Dynamic contractor pre-qualification

The general benefits of contractor pre-qualification/ registration are common knowledge. Many large clients follow 'periodical pre-qualification', which is usually termed 'registration' and maintain a list of pre-qualified/ registered contractors over the pre-qualification/ registration period. The 'pre-qualified'/ 'registered' contractors are generally categorized into static bandwidths such as Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 or Group A, B, C and D. The classification of contractors into various groups depends on assessments (against pre-qualification criteria) of all 'interested' contractors. There is usually no further distinction or ranking of 'pre-qualified'/ 'registered' contractors within the group/ category in which they are banded. Furthermore, some 'registration' practices do not consider current workload levels of contractors, while financial qualifications and guarantees are given prime importance as contractors are assumed to have similar capacities in all circumstances. This paper presents a proposed new 'dynamic' contractor pre-qualification model for 'periodical pre-qualification' (normally, on an annual basis)/ 'registration', by which 'registered'/ pre-qualified contractors will be assigned different capacity ratings. The proposed conceptual model envisages that contractors will be pre-qualified/ registered with 'dynamically' changing pre-qualification ratings (geared to current workloads and capacities) and that clients will advertise different rating levels required for every tender.