Exclusion grounds

Reasons a supplier must or may be barred from bidding, such as fraud convictions, unpaid taxes or serious past failures. Bidders declare against them in a questionnaire.

Also called: Grounds for exclusion, Integrity regime

Related terms

Selection questionnaire (SQ)

The UK’s standard form for checking whether a supplier is eligible and capable before its bid is scored. It covers exclusion grounds, finances, insurance and past experience.

Debarment

A formal ban on a supplier winning public contracts for a period, after misconduct such as fraud or serious contract failures.