Evaluation & award

Once your tender is in, the buyer has to turn it into a number. This section follows that step from the bidder's side. Start with how price becomes points, because the formula decides what a euro off your price is worth. Then read how quality is scored, which carries the other share of the points in a price-quality award. Life-cycle costing comes last: it applies only when the documents compare cost over time rather than price.

The insights below follow the case law that shapes these rules: whether the formula must be published, when your team's experience can earn points, and what a criterion rewarding higher wages means for your price. The calculator does the arithmetic for four common price formulas.

Not covered here: whether your company qualifies to bid at all (selection and exclusion), and what happens when your price is questioned, which is in Pricing.