Understanding Evaluation Criteria: How Bids Are Scored

Understanding bid evaluation criteria is crucial for crafting proposals that stand out and secure contracts. By aligning your response with evaluators’ expectations, you can significantly improve your chances of winning. In this article, we explain how bids are scored, explore common evaluation methods, and answer frequently asked questions.

What Are the Criteria for Evaluation of Bids?

Bid evaluation criteria refer to the standards used to assess tender responses. These are typically defined in the tender documents and vary depending on the buyer, sector, and contract type. The most common evaluation criteria include:

• Price or total cost
• Technical quality or method statements
• Experience and track record
• Project delivery timelines
• Social value or sustainability contributions

Each criterion is scored and may carry a specific weighting to reflect its importance.

What Are the 5 Criteria of Evaluation?

While criteria vary, a standard public sector tender might use the following five:

1. Cost – Total pricing and value for money
2. Quality – Approach, innovation, and technical merit
3. Experience – Relevant past performance and team expertise
4. Methodology – Delivery plan, risk mitigation, and understanding of scope
5. Social Value – Contributions to environmental, economic, or community outcomes

What Are the 5 Key Supplier Evaluation Criteria?

From the buyer’s perspective, supplier suitability is often assessed through:

1. Capability – Skills and resources to deliver
2. Capacity – Ability to meet demand and timelines
3. Track Record – Relevant experience and performance history
4. Financial Standing – Stability and risk of failure
5. Compliance – Meeting legal, regulatory, and procedural requirements

Understanding Scoring and MEAT Criteria

Most public sector contracts in the UK are awarded based on MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender). This means contracts are evaluated using a combination of:

• Price – Often weighted 30 to 60%
• Quality – Weighted alongside or above price, depending on the project
• Other Value Factors – Such as environmental impact, innovation, or social value

Scoring is typically done on a scale (e.g. 0 to 5 or 0 to 10), with clear benchmarks for each score. For example:

• 0 = Unacceptable
• 5 = Meets requirements
• 10 = Exceeds requirements

The 4 Stages of the Bid Evaluation Process

1. Preliminary Screening
   Check compliance with instructions, deadlines, and eligibility
2. Detailed Evaluation
   Score each bid against published criteria, often involving multiple evaluators
3. Clarifications and Presentations
   Request additional detail or conduct interviews where appropriate
4. Final Selection and Award
   Rank based on scores and value, and award to the top bidder

Types of Bid Evaluation Methods

• Cost-Based Evaluation – Lowest compliant price wins
• Quality-Based Evaluation – Best technical offer regardless of cost
• Cost-Quality Balance – Weighted scores for each
• Single-Parameter Evaluation – One primary metric, used for straightforward contracts
• Multi-Attribute Evaluation – Uses various weighted criteria for a holistic view

Maximise Your Score

Every point counts. By understanding how your bids are evaluated, you can write stronger responses, avoid common pitfalls, and stand out to evaluators. If you’re unsure how your bid will be scored or want to improve your success rate, our team at WeBid is here to help.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help you write bids that meet buyer expectations.