WorkSafe guidance says health and safety can be considered at the pre-tender and tender stages, and supporting documentation may be requested to show that procedures are in place and being carried out. The exact information should reflect the work and its risks.
A simple tender-readiness process
Do not build your response from a generic checklist alone. Identify exactly what the client, principal contractor or assessment scheme requests.
Identify the actual record that supports each answer: risk assessment, training record, toolbox meeting, inspection, incident record, licence, maintenance evidence or other relevant document.
Make sure records are current enough for the client's requirements and relate to the work you are proposing to perform.
Completed records often demonstrate more than blank templates. Check that your evidence shows what your business actually does.
If other businesses will be involved, be ready to explain how risks, responsibilities, changes and site information will be shared.
Keep a simple list of each evidence area, file location, owner and review date. This reduces the scramble the next time a client asks.
Not sure what you could produce today?
Run NZQC's free Contractor Prequalification Readiness Checklist before you start assembling a tender response.
Check my evidence readiness →One important distinction
Evidence readiness is not the same as passing a particular prequalification assessment. Every client and scheme can have its own requirements. Use this process to organise what you have, then respond to the actual tender or assessment instructions.
For more detail, see Contractor Prequalification NZ: practical H&S evidence guide and What H&S evidence do NZ contractors need?.
General information only. NZQC does not provide certification, accreditation, legal advice or a guarantee of tender approval.