Cabinet Office Launches New Benchmark for Public Procurement

• Content
• News
• Cabinet Office Launches New Benchmark for Public Procurement

15 April 2024 | Updated 17 April 2024

Changes to the public procurement process means all contracting authorities must specify a new standard for their supply chains and contractors.

From 27 June 2024, the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite) will be mandatory for contractors wanting to work with the public sector. 

CHAS Elite features a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) which helps to ascertain a company’s compliance standards and social value, covering data protection, diversity and inclusion, anti-bribery and corruption.

The news was communicated in a Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 03/24, replacing PPN 03/23. Updates to the SQ and accompanying statutory guidance for use in public procurement were also introduced.

What Has Changed for Suppliers?

• The Common Assessment Standard (CAS) has replaced PAS 91, so all references to PAS 91 have been removed following its withdrawal by BSI
• Updates have been made to the Selection Questionnaire, including a new focus on payment practices and steel sourcing 
• There are new guidelines for evaluating bids from Russian/Belarusian Suppliers
• The Selection Questionnaire (SQ) template has been adjusted to better integrate with new e-procurement platforms

Contractors not already accredited to CHAS Elite who want to engage with the public sector have less than three months to complete their assessments. Contracting authorities must ensure all suppliers are accredited to the standard.

“The whole team at Veriforce CHAS is mobilised and ready to assist contractors to upgrade to CHAS Elite and the Common Assessment Standard as quickly as possible”, says Ian McKinnon, Managing Director of Veriforce CHAS. “

We know how important this is to the construction industry and to the UK government, and as the pioneer who first got behind CAS, we are best placed to help the sector raise its game rapidly to meet this challenge.”

Picture: a photograph of Ian McKinnon standing in front of a wall with CHAS branded signage on it. Image Credit: Veriforce CHAS

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 15 April 2024

Share

Related Articles