What Is a Procurement Selection Questionnaire (PSQ)?
What Is the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) – And Why You Need to Care
In December 2024, the UK Government rolled out the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) — the new replacement for the old SQ under the Procurement Act 2023. This isn't just a mild update—it's a wholesale shift toward smarter, fairer, and more social-value-focused procurement.
Why It Matters
Contracting authorities are now aligned on one format, with clear direction and higher expectations across the board. That means no more reinventing your responses per authority—but it also means the bar is higher. You'll need to demonstrate:
- Supplier capability — realistically, not aspirationally
- Risk management — owned, documented, and credible
- Social impact — locality-driven, measurable, and contracted
CoP alone won't cut it. You need structured, insightful answers — with evidence.
PSQ Raises the Stakes — But Also Opens the Door
Challenges the PSQ brings:
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Social value front and centre
No more generic statements. You need to show clear, localised benefits — upskilling, sustainability, or community impact tailored to the contract's location and scope.
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Capability — audited and tested
They want you to show delivery credentials, technical know-how, financial soundness, and real-world track record — not vague marketing speak.
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Risk = Reported
Don't just tick boxes on health & safety, cyber, or delivery. Show how you'll identify, mitigate, manage, and own every risk line item.
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Compliance fatigue
One questionnaire across authorities should be more straightforward — but only if you adapt fast. Otherwise, you'll spend cycles guessing what they want.
How BidScript Powers You for PSQ Success
With BidScript, you can turn this shift into your competitive edge, not a compliance headache:
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Structured PSQ Templates
Built-in hints, tags, and compliance prompts to ensure you cover all capability, risk, and social value angles — once, then reuse.
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AI-Powered Answer Drafts
Generate first-draft answers using past wins, input your customer and contract, and let the AI give you a PSQ-ready draft in seconds.
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Built-In Gap Analysis
See compliance holes well before submission — and fill them with AI-backed suggestions linked to your content library.
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Embedded Social Value Builder
Social value isn't just a checkbox — it's part of the story. Our embedded builder helps you shape place-specific, credible commitments that fit the contract — and get noticed.
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Collaborative Review Workflow
Bring in finance, ESG, operations, and legal reviewers directly within BidScript — no downloads, no version chaos, no dropped inputs.
The PSQ Advantage — If You Play It Right
BidScript + PSQ = better bids, faster
| Outcome | With BidScript | Without | | --- | --- | --- | | Time to first draft | Minutes | Hours | | Compliance confidence | 99% | Guesswork | | Win alignment | High | Inconsistent | | Risk of social-value errors | Low | High |
Let's face it: this new PSQ regime isn't going away. If you treat it as an obstacle, you'll lag behind. But if you use it to sharpen your bid strategy — and back it with AI-powered structure — you win.
Bottom Line
The PSQ is a game-changer in UK procurement — higher transparency, expectations, and depth. And BidScript is built for it. We don't just help you write faster — we help you think clearer, work smarter, and win tougher contracts.
Ready to transform the PSQ from headache to competitive edge?
Book a demo and let's show you how.