Become a CHAS Advanced member and get certified against PAS 91 standards (along with SSIP). Complete a single set of prequalification modules to demonstrate your compliance across 10 areas of risk management.
PAS 91 Prequalification Modules
CHAS Advanced is our mid-range accreditation package that offers services, guidance and insights to help you complete the core modules of the PAS 91 prequalification questionnaire system and focus on project-specific requirements.
Become A CHAS Advanced Member To Complete PAS 91
Apart from helping you prequalify for a wide range of construction projects, your CHAS Advanced membership enables you to share your PAS 91 and SSIP data with our network of over 2,500 CHAS clients across the UK. We’ll also help you save time and money by automatically prequalifying for projects and demonstrating your compliance with regulations such as CDM 2015.
What does CHAS Advanced Include?
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Sign Up For CHAS Advanced To Achieve PAS 91 Compliance
Become a CHAS Advanced member to meet both SSIP and PAS 91 requirements. Streamline your supply chain compliance by completing a single PQQ set through CHAS.
What Is PAS 91?
PAS 91 is a prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) system comprising a set of standardised question modules on core criteria essential to prequalification for construction tendering.
Developed by the British Standards Institute (BSI), the PAS 91 PQQ modules provide a universally applicable system of assessing the capability of suppliers. These question modules allow clients to determine the suitability of potential contractors for projects based on their compliance across several core areas of risk management.
PAS 91 aims to raise the bar for supply chain standards and reduce duplication by removing the need for contractors to complete different PQQs under different prequalification schemes. Once you’ve completed the PAS 91 modules, your answers to the question set can be used for different projects, saving both time and money on prequalification.
The Benefits Of Completing The PAS 91 Prequalification Modules
PAS 91 Modules Simplify The Prequalification Process For Contractors
PAS 91 reduces the need for contractors to complete multiple prequalification questionnaires.
You can use one standard question set to prequalify for multiple projects, making the prequalification process much simpler, easier and faster.
PAS 91 Connects Clients With Suitably Qualified Contractors
The PAS 91 prequalification modules help clients encourage more contractors to apply for contracts by simplifying the procurement process.
Clients will then have a wider range of contractors to select from, increasing their chances of finding the best supplier for the project.
PAS 91 Enables A Streamlined Construction Procurement Process
PAS 91 helps clients to identify and award contracts to the most suitable contractors without the need for time-consuming processes.
By helping clients ensure contractors are compliant and qualified, PAS 91 also helps to create a sustainable tendering process.
PAS 91 Recognises Existing Certifications
Duplication in the supply chain can be frustrating and time-consuming. PAS 91 aims to reduce unnecessary duplication.
If you hold any existing certifications from other assessment bodies, CHAS can factor in these assessments and help you complete a reduced question set to gain PAS 91 accreditation.
CHAS Advanced Membership Pricing
CHAS uses a dynamic pricing system: package prices depend on your desired accreditation level and the number of employees in your organisation. Receive a free quote by selecting your number of employees from the dropdown list below.
All CHAS packages include benefits such as access to our jobs board and discounted business resources.
CHAS Advanced Exclusive Member Benefits
As a CHAS member, we’ll help you achieve health and safety accreditation in the fastest and most efficient way possible. We’ll also give you access to a growing bank of exclusive CHAS benefits to help you grow your business and win more work.
24/7 Helpline And Downloadable Templates
Get 24/7 access to a Health & Safety, HR and Environmental helpline. You can also download over 100 templates, step-by-step guides and model policies.
Discounted Training Resources
Keep yourself and your entire workforce compliant and trained for less with discounted eLearning courses with Human Focus.
Exclusive Deals And Offers
Save up to 10p per litre of fuel across supermarkets, refuelling and motorway service stations with a fuel card from Fuel Card Services.
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Claim a FREE one-month trial of CHAS RAMS and start creating professional-looking and branded Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) online, powered by HandsHQ.
Your Support Package
If you require a fast-tracked application in as little as 2 working days or want additional support and guidance, CHAS Assist is the perfect option for you.
Upon purchasing CHAS Assist, you will receive a dedicated Health & Safety expert to support and guide your through the health and safety assessment process. Your assigned expert will be in contact over the phone within one working day to arrange a suitable time for assistance to be provided. If you are not available, they will leave a message and follow up with an email containing their contact details.
Your assigned expert can aid you with additional modules in the format of high-value templates, documents and advice which can be provided over the phone and/or email. Your initial assessment will be completed within two working days after submission.
The Importance of The Common Assessment Standard
New Procurement Policy Note (PPN 03/24)
Contracting authorities in the public sector should now assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard which includes CHAS Elite, following the release of PPN 03/24 which updates the existing statutory guidance.
Veriforce CHAS members wishing to work for public sector bodies or bid for new public sector contracts should hold Common Assessment Standard accreditation, which is achieved by completing the CHAS Elite assessment, to save time and money.
Public sector contracting authorities must implement the changes in PPN 03/23 by the end of June 2024.
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By submitting this form you confirm you are happy to be contacted by CHAS in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Developed by the British Standards Institute (BSI), PAS 91 is a standardised prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) system. Clients (buyers) can ask potential contractors and suppliers to complete this as part of their prequalification process for construction projects. The questions are categorised into five modules, each one covering different aspects of supply chain risk management:
- Health and Safety
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Quality Management
- Financial & Business Standing
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
By using an industry-approved PQQ set, PAS 91 can help UK construction companies reduce their tender costs by 15% to 20%.
The latest amendment to the PAS 91 questionnaire (PAS 91:2013+A1:2017) aligns the PQQ system with Government Construction Strategy, Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and CDM Regulations 2015.
