Why is prequalification important after vendor registration?
Prequalification is important for companies in the service-provider category, like EPC, maintenance, consulting, or technical contracting. This is crucial because simply being a registered vendor does not grant you access to high-value or technical tenders. Once you are a registered vendor, many major buyers, especially in oil and gas, EPC, utilities, and mega projects, conduct a prequalification process to filter suppliers for specific work categories. During this process, they assess your technical experience, project references, certifications, manpower, equipment, HSE systems, and occasionally IKTVA/local content scores.
For example, Aramco and similar clients usually need contractors and suppliers to complete category-based technical audits before they can bid. Only prequalified vendors are added to the bidders list for future ITBs and RFPs. If you skip or do not pass prequalification, you remain ‘on the system’ but will not have access to key tenders that you really want. If you want to grow your business in Saudi Arabia, it is necessary to register as a vendor and prequalify to get access to major projects.
