Weighted Criteria Assessment

What is a Weighted Criteria Assessment?

A weighted criteria assessment is the standard evaluation methodology used in Australian government procurement to compare and rank tender submissions. Each Evaluation Criterion is assigned a percentage weighting that reflects its relative importance to the agency. Tender responses are then scored against each criterion, and the weighted scores are combined to produce an overall ranking.

How Does the Weighting Process Work?

The evaluation typically follows these steps:

1. Criteria and weightings are published — the tender documentation lists the criteria and their percentage weights (e.g., Technical Capability 40%, Relevant Experience 25%, Price 25%, Local Content 10%)
2. Individual scoring — evaluation panel members independently score each tender against each criterion, usually on a numerical scale
3. Consensus scoring — panel members discuss and agree on a consensus score for each criterion
4. Weighted calculation — each criterion score is multiplied by its weighting to produce a weighted score
5. Overall ranking — the sum of weighted scores determines the ranking of submissions
6. Value for Money assessment — the final recommendation considers the overall weighted assessment alongside any other relevant factors

Common Weighting Approaches

Australian government agencies use several approaches to disclosing weightings:

• Published percentage weightings — the most transparent approach, increasingly common
• Relative importance only — criteria listed in order of importance without specific percentages
• Equal weightings — all criteria carry the same weight
• Price as a separate assessment — technical criteria scored first, with price considered separately for shortlisted tenderers

Tips for Tenderers

• Allocate effort proportionally — spend more time and detail on heavily weighted criteria.
• Do not neglect low-weighted criteria — a poor score on any criterion can still sink your overall ranking.
• Address every criterion explicitly — evaluators score what they read, not what they assume.
• If weightings are not published, ask during the Q&A period — agencies are increasingly willing to disclose them.