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Everything you need to know about the Common Assessment Standard, the recommended pre-qualification questionnaire for the construction industry and how Constructionline can help with this.
Developed by Build UK in partnership with Constructionline, the Common Assessment Standard is a standardised pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) for the construction sector. It aims to streamline the construction procurement process by providing a unified set of questions for assessing suppliers. This standardisation of construction PQQs improves efficiency by reducing duplication, and saving time and resources for both construction buyers and suppliers.
The Common Assessment Standard also promotes transparency by ensuring all construction suppliers are aware of the requirements. This fosters a more competitive and informed working environment.
It provides a comprehensive framework that expands beyond PAS 91’s scope – which has now been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The Common Assessment Standard asks a more detailed set of pre-qualification questions for construction projects. The result? Greater levels of quality and safety for building projects.
Did you know?
Over 80% of all UK suppliers get their Common Assessment Standard accreditation from Constructionline.
In March 2024, the Government issued its Procurement Policy Notice (PPN) 03/24. This clarified its recommendations regarding the Common Assessment Standard accreditation and PQQs for public sector procurement in the construction industry:
For pre-qualification in public sector projects exceeding £5.337 million, the Common Assessment Standard is now the preferred method.
The Government recommends using the Common Assessment Standard instead for builds over certain thresholds.
Our Gold and Platinum memberships are specifically tailored to meet Common Assessment Standard requirements. They also conduct a number of further validation checks that we know are of interest to many clients. We assess a company’s credentials for environmental management, quality management, equal opportunities, Modern Slavery Act adherence, and anti-bribery and corruption policies. As well as enhanced construction pre-qualification questionnaires, Gold and Platinum members are assessed for SSIP certification.
All of these benefits are aligned to the Common Assessment Standard, allowing verified Constructionline members even greater opportunities within the construction industry.
Many of the UK’s principal contractors require subcontractors to meet the Common Assessment Standard at minimum in order to work with them – including its Building Safety section. Watch our short video to see what action you may need to take.
Upgrade to Gold or Platinum membership today to align with the Common Assessment Standard and also gain access to enhanced construction pre-qualification questionnaire, including the latest v4 questions.
Existing members can upgrade now, or if you’re new, enquire today to unlock greater opportunities within the Construction industry.
Inefficient buying practices can amount to huge amounts of wasted time and money for construction buyers and suppliers alike.
By delivering a standardised approach to construction PQQs, the Common Assessment Standard:
Helps buyers identify suitably qualified contractors with less time and resources, particularly via Constructionline’s online Marketplace
Establishes itself as the government’s recommended standard for construction procurement in public sector procurement projects exceeding £5.337 million – we recommend it for all construction projects
Assists buyers with more sustainable construction procurement processes, simplifies the construction tendering process for more suppliers and encourages them to apply for more projects
Gives construction buyers more time to focus on the project-specific areas of the pre-qualification process
Completing construction PQQs for multiple clients can be costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, different PQQs in the construction industry often contain similar questions, simply presented in a different format.
The Common Assessment Standard addresses this problem, providing a standard PQQ for the construction industry.
Benefits include:
Improve your business profile and professional standing by demonstrating that you align to the Common Assessment Standard
Develop standard responses to the ‘core’ questions, which can be used in response to any buyer
Exemptions from sections if you hold industry-recognised accreditations, such as SSIP certification
A faster, more cost-effective construction pre-qualification process, giving you more opportunities to win more work
The Common Assessment Standard Questions by Build UK are designed to streamline prequalification in the UK construction industry. These industry agreed Common Assessment Standard Questions are divided into 10 sections, allowing subcontractors to complete the assessment in manageable portions. Each section addresses a specific area of compliance.
Most of the Common Assessment Standard Questions are mandatory, requiring subcontractors to provide detailed responses to demonstrate compliance. However, the questions related to the Building Safety Act are currently classified as advisory, whilst the industry adapts to the new regulations. In some cases, you may be required to upload supporting documents to accompany your answers.
The Common Assessment Standard Questions are grounded in UK construction legislation, ensuring that the requirements align with national laws and industry standards. You can read more about the question set and groupings here.
There are two types of audits: desktop and site-based. The desktop audit, which aligns with our Gold level of membership, involves remote verification of the Common Assessment Standard question answers through our platform, while the site audit, aligned with Platinum membership level, includes an auditor visiting the subcontractor’s premises to verify policy implementation in line with the answers provided to the Common Assessment Standard questions.
Once either a desktop or site Common Assessment Standard Audit has been successfully completed and verified, a CAS certificate is issued, which will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue. If you are already a verified Constructionline Gold or Platinum member, you can download your CAS certificate here. You can also share your Common Assessment Standard data with us from another assessment body through our Data Portability Request.
The key difference between the Common Assessment Standard and Pas 91 is that PAS 91 is a now withdrawn construction pre-qualification questionnaire, with the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) acting as its successor. Developed to offer a more comprehensive, modern framework, the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) builds on PAS 91 by expanding the scope of the construction pre-qualification questions, covering areas like the Building Safety Act and further UK building regulations in more detail.
Yes, PAS 91 was withdrawn by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2023 in the Governments Public Procurement Policy Note 03/24 and will no longer be updated, due to challenges with keeping up with industry demands and regulatory standards. The Common Assessment Standard (CAS) is now the preferred Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for public sector projects exceeding £5.337 million, as it offers a more comprehensive approach to pre-qualification in the construction industry.
To achieve Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation, by signing up or upgrading to a Gold or Platinum Constructionline membership. This aligns you with the CAS framework and grants access to enhanced construction pre-qualification questionnaires.
To demonstrate your Common Assessment Standard verification, you can display your Gold or Platinum membership status from Constructionline, as these align with the CAS framework. Additionally, your CAS certification can be shared directly with Main Contractors to showcase your compliance with the industry’s standard pre-qualification requirements, improving your credibility in the construction sector. You can request to download the Constructionline logo to show Main Contractors your accreditation status here.
If you are a Construction Main Contractor or buyer wanting to ensure your construction supply chain aligns with the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation, you can manage and assess your construction subcontractors using Construction Supply Chain Management platforms such as Marketplace on the Constructionline platform.. By selecting subcontractors with Gold or Platinum membership, you confirm they align to the Common Assessment Standard., You can also benefit from up to date subcontractor information; regularly monitor and verify their credentials to main supply chain compliance, as well as ensure they comply with safety, quality, and sustainability standards. To find out more, visit our Construction Supply Chain Management page.
You already have access to our Common Assessment Standard tools.
You’ll need to upgrade by visiting our Membership Centre.
To request to have your data shared with us from another assessment body and imported into Constructionline, please fill out the form.
