How to review public tender award criteria

A bid can offer excellent value and still fail if a mandatory declaration, minimum specification or submission rule is missed. Build a compliance matrix first and a scoring model second. For every requirement, record the source document, section, owner, evidence and review status.

Do not assume that every technical question carries points. Some questions confirm minimum compliance, while others differentiate bids. The procurement documents should explain the weighting, scoring scale and any minimum threshold.

Recreate the scoring formula in a simple spreadsheet using conservative assumptions for competitor price and your likely quality score. Test several price points and identify where a small discount changes the result materially. Include all evaluated costs, not only the headline unit price, when the method assesses lifecycle or total cost.

• Confirm weights add up to the published total
• Identify minimum scores for sections or subcriteria
• Check whether demonstrations, interviews or samples are scored
• Record rounding rules and tie-break provisions

A response should make it easy for an evaluator to connect evidence to the criterion. Use the requested structure, answer every sub-question and quantify commitments where the documents allow. Avoid relying on marketing claims that do not show delivery method, resources, controls or measurable results.

Before submission, run an independent red-team review using the published scale. The reviewer should cite the evidence supporting each expected score and flag assumptions that are not explicit in the bid.