Guidance issued on PQQs now Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in force

The Government has published guidance on pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) after the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 came into force last week.

The new regulations implement Lord Young’s recommendations to government in his report, Growing Your Business, and are set out in Part 4 of the 2015 Regulations.

The guidance, which can be viewed here, includes:

• Introduction;
• Timing;
• Use of PQQs in above-EU threshold contracts;
• Use of PQQs in below-EU threshold contracts;
• Appendix A: guidance on qualitative selection for above-EU threshold procurements.

“The new requirements aim for a simpler and more consistent approach to selection for all public sector contracting authorities,” the Cabinet Office and the Crown Commercial Service said.

“They will remove some of the bureaucracy and barriers which make it difficult for businesses, in particular smaller firms, to access public sector contracts.”

The Cabinet Office and the CCS have also published guidance for contracting authorities and suppliers on paying undisputed invoices in 30 days down the supply chain.

Ministers predicted last week that implementation of the 2015 Regulations would boost public sector expenditure on SMEs. They also published guidance on the new transparency requirements for publishing on Contracts Finder.