Reg. 67 (PCR 2015)

Contract award criteria

In: Plan > Strategy and plan

Overview

This regulation states that contracting authorities must base the award of public contracts on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) assessed from the point of view of the contracting authority. The regulation also sets out the rules relating to contract award criteria and how the MEAT should be determined.

Objective at this commercial stage

The MEAT must be identified on the basis of the price or cost, using a cost-effectiveness approach, such as life-cycle costing, and may include the best price-quality ratio, which shall be assessed on the basis of criteria linked to the subject-matter of the public contract.

Key considerations at this commercial stage

Contracting authorities should remain mindful that contract award criteria may comprise, for example:

  • quality, including technical merit, aesthetic and functional characteristics, accessibility, design for all users, social, environmental and innovative characteristics, trading and its conditions
  • organisation, qualification and experience of staff assigned to perform the contract; where staff assigned can have a significant impact on contract performance
  • after-sales service and technical assistance, delivery conditions such as delivery date, delivery process and delivery period or period of completion.

See also in the Procurement Act 2023:

  • Section 23: Award criteria

Additional support and guidance

Make sure you:

  • read the regulation
  • seek legal and commercial advice in the context of specific procurements
Read the regulation

This applies to