THE SET OF QUESTIONS forming the Common Assessment Standard to pre-qualify suppliers has been accepted by government to allow the public sector to procure using it through its construction supply chain.

The Common Assessment Standard (CAS) was launched to improve efficiency and reduce cost in the construction pre-qualification (PQ) system. It creates a standardised pre-qualification process across the public and private sectors. It means construction contractors and suppliers do not need to purchase PQ certification from numerous companies and schemes.

Under CAS, companies will be certified once a year against the standard by a Recognised Assessment Body. Assessment bodies include Achilles, CHAS, Constructionline, CQMS and SCCS.

Procurement Policy Note

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has welcomed government publication of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 03/23 which enables public sector bodies to use the Common Assessment Standard to pre-qualify their supply chains. PAS91 has now been withdrawn.

Companies that have the Common Assessment Standard are certified once a year by a Recognised Assessment Body and this is accepted by a growing list of Contractors and Clients who no longer specify a particular assessment body.

As companies certified to the Common Assessment Standard have already been assessed for stage 1 procurement, it reduces duplication for the supply chain.

Mark Reynolds, CLC Co-Chair

Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the CLC, said: “The CLC is pleased that the Common Assessment Standard can now be used by the public sector. It is a real and practical way of reducing bureaucracy and improving quality in the industry and it has come at just the right time. Companies can demonstrate that they meet an agreed industry standard, with clients, contractors, and now public sector bodies able to rely on the certification. The CLC would encourage organisations across the supply chain to use it.”

Further information regarding the Common Assessment Standard can be found on the Build UK website.

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