Bids are normally evaluated on relevant technical merit and overall best value, in accordance with the selection method specified in the solicitation document. To ensure fairness, financial information is assessed separately from the technical information.
The evaluation team must evaluate the technical bid in accordance with evaluation criteria outlined in the solicitation document. Three methods of evaluation may be used:
- on the basis of mandatory technical criteria only;
- on the basis of point-rated technical criteria only;
- a combination of mandatory technical criteria and point-rated technical criteria.
Rated criteria are used to assess various elements of the technical bid; each bid is ranked based on its relative merits. Evaluation teams use point-rated criteria to evaluate the factors over and above the mandatory requirements of the solicitation.
The minimum points that must be achieved and the maximum points that can be achieved for each criterion are identified in the solicitation document. If you have any questions about point rating, be sure to ask the contracting officer within the time period allowed for questions.