The Procurement Glossary » Weighted Scoring
Weighted Scoring
Sourcing & RFx
Definition
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.
Explanation
Weighted scoring turns qualitative judgement into a transparent number. Each criterion gets a weight reflecting its importance; each bid is scored per criterion; and the weighted sum ranks the bids. It makes trade-offs (e.g. paying more for faster delivery) explicit.
Example
Supplier A scores 9/10 on price (weight 40%) and 6/10 on delivery (weight 30%); its weighted total is 3.6 + 1.8 = 5.4 before other criteria.
Related terms
- Evaluation Criteria — The defined factors — and their relative weights — used to score and compare supplier bids or proposals.
- Supplier Selection — The decision process of choosing which supplier (or suppliers) to award business to after evaluating bids or proposals.
- Supplier Scorecard — A structured summary rating a supplier across key metrics to track and compare performance over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 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. Weighted scoring turns qualitative judgement into a transparent number. Each criterion gets a weight reflecting its importance; each bid is scored per criterion; and the weighted sum ranks the bids. It makes trade-offs (e.g. paying more for faster delivery) explicit.
Can you give an example of Weighted Scoring?
Supplier A scores 9/10 on price (weight 40%) and 6/10 on delivery (weight 30%); its weighted total is 3.6 + 1.8 = 5.4 before other criteria.
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