If you do work for any public sector body – or hope to in the future – you should achieve ‘Common Assessment Standard‘ certification by June 2024 to help you save time and money. If you are a Veriforce CHAS member, that means reaching the CHAS Elite status. This is in line with a new UK Cabinet Office publication that came out in March this year! Read on to learn more…
In accordance with a new Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 03/24, the Common Assessment Standard should now be used for pre-qualifying suppliers for works contracts within the public sector. Here’s the key facts you need to know:
- Contracting authorities in the public sector should now assess their supply chains using the Common Assessment Standard, following the release of PPN 03/24 which updates the existing Selection Questionnaire and replaces PPN 03/23.
- Contractors wishing to work for public sector bodies or bid for new public sector contracts should hold Common Assessment Standard certification, which can be achieved by completing the CHAS Elite assessment aligned to the Common Assessment Standard.
- The changes mean that the Common Assessment Standard now formally replaces the existing pre-qualification standard PAS 91, which has been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
- Adopting the Common Assessment Standard reflects moves to align public sector procurement with current practices within the construction industry and replace multiple pre-qualification processes with one comprehensive, industry-agreed questionnaire, improving supply chain transparency. The development also enables contractors and suppliers to demonstrate they meet ever-changing sustainability, environmental and social governance standards such as modern slavery.
- Public sector contracting authorities must implement the changes contained within PPN 03/24 by the end of June 2024, but are being encouraged to adopt the changes immediately. This means contractors should consider getting the Common Assessment Standard, such as CHAS Elite now to help save time and money.
Achieve the Common Assessment Standard with CHAS
CHAS has already helped thousands of contractors achieve the CAS. We were the first Recognised Assessment Body to offer the Common Assessment Standard in 2019, recognising the potential for standardised procurement processes to transform public sector procurement.
Sign up now to become a CHAS Elite member or speak to one of our CHAS advisors to learn more about the benefits of gaining CAS certification.
Meanwhile, Contracting Authorities who are looking to source responsible contractors who have achieved the CAS can do so using the CHAS Client Portal, a free resource that allows clients to quickly and easily find certified construction firms and includes the facility to search by specific or multiple trades, location and radius.
Achieve the Industry’s highest recognised accreditation, backed by Build UK & CECA with CHAS Elite
The Common Assessment Standard streamlines the construction supply chain and makes it easier for companies to achieve compliance and gain accreditation.
Correction to previous communications regarding PPN 0324 and SSIP
PPN 0324 and SSIP
We recently issued a series of communications regarding PPN 03/24. In an early email we stated that if you carry out work for any public sector body you’re going to need the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation. We said that SSIP accreditations will no longer be accepted. This statement was inaccurate.
We would like to clarify that SSIP accreditations may be accepted by public sector bodies. SSIP accreditations will also enable exemption from Section 4: Health and Safety, of the Common Assessment Standard. Please accept our apologies in relation to the misleading information previously communicated.
If you would like further clarification of this, or the implications of adopting the Common Assessment Standard, please email our award-winning services team at admin@chas.co.uk