CHAS Advanced is our mid-range accreditation package designed to help contractors meet SSIP and PAS 91 requirements. Complete a single prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) system with CHAS to demonstrate compliance across 10 risk management areas – from health and safety to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
PAS 91 is a Publicly Available Specification — a fast-tracked standardisation document resulting from an expert consulting service from BSI. As with other PAS documents, PAS 91 defines good practice standards for a product, service or process; more specifically, it creates a standardised PQQ system for the construction industry.
PAS 91 seeks to help construction clients find and identify suitably qualified contractors that have demonstrated compliance with supply chain risk management practices. This streamlined system helps create a simpler and more efficient procurement process, saving time and administrative costs for all parties involved in the tendering process.
PAS 91’s standardised prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) system also addresses the problem of duplication, reducing the bidding workloads for contractors and suppliers who now only have to complete the PAS 91 modules once. They can complete one standard questionnaire set to begin prequalifying for multiple projects.
The PAS 91 prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) system is designed for implementation in the UK construction industry. It streamlines the procurement process and offers a standardised PQQ system for the benefit of:
- Clients (buyers) in both the private and public sector
- Clients’ procurement agents
- Contractors
- Suppliers (of raw materials).
Yes, PAS 91 is a mandated prequalification requirement, but only for contracts in the public sector. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS — the government agency responsible for providing commercial services to the public sector — requires potential contractors and suppliers for works contracts (including the procurement of goods and services related to the works) to demonstrate their compliance with PAS 91 standards.
Currently, PAS 91 is a recommended standard for all Main Contractors (clients and buyers) when procuring specialist contractors and suppliers for their supply chains.
Whether you’re a client or a contractor, CHAS can help with all stages of the PAS 91 procurement process. If you’re a CHAS client, you can use our FREE online Client Portal to source contractors and suppliers who are PAS 91 compliant.
Meanwhile, by becoming a CHAS Advanced member, contractors can demonstrate compliance and provide supporting evidence with PAS 91 standards.
The Main PAS 91 Prequalification Modules
Health and safety is a core module of the PAS 91 system. As an industry associated with multiple hazards and health risks, the construction industry requires contractors to comply with various health and safety legislation and best practices.
PAS 91 requires contractors to complete several modules focused on health and safety risk management. To demonstrate compliance, contractors can complete our desktop assessment in health and safety. This assessment will review safety policies and associated procedures, processes, arrangements and records — no need for any visits to your office or site.
Many construction clients are now required by law to commit to sustainable environmental practices.
To complete this module of PAS 91, you may need to produce a written policy explaining your environmental management and sustainability in business processes. You may also need to provide supporting documents, including an environmental management policy and details of any accredited environmental management systems.
If you have an ISO 14001, BS8555 or EMAS accreditation, you can supply your current certificate to complete your environmental application with CHAS. Alternatively, you can answer a standard question aligned with PAS 91 standards.
Supplying quality management certification assures clients that your organisation has the management systems and processes in place to consistently deliver goods or services that meet specific quality standards.
If you have an ISO 9001 accreditation, you can supply your current certificate and complete your quality management application with CHAS. Alternatively, you may answer a standard question aligned with PAS 91 standards.
The PAS 91 financial and business standing module determines whether your company meets the financial requirements of a proposed contract. This is particularly important for clients tendering high-value, long-term contracts.
This PAS 91 PQQ module requires you to provide information about your cash flow, financial history and financial operating practices. This information can include:
- A copy of your audited accounts or similar
- A copy of your insurance documents
We recognise that some SMEs or newly established businesses cannot always demonstrate the necessary track record demanded. Our verification process will make allowances for alternative methods of showing financial standing.
This PAS 91 module requires you to demonstrate your compliance with equality and diversity legislation, such as the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Clients may look for evidence that you support fairness, inclusion and respect in your organisation. The kind of information requested can include:
- Your Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy
- History of any unlawful discrimination or breach of equality law, or any formal investigations carried out in the last three years.
- Copies of recruitment, training and promotion instructions, documents available to employees and the trade union, and recruitment advertisements or other literature that demonstrate how your policy is communicated to staff and recruits.
Additional Prequalification Modules Covered Under CHAS Advanced
This module requires contractors to provide evidence of insurance against liability. This information could be employers and public/product liability where applicable. All insurance schedules must be verified to ensure that they are in date, that the correct company details are present and that they are the correct insurances for the particular business.
If provided, brokers’ details will be checked, including the verification of their FCA number. It is also important to remember expiry dates are monitored to maintain up-to-date insurance records.
Modern slavery is a major issue in many supply chains, hence why it’s also a critical compliance factor among clients looking for suitably qualified contractors.
To complete this module, you may need to provide evidence to confirm that your business has and implements a Modern Slavery Policy. This ensures that human trafficking and slavery do not exist in your operations or supply chain — demonstrating that your business complies with workplace legislation.
The identity module allows you to establish relevant details about your business’s identity. If applicable, CHAs will check licences and accreditations your organisation holds.
As with other modules, it is important to remember that the expiry dates of certificates and licences must be monitored to maintain up-to-date records of your assessments and completed modules.
Anti-bribery and corruption is an issue many construction companies have been astute to for many years.
Completing this CHAS Advanced module may require you to provide evidence confirming that your business has and implements an Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy.
This policy will prohibit the payment or receipt of unlawful incentives during business and is verified to ensure that it is relevant, current and authorised.
To complete this module, you may be required to provide details of civil or criminal court actions such as bankruptcy or insolvency. This information may include ongoing, pending or unresolved enforcement/remedial orders, debarment, professional suspension or breaches of the Employment Relations Act 1999 Regulations.
Allegations or complaints about your company or your directors infringing competition law including remedial actions may also be checked.
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Become a CHAS Advanced member and get expert assistance to achieve PAS 91 accreditation. Use your membership to gain preferred status with clients and begin your journey towards winning more business.