pre-qualify
verb
(also prequalify) ukus [ T ] FINANCE
if a bank pre-qualifies someone for a loan, it calculates the largest amount that they would be able to borrow based on income, etc.:
Being prequalified means a lender tells you how much you can afford but doesn't commit to a loan.
[ I ] COMMERCE
if a company pre-qualifies for particular work, it proves it has the ability, experience, etc. to do it and is allowed to compete for it:
More than 100 companies pre-qualified to bid for the eight British Rail train operating companies.