Definition
Weighting
The percentage importance given to each criterion.
Weighting is the percentage or points value a buyer assigns to each evaluation criterion, and to the overall price/quality split, to reflect its relative importance in the award decision. Understanding weighting is essential for allocating bid-writing time and resources where they will affect the outcome most.
Where weighting appears
Weighting typically operates at two levels: the top-level split between price and quality (for example 60% quality / 40% price), and the sub-weighting of individual quality questions within the quality score. Both should be published in the ITT before tenders are submitted.
Using weighting to prioritise bid effort
A simple, effective discipline is to list every question with its weighting, sort by weighting descending, and allocate drafting and review time roughly in proportion. It is common for bid teams to over-invest in a favourite low-weighted topic while under-serving the highest-weighted question, which has the biggest effect on the final ranking.
Where price is heavily weighted, suppliers should also sense-check that their commercial model is genuinely competitive, since even a strong quality score cannot always offset a weak price position when price weighting is high.
- Confirm the published price/quality split before costing the bid
- Rank quality questions by weighting and plan word count accordingly
- Re-check weighting after any addendum, since it can occasionally change
- Model likely competitor pricing when price weighting exceeds quality weighting
Frequently asked questions
- What is a typical price/quality weighting split in UK public tenders?
- There is no universal figure; it depends on the contract. Complex services often weight quality more heavily (for example 70/30 quality/price), while simpler or highly standardised purchases may weight price more heavily. Always check the specific ITT.
- Can weighting change after tenders have been submitted?
- No. Changing weightings after submission would breach equal treatment principles and could invalidate the process. Any change must happen before the submission deadline, via a formal addendum communicated to all bidders.
- Does higher quality weighting mean price doesn't matter?
- No. Price still contributes to the final score and can decide close contests even under high quality weighting. A weak price with an excellent quality score can still lose to a stronger overall combination from a competitor.
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