Winning public work means understanding how buyers decide. Evaluation isn't a mystery — it follows published rules. This guide explains how bids are scored, what changed under the new Act, and what happens between "you've won" and the contract being signed.
At a glance
- Bids are scored against published award criteria using a stated assessment methodology.
- The Procurement Act 2023 changed the award basis from MEAT to MAT — the Most Advantageous Tender.
- Price isn't everything: MAT reinforces that quality and other factors count, not just lowest cost.
- After scoring, buyers issue assessment summaries, then publish a contract award notice.
- That notice starts a mandatory standstill period of eight working days before the contract can be signed.
Scoring against award criteria
Every competitive procurement publishes award criteria — the specific things your bid is judged on — and an assessment methodology setting out how those criteria are scored (for example, a scoring matrix with weightings). Evaluators score each bid against the criteria, apply the weightings, and rank the results.
The practical lesson for suppliers: read the criteria and weightings closely and answer them directly. A strong bid is one built around what's actually being scored (see how to write a winning tender response).
MEAT becomes MAT
Under the old rules, contracts were awarded to the "Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)." The Procurement Act 2023 renamed this the "Most Advantageous Tender (MAT)."
The change is a clarification rather than a reversal of policy. By dropping "economically," the Act reinforces a point that was always true but often forgotten: buyers don't have to award on lowest price. The Act defines the most advantageous tender as the one that satisfies the authority's requirements and best satisfies the award criteria — which routinely include quality, social value, and other non-price factors. So a well-priced, high-quality bid can and should beat a cheaper, weaker one.
After scoring: assessment summaries
Once evaluation is complete, the buyer issues assessment summaries to suppliers. These explain how your bid was assessed — giving you the information to understand the decision and, if necessary, challenge it. In competitive procedures, assessment summaries must be issued before the contract award notice is published.
The standstill period
Then comes a deliberate pause. The buyer publishes a contract award notice, which starts the mandatory standstill period — a period of eight working days beginning on the day the notice is published.
The standstill exists so unsuccessful bidders have a window to scrutinise the decision and raise a challenge before the contract is signed. The contract can't be entered into during this period. (Buyers can also choose a voluntary standstill, which must likewise be at least eight working days.)
So the sequence at the end of a procurement is:
- Bids scored against the award criteria (MAT basis).
- Assessment summaries issued to suppliers.
- Contract award notice published — standstill clock starts.
- Eight working days standstill.
- Contract signed, then a contract details notice published.
What this means for you
- Win on value, not just price — build quality and social value into your bid.
- Read your assessment summary if you don't win; it tells you where you lost points and how to improve next time.
- Know the standstill — it's the window to query a decision you think was wrong.
The single most useful habit: before writing anything, map the scoring matrix into a document skeleton, with the marks available written next to each section. It sounds mechanical, and it is — but it stops you spending 800 words on a question worth 5% and two lines on one worth 30%.
Frequently asked questions
What does MAT mean?
Most Advantageous Tender — the basis on which public contracts are awarded under the Procurement Act 2023. It replaced "Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)" and reinforces that price isn't the only factor.
Are contracts awarded to the lowest price?
Not necessarily. The most advantageous tender is the one that best satisfies the published award criteria, which usually include quality and social value alongside price.
What is an assessment summary?
A summary the buyer issues to each supplier explaining how their bid was assessed. In competitive procedures it must be issued before the contract award notice.
How long is the standstill period?
The mandatory standstill is eight working days, beginning the day the contract award notice is published. The contract can't be signed during this period.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Assessing competitive tenders
- Legislation.gov.uk — Procurement Act 2023, section 19 (most advantageous tender)
- Legislation.gov.uk — Procurement Act 2023, section 51 (standstill period)
- GOV.UK — Guidance: contract award notices and standstill