Cabinet Office note to boost public sector CAS specification

The Cabinet Office has issued a revised procurement policy note (PPN) 03/23. This note enables public sector buyers to specify the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) when prequalifying suppliers for ‘public works contracts’. According to Paul Reeve, ECA Director of CSR at ECA “since this contractual term covers a comprehensive swathe of construction and maintenance activity the revised PNN is likely to mean that many more contractors who engage with public sector work will need to engage with CAS assessment”.

Specifically, the revised PPN requires public sector deployment of either the CAS or BSI’s PAS 91 for ‘public works contracts’ (with the notable exception of NHS procurement). These works contracts can include the procurement of mixed contracts for supplies and services. It is anticipated that, in response to the PNN, the public sector will increasingly use the CAS for PQQ assessment in relation to public works, rather than PAS 91.

Industry body Build UK hosts and develops the CAS, which aims to overcome the time and cost burden of excessive and duplicated prequalification, and ECA chairs the CAS question review group. The revised PNN 03/23 shows that the CAS is now widely regarded as suitable for prequalifying suppliers for construction projects and the broad spectrum of public sector contracted works.

Additional CAS specification in the public sector will add to the nearly 20 Tier 1 construction contractors who already specify the CAS, along with the support of some major commercial clients and industry trade associations. In addition, there are now four recognised CAS assessor bodies, including some of the biggest names in PQQ assessment. This includes ECA’s industry PQQ partner CHAS, which has a long heritage in the public sector.

ECA provides Member support for any company undergoing CAS assessment, including a comprehensive ‘CAS manual’ that provides useful information and guidance on how to engage successfully with many of the CAS PQQs.

Paul Reeve is ECA Director of CSR and Chairs the Build UK CAS Review Panel.

PPN 03/23 (replacing PPN 08/16) is at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ppn-0323-standard-selection-questionnaire-sq