Prequalification for building contractors

The Queensland Government regularly engages building industry contractors to provide services for government building projects.

Contractors wishing to work on government building projects that exceed $1 million in value need to apply for prequalification through Queensland's whole-of-government Prequalification (PQC) System.

For non-residential building contracts with a construction cost of at least $50 million, you must apply for prequalification under the National Prequalification System.

For registration as a builder to government outside the PQC requirements (generally projects under $1 million in value), you may wish to register with QBuild.

Criteria for building contractors to prequalify

Who needs to prequalify

If you're a building industry contractor wishing to do government building projects valued at more than $1 million, you must first be prequalified through Queensland's whole-of-government Prequalification (PQC) System.

Prequalification makes you eligible to compete for government building projects. You still need to go through the tender process in competition with your contractor peers.

Government departments use only prequalified building industry contractors for all building projects valued at more than $1 million.

Applying for building contractor prequalification

Read the Prequalification (PQC) conditions (PDF, 377KB).

To begin your PQC application, you will be asked for your Digital ID. This verifies your identity and protects your company's information.

Once you have logged into the PQC portal using your Digital ID, complete the online registration form.

For contractors, refer to the checklist for required information.

There is no fee to apply for prequalification.

Apply now

What happens next

The PQC team may contact you for more supporting information if required.

The PQC Registrar will send you an email confirming the outcome of your PQC application. If approved, you can review your registration status, including project types and maximum contract value in your registration's portal profile.

To be eligible to tender (either open or select) for a government building project, you must:

be appropriately registered in the PQC System
satisfy financial requirements
meet project specific criteria.

Note: You can't tender for work as soon as you lodge your application. To be eligible to tender, you must be prequalified and registered on the PQC System.

Prequalification makes you eligible to compete for government building contracts, but it doesn't guarantee work. You must still go through the submission, review and acceptance process.

Upgrading your registration status

If you have existing access to the online portal for your business, you may upgrade your registration at any time by logging back into the portal.

You can update licences, insurances, management systems, project types, contract categories and service categories at any time via the portal.

If you wish to increase your maximum contract value, contact the PQC team, as you may need to give the PQC Registrar more information to do this.

If you don’t currently have access to the online portal for your business, contact the PQC team for next steps to set this up.

Being removed from the register

We may remove a building industry contractor from the PQC register at any time if they can't satisfy any or all of the prequalification requirements.

More information

Prequalification (PQC) checklist

This checklist will help contractors gather the evidence they need to complete their prequalification (PQC) application.

Use this checklist to ensure you have the information and supporting documents needed to complete your prequalification application.

Once registered, you can update your details in the PQC portal, including:

providing more up-to-date financials
project examples
referee reports to increase your financial capacity and tender eligibility.

Note: You may only submit application forms through PQC online. Learn how to apply for building contractor prequalification.

Prequalification (PQC) conditions

Read the Prequalification (PQC) conditions (PDF, 377KB)

Applicant details

Provide or verify the following information:

Digital identity

Digital ID (verifies identity and protects personal information)

Business entity

Australian Business Number (ABN) registered for GST

Portable long service leave

QLeave registration number or copy of certificate

WorkCover/self-insurance

The business is in Queensland, employs workers and has a WorkCover certificate of currency

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance certificate of currency (minimum of $20 million public liability insurance required for prequalification)

Financial capacity

Minimum net tangible assets for government (NTA-Govt) of $156,000 and a minimum current ratio of 1:1, as calculated using the PQC System – contractor financial requirements (PDF, 195KB)

Licence(s)

Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence with maximum revenue for licensing of at least $3 million, or equivalent licence specific to my trade (licence number, licence body, licence class and any restrictions)

Management systems

(Mandatory for government building projects over $50 million.)

All certificates must be third party certified by 1 of the following or otherwise stated:

a recognised Accredited Body through the Joint Accreditation Scheme of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ)
or
a recognised Accredited Body Member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), of which JAS-ANZ is a member.

Occupational Workplace Health and Safety Management System certified by a third party and/or accreditation under the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme (FSC Accreditation), and supporting documents

Quality Assurance Management System certified by a third party, and supporting documents.

Environmental Management System certified by a third party, and supporting documents.

