Evaluation and award criteria will of course 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 of course 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:
Evaluating bids
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.
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:
Within the Annex are examples of wording relating to evaluation criteria that may be relevant within procurements.
Back to Specification Continue to Contract and Supplier Management