Evaluation and Award
Evaluation and award criteria will be set at the beginning of the procurement process. These will be criteria and questions that seek appropriate evidence. For example, evaluation of a bidder’s approach to meeting skills and training requirement so that it is clear whether they demonstrate an understanding of how to achieve the required outcomes.
Award criteria are used to determine which bidder is best placed to deliver a contract. While you decide what award criteria to apply, ensure that you are not duplicating questions at the selection stage (for example, relating to their relevant availability of environmental management systems). This is because at this stage suppliers are being assessed on the merits of how they will delivery contract requirements (such as how they will reduce embodied carbon), rather than their suitability to bid.
Award criteria must be proportionate and relevant to the works, supplies or services that are the subject-matter of the contract, and there must be a clear methodology to evaluate responses. An outcome/ performance-based specification can be more challenging for evaluators. An ideal response should be understood, based on intended outcomes agreed by relevant stakeholders including within a User Intelligence Group, where relevant. When evaluating therefore:
- Is it clear what an excellent response should look like?
- Who is doing the evaluation? Do they have the necessary skills and understanding regarding the intended outcomes? Do they need the support of subject matter experts to ensure an objective evaluation and to build capability – this may include getting subject matter experts to provide specific questions or guidance on them, ensuring they are provided with full guidance to ensure compliance with and understanding of the procurement process. This is particularly relevant where specifications are outcome based.
- Ensure that innovation is applied in an appropriate manner.
Evaluating bids
- Ensure the response answers the question – does it provide evidence of how the embodied carbon requirements will be delivered during the lifetime of the contract?
Responses which state the existence of policies or strategies are only relevant if such detail has been requested and evidence is provided of how commitments contained within these will be applied in a relevant way to the contract.
- The best responses will be clearly aligned with the specification and the tender question, depending on the extent to which you are relying on technical (prescriptive) specifications and/or outcome based (functional) specifications.
If the tender question for example asks for evidence of ‘how the contractor will support [the contracting authority’s] objectives in contract delivery to minimise embodied carbon, including through innovative solutions, while ensuring this is capable of being objectively monitored through contract management’, then:
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- How will they minimise embodied carbon, according to the subject matter of the contract? What measures will they undertake during contract delivery e.g. use of products/ materials/ packaging with highest level feasible of recycled content, including those operating to relevant standards?
- What innovation can they offer that relates to the specific requirements? Rather than including innovation in a separate criterion relating to ‘Innovation or Added Value’ it is best practice to thread a focus on innovation through specific requirements. So, for example, can they provide innovative solutions relating to reducing embodied carbon, such as new product design or materials in contract delivery or in supply of goods and services.
- Is evidence provided of how this may be objectively monitored e.g. ongoing verification of embodied carbon standards applying to products or materials or continual improvement in transition to lower embodied carbon/ circular economy.
Within the Annex are examples of wording relating to evaluation criteria that may be relevant within procurements.
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