weighted criteria Explained: How Tenders Are Really Scored
How weighted evaluation criteria work in Australian tenders: how price and quality weightings are set, how price points are calculated, and how mandatory criteria gate your bid before it is scored.
Watch the walkthrough · 2:01How Australian tenders are scored: weighted criteriaSee it done in the real dashboard, with a sample company.Every approach to market states its own evaluation plan. Understand it and you stop guessing why you lost — and start pricing to win on points, not just on dollars.
Mandatory criteria come first
Mandatory criteria are pass or fail: ABN status, insurances, licences, completeness of the response. Miss one and your bid is set aside before scoring. What survives is scored on weighted criteria: price and quality in the proportions the buyer states.
How price points are calculated
Price is scored relative to the lowest conforming bid, not on an absolute scale. The cheapest conforming bid earns the best price score; every other bid loses points in proportion to how much dearer it is. A few percent can cost several points.
How non-price criteria are awarded
The quality weighting covers whatever the buyer defines in the criteria: capability, key personnel, methodology, past performance, referees — and, where the Indigenous Procurement Policy applies, Indigenous participation. Read the criteria in the tender: they vary between every approach to market.
What this means for your bid
- Answer every weighted criterion — a weak answer scores you poorly there
- A stronger quality response can beat a slightly cheaper competitor
- Do not price below cost to chase the price score; the quality weighting may close the gap anyway
- Read each tender's criteria — do not assume the last tender's weightings apply
Frequently asked questions
What weighting does price usually carry?+
It varies - commonly a 60/40 or 70/30 price/quality split, but the buyer sets the weightings per approach to market. Always read the evaluation criteria section in the tender.
How are tender price points calculated?+
Relative to the lowest acceptable bid: the cheapest compliant bid gets the full price points and others lose points in proportion to how much more they cost.
Where do I answer the quality criteria?+
In the evaluation-criteria response section of your submission — answer every weighted criterion the buyer stated in the approach to market, with evidence. Skipping one forfeits those points regardless of how strong you actually are.
Did the 2022 weighted criteria regulations change non-price criteria?+
They gave government buyers more discretion to set 'specific goals' per tender. The price + criteria and price + criteria thresholds remain, but always check the specific goals stated in each tender's preference schedule.
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