---
title: "Pre-qualification steps vs post-qualification"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_8/construction_management:prequalification-steps-post"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/prequalification-steps-post
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Pre-qualification steps vs post-qualification

Construction Management · Chapter 5: Contract Management

- Asked in: 2067 Mangsir (old course), 8 marks
- Video: [Pre Qualification of Contractors - Tenders and Contracts - Quantity Survey Estimation and Valuation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19dzHX9oV2c) — Ekeeda
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/prequalification-steps-post
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-5

## Question

What is prequalification? Mention various steps to be followed in prequalification and what are the differences between prequalification and post qualification.

## Short answer

Pre-qualification evaluates capability before bidding. Steps: decide need, prepare documents with criteria, invite applications, open publicly, evaluate, approve shortlist, inform applicants, then issue bids to qualified firms. Post-qualification checks the lowest bidder after opening and is used for smaller works.

## Answer

#### Prequalification
Pre-qualification is the evaluation of contractors' capability before the tender, so that only qualified firms are asked to bid.

#### Steps
1. **Decide** whether PQ is needed (large, complex, specialised work).
2. **Prepare the PQ document:** project description, scope, qualification criteria (experience, finance, equipment, personnel, litigation), the evaluation method (pass/fail or marks), and the forms.
3. **Invite applications** by a public notice with a deadline.
4. **Clarify queries,** and hold a pre-application meeting if needed.
5. **Receive and open** the applications publicly.
6. **Evaluate** the applications against the criteria through a committee, and verify references.
7. **Approve** the list of qualified applicants and **inform** all applicants of the result, with reasons for rejection.
8. **Issue the bid documents** and invite bids from the qualified applicants only.

#### Pre-qualification vs post-qualification
| Point | Pre-qualification | Post-qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Before bidding | After bids are opened and evaluated |
| Who bids | Only qualified firms | All interested firms |
| Evaluation | Capacity of all applicants | Capacity of the lowest evaluated bidder only |
| Number of bids | Limited | Many |
| Time and cost | Extra stage; longer | Shorter process |
| Suited to | Large, complex works | Simple, small works |
| Risk | Lower | The lowest bid may have to be rejected after opening |
| Under PPA 2063 | PQ before bidding for large or complex works | Qualification of the lowest evaluated bidder is checked before award |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Prequalification occurs:
   A. Before bidding
   B. After bids are opened
   C. After award
   D. After contract signing
   Answer: A. Post-qualification is after opening. (Key point: PQ timing)

2. Right order of steps:
   A. Issue bid documents, then evaluate applications
   B. Prepare PQ document, invite applications, open, evaluate, approve and inform, then issue bid documents
   C. Evaluate, then invite applications
   D. Open bids, then prepare PQ document
   Answer: B. Bid documents go only to qualified applicants. (Key point: Steps)

3. In post-qualification who bids?
   A. Only pre-selected firms
   B. Nobody
   C. All interested firms; only the lowest evaluated bidder is checked
   D. Only foreign firms
   Answer: C. PQ limits bidders; post-qualification does not. (Key point: Who bids)

4. Post-qualification suits:
   A. Large complex works
   B. Specialised plants only
   C. Never used
   D. Simple, small works
   Answer: D. PQ suits large and complex works. (Key point: Suitability)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Pre-qualification of contractors and its need](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aprequalification-need) — Construction Management, chapter 5, asked 5×
- [Pre-qualification: need, advantages, disadvantages](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aprequalification-advantages) — Construction Management, chapter 5
- [Pre-qualifying contractors for Rs 500 million complex](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aprequalify-contractors-500m) — Construction Management, chapter 5
- [Conventional tunnelling steps and TBM advantage](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Atunnelling-conventional-tbm) — Construction Management, chapter 4

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