Point-Rated Criteria

Point-rated criteria are the evaluation factors in federal solicitations where you actually score bidders on quality, not just check boxes. Unlike mandatory criteria that work as pass/fail gates, these let you assign points to distinguish which compliant bid gives the government best value. Section 4.35.5 of PSPC's Supply Manual puts it plainly: rated criteria assess various elements of the technical bid so the relative merits of each can be used to distinguish one from another.

How It Works

When you're building a solicitation, you establish an evaluation grid that assigns maximum point values to each criterion. A bidder might earn up to 20 points for "project management approach" or 15 points for "personnel qualifications," depending on how well their response demonstrates capability. The solicitation document must specify these maximums upfront. No surprises allowed.

Here's the thing: the scoring method needs to be explicit. According to Treasury Board Contracting Policy subsection 10.7.27, point-rated criteria must clearly indicate how each score will be determined. You'll often see evaluation grids that define scoring levels—maybe 5 points for "acceptable," 10 for "good," and 15 for "excellent" demonstrations of a particular requirement. The assessor guidance for supply arrangements emphasizes that these criteria must align with what you've described in your Statement of Work. You can't score bidders on elements you haven't actually asked for.

In practice, many solicitations set minimum thresholds. A bid might need to score at least 70% of available points to remain in contention, or hit minimums on specific high-priority criteria. If you're using these thresholds, state them clearly in your solicitation documents. A 2023 Procurement Practice Review by the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman looked at 37 PSPC files with evaluation criteria—18 used both mandatory and point-rated criteria, and 6 of those 18 had what the review called "restrictive" rated criteria that limited competition.

Key Considerations

• Publication is mandatory: You can't use evaluation criteria that weren't published in the solicitation. The evaluation grid with maximum points must be there from day one, visible to all bidders.

• Weightings matter more than you think: The relative weight you assign to each criterion signals priorities to bidders and shapes their response strategy. A criterion worth 5 points gets less attention than one worth 25.

• Subjectivity requires structure: These criteria introduce evaluator judgment, which is necessary but needs guardrails. Clear scoring definitions and multiple evaluators help ensure consistency and fairness.

• They affect your basis of selection: Point-rated criteria typically feed into highest combined rating or best overall proposal methodologies, not just lowest price. Your basis of selection must account for how technical scores interact with financial evaluation.

Related Terms

Mandatory Criteria, Basis of Selection, Evaluation Plan

Sources

• PSPC Supply Manual - Section 4.35.5 (Rated Criteria)

• Procurement Practice Review of PSPC - Office of the Procurement Ombudsman (2023)

• Assessor Guidance for Bid Solicitation Preparation - PSPC

The quality of your point-rated criteria directly affects both the quality of responses you receive and your ability to defend the evaluation. Get them right in the solicitation, and the rest of the process flows more smoothly.