Four of HS2 Ltd’s (www.hs2.org.uk) biggest contractors are to introduce a standardised pre-qualification (PQ) system for sub-contractors in a bid to streamline the process, reduce costs and boost productivity.

The new Common Assessment Standard will ensure that bidders looking for work with the high-speed rail company’s four main ‘civils contractors’ — Align, BBV, EK and SCS Railways — will go through identical pre-qualification processes.

The contractors worked with two of the sector’s biggest representative organisations — Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) — and with the High Speed Rail Industry Leaders Group (HSRIL) to agree the new system.

It has been estimated that suppliers in the construction industry are currently spending up to £1 billion a year on tendering for work.

This new system will help to avoid duplication and cut costs.

Build UK, CECA and HSRIL joined forces two years ago to deliver the new PQ system, and they recently launched its first phase. HS2’s contractors will be the first to use the new system.

HS2 will represent about 11% of UK infra-structure spend over the next decade and will be the largest individual client in the sector.

The approaches taken to procurement on the project will affect not only HS2 but also the wider construction sector.