An analysis of public sector prequalification procedures in Northern Ireland

TY - JOUR

T1 - An analysis of public sector prequalification procedures in Northern Ireland

AU - Eadie, Robert

AU - Rodgers, John

AU - Mahon, Clare

AU - Smyth, Patrick

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PY - 2012/6/3

Y1 - 2012/6/3

N2 - The recent findings of two Northern Ireland procurement court casesusing the ‘restricted procedure’ have European wide implications. Theperceptions of having a ‘prequalification’ stage in addition to ‘quality/price’ areresearched; parts of the prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) are analysed andranked in importance. Economic operator perceptions are investigated onprojects above the European threshold using the restricted procedure. Findingsconfirm practitioners understand the court decisions ranking the evaluation of‘previous experience’ as the most important part within the prequalificationstage. There is ambivalence regarding PQQ’s providing value for money(VFM): 49% consider it does not provide additional VFM compared to thesingle stage process. The majority of organisations (62%) use externalconsultants when preparing PQQ submissions. Findings show the court caseshave resulted in PQQ’s becoming more generic, an innovative response is nolonger possible as it will be outside the scoring matrix. Practitioners providedsuggestions on improving the process.

AB - The recent findings of two Northern Ireland procurement court casesusing the ‘restricted procedure’ have European wide implications. Theperceptions of having a ‘prequalification’ stage in addition to ‘quality/price’ areresearched; parts of the prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) are analysed andranked in importance. Economic operator perceptions are investigated onprojects above the European threshold using the restricted procedure. Findingsconfirm practitioners understand the court decisions ranking the evaluation of‘previous experience’ as the most important part within the prequalificationstage. There is ambivalence regarding PQQ’s providing value for money(VFM): 49% consider it does not provide additional VFM compared to thesingle stage process. The majority of organisations (62%) use externalconsultants when preparing PQQ submissions. Findings show the court caseshave resulted in PQQ’s becoming more generic, an innovative response is nolonger possible as it will be outside the scoring matrix. Practitioners providedsuggestions on improving the process.

KW - prequalification

KW - construction contracts

KW - construction

KW - procurement

KW - law

KW - restricted procedure

KW - Ireland.

U2 - 10.1504/IJPM.2012.047168

DO - 10.1504/IJPM.2012.047168

M3 - Article

VL - 5

SP - 273

EP - 288

JO - International Journal of Procurement Management

T2 - International Journal of Procurement Management

JF - International Journal of Procurement Management

SN - 1753-8432

IS - 3

ER -