Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ)

The Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ) is the UK government's official template for the pre-qualification stage of above-threshold public procurements. It was developed by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to create a genuinely standardised question set across central government departments and agencies, addressing the long-standing complaint from suppliers that every buyer ran a different PQQ requiring them to answer substantially the same questions in different formats.

What is the Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ)?

The SSQ provides a fixed structure for the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) stage of a procurement, broken into sections that align with the legal requirements under UK procurement regulations:

Organisation information. Legal identity, registered address, group structure, contact details, and whether the supplier is an SME. This section also covers trading name, registration numbers, and the legal form of the entity participating (sole trader, partnership, limited company, consortium).

Grounds for mandatory exclusion. A complete set of declarations covering all mandatory exclusion grounds under UK law, including criminal convictions for corruption, fraud, money laundering, terrorist offences, child labour, and tax offences. Each declaration requires a yes/no answer and, where yes, a full explanation. See mandatory exclusion grounds.

Grounds for discretionary exclusion. Declarations covering insolvency, professional misconduct, significant prior contract failures, misrepresentation, and conflict of interest. See discretionary exclusion-grounds.

Financial information. Turnover data for the specified reference years, key financial ratios, and insurance coverage. The SSQ specifies the financial years to be covered and the insurance types required; buyers complete the minimum threshold fields before publishing. See economic and financial standing.

Technical and professional ability. Contract references for comparable past work, including client name, contract value, delivery dates, and a brief description. The SSQ template accommodates up to three references, with buyers specifying minimum value and scope criteria. See technical and professional ability.

Certificates and standards. Questions about quality management (ISO 9001 or equivalent) and environmental management (ISO 14001 or equivalent) certifications, with space to upload certificates.

Supplementary questions specific to the individual procurement may be added by the buyer in a dedicated section, but the core SSQ structure is fixed. Published guidance from the Crown Commercial Service explains the expected format and content of answers to each standard question.

The SSQ is a UK-specific instrument and does not apply directly to procurements conducted by EU contracting authorities, which use the ESPD. However, its underlying structure mirrors the three-category framework of Directive 2014/24/EU, making it straightforward for suppliers bidding in both markets.

Why the SSQ Matters for Bidders

The SSQ's standardisation is the most practically significant benefit for UK suppliers. A supplier that maintains a well-drafted, current SSQ template can respond to a new procurement in a fraction of the time it would take to complete a bespoke PQQ. Key maintenance tasks include: updating turnover figures each time a new set of accounts is finalised; refreshing references as new contracts complete; renewing insurance certificates when policies are renewed; and checking that certification scopes (ISO 9001, ISO 14001) remain current.

The SSQ is also a useful internal audit tool: working through its questions systematically reveals gaps in a company's compliance or documentation before those gaps become reasons for exclusion in a live bid.

Example

A Welsh engineering consultancy maintains a master SSQ document reviewed and updated every six months. When the Welsh Government publishes a framework for structural engineering services requiring SSQ submission within four weeks, the consultancy extracts its current master SSQ, updates the reference section with a contract completed in the last quarter, and submits a complete, accurate document on day two of the submission window. Its response is thorough and well-evidenced because the underlying preparation was already done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SSQ mandatory for all UK public buyers?

The SSQ is mandatory for central government departments and their agencies. Wider public sector bodies (local authorities, NHS trusts, universities) are encouraged to use it but are not always required to do so. In practice, many wider public sector buyers have adopted the SSQ or a closely adapted version.

Can the SSQ be reused across different procurements?

Yes, this is its primary purpose. The core SSQ declarations and financial information remain consistent across procurements; only the supplementary questions added by individual buyers differ. Suppliers should maintain a current master SSQ and customise the supplementary sections for each bid.

Does the SSQ replace the need to submit an ESPD for EU procurements?

No. The SSQ is a UK instrument. For procurements published on Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) by EU member state contracting authorities, the ESPD remains the required self-declaration document. The two systems serve the same purpose but are separate; a supplier bidding in both markets needs to maintain familiarity with both.