Quotations and tenders

Contracts are awarded on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT). Specific evaluation criteria for price and quality are included in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation. The lowest priced goods or services or works may not always be the most suitable or give Best Value.

Examples of evaluation criteria other than purchase price that the council may consider in a contract award decision are:

• Fitness for purpose (quality, suitability for the task to be undertaken etc.)
• Delivery and availability against price
• Cost of ownership
• Whole life cycle costs, including, spare parts, maintenance costs and projected down time
• On-costs (such as transport and storage)
• The cost of procurement itself
• Sustainability (Social, Environmental, Economic) factors