, which lead bidders also need to check.
Conditions of Participation
This section evaluates whether suppliers are capable of delivering the contract. It includes:
- Financial health (e.g., insurance, turnover thresholds).
- Technical ability (e.g., past projects, certifications, KPIs).
- Legal compliance (e.g., data protection, health and safety).
Avoid disproportionate requirements for smaller contracts to encourage SME participation and ensure transparency in how criteria will be assessed.
Flexibility in the PSQ
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) can be customised by contracting authorities to reflect the unique requirements of each procurement. Examples include:
- Adding technical questions for specialised contracts.
- Simplifying questions for lower-value procurements. Important: Any changes must be detailed in the tender notice.
Benefits of the PSQ
- Reduces duplication for suppliers through integration with the CDP. More 'standard company information' will not need to be duplicated for suppliers each time. However, additional questions and specific contract related requirements will need to be completed for each opportunity which includes these additions.
- Improves transparency in supplier assessment.
- Promotes fairness by standardising exclusion and participation criteria.
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Contact us todayProcurement Specific Questionnaire & the Wider Procurement Process
The PSQ is one component of the procurement process, designed to complement and integrate with broader procedures:
Stages of the Procurement Process
Pre-Tender Stage
- Contracting authorities prepare the PSQ, ensuring alignment with conditions of participation and exclusion grounds.
- Preliminary market engagement helps shape the procurement strategy.
Tender Stage
- Suppliers complete and submit the PSQ as part of their tender submission.
- The PSQ forms the basis for assessing eligibility, financial standing, and capability.
Evaluation Stage
- Authorities assess PSQ responses alongside tender documents to shortlist suppliers.
- Criteria are applied proportionately, with clear scoring mechanisms.
Award Stage
- The PSQ supports final checks to confirm the winning supplier meets all criteria.
Integration with Competitive Tendering Procedures
The PSQ is used in both the Open Procedure and the Competitive Flexible Procedure:
- Open Procedure: The PSQ is completed by all suppliers as part of their tender, assessed in a single stage.
- Competitive Flexible Procedure: The PSQ may be used at different stages (e.g., initial shortlisting or during dialogue phases).
