The Procurement Glossary » Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation Criteria
Sourcing & RFx
Definition
The defined factors — and their relative weights — used to score and compare supplier bids or proposals.
Explanation
Setting criteria before responses arrive keeps evaluation objective and fair. Typical criteria include price, technical compliance, delivery, quality, service level and risk. Publishing the criteria to bidders also improves the quality of responses.
Example
The RFP criteria are 40% price, 30% technical fit, 20% service level and 10% sustainability.
Related terms
- Weighted Scoring — An evaluation method that multiplies each supplier's score on a criterion by that criterion's weight, then sums the results into a single comparable total.
- Supplier Selection — The decision process of choosing which supplier (or suppliers) to award business to after evaluating bids or proposals.
- Request for Proposal (RFP) — A sourcing document inviting suppliers to propose how they would meet a requirement, evaluated on approach and value — not price alone.
- Tender — A formal, often public, invitation for suppliers to submit competitive offers for a defined contract, common in government and large-enterprise buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Evaluation Criteria?
The defined factors — and their relative weights — used to score and compare supplier bids or proposals. Setting criteria before responses arrive keeps evaluation objective and fair. Typical criteria include price, technical compliance, delivery, quality, service level and risk. Publishing the criteria to bidders also improves the quality of responses.
Can you give an example of Evaluation Criteria?
The RFP criteria are 40% price, 30% technical fit, 20% service level and 10% sustainability.
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