Government priorities and policies

Modern slavery

For entities with more than $100 million (Australian) annual consolidated revenue:

Registered on the Australian Government Online Register for Modern Slavery Statements

Supporting mental health and suicide prevention

Mandatory for government building projects over $100 million.

Provide either:

a Blueprint Certificate (i.e. you have signed up to the Australian Blueprint for Better Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Building and Construction Industry and received a certificate)
formal policies and procedures, or suitable information and evidence, such as:

For example, you may show:
- a leadership statement, or a statement in an enterprise or project agreement
- a public statement on the business/company website, in a statement in an induction pack or on an intranet for employees
- a mental health and suicide prevention policy.
For example, you may show:
- a training agenda or training package outlining the specific training for managers and/or employees
- information on an internal intranet for employees
- information in an induction pack or toolbox talk, or on a noticeboard
- posters, brochures or evidence of awareness raising events (e.g. social media).
For example, you may show:
- confidentiality provisions in an enterprise agreement
- human resource policies to ensure confidentiality
- confidentiality provisions in a business/company code of conduct, an induction pack or manager training.
For example, you may show:
- an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or referral pathways for staff (e.g. details of organisations, including contact details of where staff can seek help)
- flexible work arrangements and practices, including return-to-work options and leave entitlements.

Women in construction

Mandatory for government building projects over $100 million.

Provide either:

a current gender equity or workforce diversity plan (read about the Queensland Government's Women's Strategy)
suitable information and evidence, such as:

For example, you may show:
- a leadership commitment statement in an enterprise or project agreement
- a public statement on the business/company website, in a statement in an induction pack or on an intranet site for employees
- a leadership statement ensuring compliance with legislation, such as Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 or Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).
For example, you may show information relating to:
- retention and development of women
- recruitment initiatives
- career advancement opportunities
- flexible work arrangements and practices
- equal remuneration between women and men
- women in leadership forums
- equity and diversity targets.
For example, you may show:
- training and awareness raising policies to prevent and address sexual harassment, or an anti-discrimination policy
- a training agenda or training package outlining the specific training for managers and/or employees
- a toolbox talk, induction training, an employee handbook or a code of conduct.

Ending domestic and family violence

Mandatory for government building projects over $100 million.

Provide either:

formal domestic and family violence policies and procedures
suitable information and evidence, such as:

For example, you may show:
- a leadership statement, or a statement in an enterprise or project agreement
- a public statement on business/company website, in a statement in an induction pack or on an internal intranet for employees
- a family and domestic violence policy.
For example, you may show:
- a training agenda or training package outlining the specific training for managers and/or employees
- information on an intranet for employees
- information in an induction pack or toolbox talk, or on a noticeboard
- posters, brochures or evidence of awareness-raising events (e.g. social media).
For example, you may show:
- confidentiality provisions in an enterprise agreement
- human resource policies to ensure confidentiality
- confidentiality provisions in a business/company code of conduct, an induction pack or manager training.
For example, you may show:
- an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or referral pathways for staff (e.g. details of organisations, including contact details of where staff can seek help)
- flexible work arrangements and practices, including return-to-work options and leave entitlements.

Note: Other business attributes such as Indigenous Business and Social Enterprise status will be checked as part of the assessment.

Supporting local businesses and diverse business sizes

Business street address, and the size of the business

Project examples (determines project type eligibility)

Details of 3 or more building projects completed in Australia in the last 3 years

Referee/PQC performance reports (determines project type eligibility and the Maximum Contract Value (MCV))

Copies of 3 or more referee/PQC performance reports that provide evidence of the most complex or highest value projects in Australia identified in project examples
For each contract category being sought, provide a referee report for each

National prequalification system for non-residential buildings

The National Prequalification System for Non-residential Buildings (NPS) applies to non-residential building contracts with a construction cost of $50 million or more.

The NPS streamlines the prequalification systems across Australia to:

prevent duplication of effort by contractors and jurisdictions
provide mutual recognition (where possible) of contractor prequalification by jurisdictions.

If you're a contractor wishing to prequalify for contracts valued at $50 million or more, you must apply under the NPS in the state of your company's head office.

To be eligible to undertake Queensland Government building projects valued at $50 million or more, you must be registered on the Prequalification (PQC) System as a contractor or managing contractor.

Contact the PQC team on 1800 072 621 or at PQCRegistrar@hpw.qld.gov.au for more information on this process.

Also consider…

Visit the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council.