Defra policy on awarding contracts: Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)
Defra bases all significant contract awards on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender.
This is defined as the optimum combination of whole life costs and benefits assessed against pre-determined evaluation award criteria which will normally be detailed in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) or equivalent documentation.
Evaluation award criteria are normally a combination of generic and contract specific criteria against which bidder responses to an ITT or equivalent document are evaluated. Generic criteria may include, for example:
- Quality of service and customer-focused approach
- Operational risk
- Administrative procedures
- Flexibility and responsiveness
- Proactive focus
- Environmental and sustainability aspects
- Competitive payment terms
- Contractual risk, terms and conditions
- Industry experience
- Technical compliance.
In addition Defra may require compliance with mandatory requirements which will be detailed in the Invitation To Tender. It is important that suppliers read these carefully and authorise acceptance of these requirements. Failure to comply with any applicable mandatory requirements will mean exclusion from the selection process.
Page published: 11 July 2005